My husband and I have two children aged 4 and 2. For the past 3 weeks, they've been sick on and off with a vomiting bug followed by ear and chest infections. We both work full-time, but obviously they can't go to the childminder when they are sick, so we've been trying to juggle work between us. We don't have any family in Dublin, so don't have any other back-up support for looking after the children.
Last week, I was off with them on Monday, but had an important meeting at work on Tuesday so my husband took that off. Then, I took Wednesday off and thankfully they were better by Thursday. We both took the days off as annual leave.
My husband told his manager on Monday that he needed to take Tuesday off because the children were sick. This was the second time in the last 2 weeks that he had to do this as they were sick last week also. However, it hadn't happened before that for a very long time. My husband rarely takes sick leave.
In a meeting today, his manager told him that this short notice for the time off wasn't acceptable and that in future he should make alternative arrangements when the children were sick. He also asked why I hadn't taken the day off. He said that the company's interest had to come first.
My husband was very annoyed with this as we don't really have any other option when the children are sick. He is considering bringing the matter to a senior manager as he feels that it is unreasonable.
Has anyone any advice in relation to this situation?
Last week, I was off with them on Monday, but had an important meeting at work on Tuesday so my husband took that off. Then, I took Wednesday off and thankfully they were better by Thursday. We both took the days off as annual leave.
My husband told his manager on Monday that he needed to take Tuesday off because the children were sick. This was the second time in the last 2 weeks that he had to do this as they were sick last week also. However, it hadn't happened before that for a very long time. My husband rarely takes sick leave.
In a meeting today, his manager told him that this short notice for the time off wasn't acceptable and that in future he should make alternative arrangements when the children were sick. He also asked why I hadn't taken the day off. He said that the company's interest had to come first.
My husband was very annoyed with this as we don't really have any other option when the children are sick. He is considering bringing the matter to a senior manager as he feels that it is unreasonable.
Has anyone any advice in relation to this situation?