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What are childcare options for single mother working two jobs when child is sick?
I am a manager and one of my employees is having some attendance problems. Her child gets sick occasionally and she does not have Other family who can help take care of them so she has to take off of work. They are all legitimate illnesses, but they are more than allowed by company policy and I really want to help her because she is responsible and reliable when at work. Are there any childcare options for her when her child is sick?
Unfortunately unless she has family friends or a private sitter there is not much she can do except take care of her child.
But to help you, I work in HR…
If the child is diagnosed with a chronic illness (asthma as an example) then she would be qualified for FMLA in the US. That would allow her to miss up to 12 weeks of work w/o being penalized. The days do not have to consecutive it can be one day here and 2 days there. She would be protected for for a total of 12 weeks off for a rolling yr not a calendar yr..
Get her FMLA papers and have her take them to her doctor to have filled out, the doctor will know if the child has an illness that is covered.
Also once she has missed 3days of work have her bring in doctors notes from the childs doctor to keep her covered from losing her job until the FMLA papers are completed.
Hope this helps.
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6 Responses to “What are childcare options for single mother working two jobs when child is sick?”
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Some large hospitals have sick child day care.
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Not really, depending on state laws she cannot bring the child to daycare if he/she is sick… ie running a fever, or diarrhea ect… She will have to find someone to watch the child when he/she is sick or continue calling in to work.
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Unfortunately unless she has family friends or a private sitter there is not much she can do except take care of her child.
But to help you, I work in HR…
If the child is diagnosed with a chronic illness (asthma as an example) then she would be qualified for FMLA in the US. That would allow her to miss up to 12 weeks of work w/o being penalized. The days do not have to consecutive it can be one day here and 2 days there. She would be protected for for a total of 12 weeks off for a rolling yr not a calendar yr..
Get her FMLA papers and have her take them to her doctor to have filled out, the doctor will know if the child has an illness that is covered.
Also once she has missed 3days of work have her bring in doctors notes from the childs doctor to keep her covered from losing her job until the FMLA papers are completed.
Hope this helps.
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If it is a chronic condition she can try for FMLA, other than that state laws mandate that a child with a fever over 100.1, and no vomiting or diarrhea can be left in a child care facilty caring for other children outside of that child's family.
Do you have any family in the area that may be able to help out? I do appreciate, as I am sure she does, that you are trying to keep her employeed. Too many times employeers do not care about a families circumstances. I know when I was pregnant with my twins, my company said either go on FMLA now (at 24 weeks) knowing I would be fired and loose my insurance before I could come back, possibly before the girls were even born because I could no longer lift 50+ lb boxes. I had to tough it out and work till 32 weeks wondering how much harm I was doing to my babies and myself.
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No, Daycares and childcare providers won't let you take a sick child to them. If you do and don't tell them they can and sometimes do, cancel the service. This mom is between a rock and a hard place so to speak. If you know of anyone that could help her out she would really appreciate it. This is just one of the barriers that single parents have against them.
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Not usually. Day care centers will NOT take children who have a fever or have a contagious illness. Unless there is a center locally that specializes in taking sick children or she can find a babysitter that is ONLY for her child and cares for the child in her own home, there really aren't many options. Most adult babysitters have children of their own to care for as well as other people's kids and would still turn down a sick child. It is very difficult. The only thing I can suggest is making her bring in Doctors notes, or giving her work to do from home that she can do when her child is ill. That way she can still be benefiting the company and getting paid (make it a lower amount than regular pay) and she would be able to retain her position in your company. Everyone wins! =D
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