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How understanding is your workplace when your child is sick and you have to go home? I think I'm pretty lucky on this front - again, today, my daughter's daycare called me to let me know I had to come get her, because she's come down with a nasty stomach bug (yuck!!). My workplace is very family-friendly and I was able to just pack up and go, and will either work from home today and tomorrow or use sick time (probably a combo of both). How about you? And if you work from home all the time, how hard is it to keep up with your work when you have a sick baby or older child around?

Asked by Amanda , 30th Apr Answer this now »
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Thank God my workplace is very understanding about this. Almost everyone here has kids and has had to leave at one time or another. We just cover for each other and it's all good. My boss is awesome about this. I even got a promotion recently, so I don't think it's hurt me one bit to have to leave occasionally.
My work is 100% supportive of parents taking time to be with sick kids, attend school functions, etc.
Michele -- at my last job, it was exactly like that. Nobody said anything if I left early, but I got the glares and then I knew I'd have to show up extra early the next day to avoid issues. I definitely don't miss that now that, well, I am my own boss, but for five years I often did what I called the walk of shame -- walking through the office to leave early or come in late, watching all the boys (mostly with sahms at home) look at me with total lack of understanding and annoyance.
DebR  2nd May
lucky here too.
Able to leave without a problem.
Can do email and calls from home if need be.
Company run by women, who get it.
Although they are work-a-holics. Now THAT i dont get! :)

anytime anyone leaves early, they say its OK, but there is always tons to do the next day.
THats how it goes.
Superficially people are understanding. In reality, there is an undercurrent of hostility. For every hour missed, you typically have to put in two to make up for time off.

Many that I work with are young, don't have families, and are very type A. Management are mostly men with SAHM wives. I actually heard an executive tell his employee that was pregnant to reschedule her birth if she wanted to be there for a major technology implementation. It was sort of a joke, but I think he was somewhat serious.
mrs.P  30th Apr
I dont work from home, but I do have to admit that my boss is great. She never gives me grief when I have to leave because the kids are sick. She even gives me time off without hassle for any of their "functions" I hve to dmit that I am lucky too!
Good luck to you!
Jan  30th Apr
I'm really lucky, too. My company is super flexible about work hours and such. I'm even trusted to make the decision as to whether I need to take time off or I can work from home. (If it's just one kid, I can usually make working at home work for me -- my kids are sleepers when they're sick, though.)
I'm lucky -- my boss is very good about things like this, and my coworkers have kids, too, so they understand. I had to do this just yesterday -- I was almost to the office when daycare called to say my youngest was spiking a fever, and I turned around and went back to get him without even making it to the office door!
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