Taking Kids to work?

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Tracy Windler RVN — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:57:26 GMT

How sexist! I'd rather be at the husband creche!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:38:40 GMT

Caro that's ace!!! x

Re: Taking Kids to work?

funkyfish — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:58:09 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite VN, MBVNA, C-SQP"]

I like it and feel as it is on childcare and men never grow up just grow older feel this fits.

[/quote]

LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:54:52 GMT

I like it and feel as it is on childcare and men never grow up just grow older feel this fits.

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Katie B — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:17:09 GMT

I aren't a mum but in an emergency with my dog I would not be happy with a child being there. I wouldn't want to have to deal with a child if my dog was incredibly sick. I would find it unprofessional to say the least and would most proberly move to another practise. However children in a practise who aren't in the consultants room is fair enough. Finding childcare is really hard, my sister struggled to find anyone who she trusted with my nephew. So I understand but in energency situations would be unacceptable. This is me talking as a client and I would be furious if in an emergency the vet nurse turned up with her child. It's stressful enough when people call into the vets at 2am with their sick pet!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Tracey Louise — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:17:34 GMT

[quote user="Steph Phillips"]

[quote user="Tracey Louise Mullins RVN"]

[quote user="Steph Phillips"]

Yes, there are some mum's out there that take the biscuit - and also some Mums that are lucky enough to be able to have sitters when they are working..

..There are also Mum's like me who refuse point blank to spounge of benifits, & work f*cking hard to earn a good living, without the "luxury" of having a permanant sitter

[/quote]

I also feel the same as this, but i have to use half my wages to pay for the childminder, who looks after my daughter in her own home during normal working hours, so this is far from a ''luxury'' as you put it! My Husnand looks after her when im on call only.

I refuse to live off benefits, i grew up on benefits, and do not want that for my daughter. But i can totally understand how so many people end up living this way as it is so hard for empoyers to take you seriously when you have children.

[/quote]

Same for me Tracey.. my mum was on benefits when we we're young and I don't want that for my boy.. I used the word 'luxury' because I didn't know how else to word it .. maybe 'Ideal' would be a better word? Cause Ideally I'd love to not have to take dylan with me, but then couldn't afford a sitter!! So looking at it that way.. it's not ideal for my bank balance lol! xx

[/quote]

Sorry Steph i think i misinterpreted what you were saying but i understand now you meant well. Childcare is so expensive isnt it! I work 4 days a week now, and the childminder costs £400-£450 a month depending on my shifts (and this is cheap, a nursery would have cost another £100 or so on top of that)

Ideally i would like to work less hours so I could be with my daughter more but i still need the few hundred pounds i take home after my wages to live off.

I had a situation where i nearly asked work if i could take her in with me a couple of weeks ago, as my childminders son had a fever and the childminder asked if i would prefer not to take my daughter to her that day, in case she caught the bug.

I rang into work, and was going to ask for the day off, but they told me that 2 members of staff (without children) had already called in sick that day so really needed me to go in. I searched all morning for someone to look after her for me with no luck, so i ended up taking her to the childminder anyway. I was really upset about this.

I take my job very seriously and put work before my daughter on this occasion. Wish i hadnt now! As she came down with the same bug over xmas and was really poorly!! Just wish i wouldve asked them if i could take her with me. Think i will do next time.

Re: Taking Kids to work?

xXx Cat xXx — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:14:15 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]yes she would possibly have been covered by the disability discrimation act - had she been dismissed. I just didnt feel it was fair to be threatening her with possible disciplinary action without the same threat being issued to somebody who had a worse attendance and worse work performance. It had to be fair to everybody and by singling one person out in my mind that wasnt fair[/quote]

Quite agree Sal

Appologies for going off topic

Tracy

xXx

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:41:30 GMT

[quote user="xXx Cat xXx"]

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]

an example

As a head nurse I was asked by the vet to have a word with another nurse who had recently been diagnosed with diabetes because the vet thought that she was taking too much time off work - I was basically told to let her know that if her performance didnt improve that we (the royal we - as in not mentioning this has come from the vet and not from me) would have to consider her future with the practice - she was actually a damn good nurse and was getting betteras her condition improved. Now how can I tell somebody this who is genuinely ill and doing her best when we have a working mother in the practice who is part time and even then is spending more time at home than in work because of her child and is quite frankly taking the p and this has been going on for a number of years (sorry cant do on call tonight school play and cant swap for tomorrow as its swimming and cant do weekend will be in late on ... as x needs to go to dentist). How could I be fair to both without telling mummy she needed to pull her finger out?

[/quote]

Doesn't the diabetic nurse fall under the disability discrimination act?

I only ask as this was used in my defence when I was constructivley dismissed from another job when I became diabetic and again when I was told the only place I could inject was in the toilets at work.

Thanks

Tracy

xXx

[/quote]

yes she would possibly have been covered by the disability discrimation act - had she been dismissed. I just didnt feel it was fair to be threatening her with possible disciplinary action without the same threat being issued to somebody who had a worse attendance and worse work performance. It had to be fair to everybody and by singling one person out in my mind that wasnt fair

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:35:21 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]However I do still feel that sometimes employees with children do have more rights in the workplace in some instances (especially those returning to their old employment after maternity leave who can pretty much call the shots on their terms)[/quote]

Not true actually - they only have a right for alternative hours to be considered. Legally they are not entitled to anything other than their own job back.

[/quote]

Yes I know this is the case but how many employers give in to demands rather than face the rigmarole of possible constructive dismissal if a returning nurse digs her heels in? - l can name 3 that did.

Re: Taking Kids to work?

xXx Cat xXx — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:53:58 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]

an example

[/quote]

Doesn't the diabetic nurse fall under the disability discrimination act?

Thanks

Tracy

xXx

Re: Taking Kids to work?

paula morgan — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:37:09 GMT

I dont take time off work unless i really really have to, i had to pick my wee girl up from schhol one day as she was ill, i waited on her dad comin in from work and then i went back to work at night to make the hours up that i had off, i do on call the same as the other nurses, its hard sometimes but i do try my best, and no i would not expect anyone to look after my daughter at work, my husband will usually take time off from his work if she is ill causeits just easier x

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:19:17 GMT

Not true actually - they only have a right for alternative hours to be considered. Legally they are not entitled to anything other than their own job back.

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Steph Phillips — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:26:17 GMT

[quote user="Tracey Louise Mullins RVN"]

[quote user="Steph Phillips"]

Yes, there are some mum's out there that take the biscuit - and also some Mums that are lucky enough to be able to have sitters when they are working..

..There are also Mum's like me who refuse point blank to spounge of benifits, & work f*cking hard to earn a good living, without the "luxury" of having a permanant sitter

[/quote]

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Tracey Louise — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:13:02 GMT

[quote user="Steph Phillips"]

Yes, there are some mum's out there that take the biscuit - and also some Mums that are lucky enough to be able to have sitters when they are working..

..There are also Mum's like me who refuse point blank to spounge of benifits, & work f*cking hard to earn a good living, without the "luxury" of having a permanant sitter

[/quote]

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:24:42 GMT

Thanks for all the replies

My little man is very good, and will sit in the staff room with his DS/DVD player etc, although I do check on him regularly as he is only 5! He loves all my colleagues, and they seem to enjoy having him 'help' with things like stamping etc

I agree that it looks unprofessional having to bring him with me on call outs, and that it is a) not an ideal environment for a child, and b) makes the whole thing a lot more stressful for me, and probably therefore for the vet too. However, at the moment I have no other options - I have asked repeatedly to be taken off the OOH rota, and have been denied each time, so I'm not sure what more I can do, given that I can't get childcare on these occasions.

Lots of food for thought anyway - thanks!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Steph Phillips — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:20:17 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

In my experience staff are either 'good' or 'bad' and children are simply another excuse to use for 'bad' staff

My children come before everything else - my nurses have had to cancel appointments when I had to rush to school to collect Callum and take him for an emergency dental appointment - he had knocked his 2 front teeth back!! So I have every sympathy if emergencies arise for others. I have coped in these circumstances.

However,I hate poor forward planning and school holidays being used as an excuse for needing time off. But even staff without children can come up with some pretty good excuses for needing time off in a hurry. You are either considerate of your fellow staff or you aren't.

As far as the possibility of some staff resenting them being in a staff room or other communal area - tough. They are just mini people and deserve the same respect as you would give to anyone else.

[/quote]

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:04:55 GMT

I completely agree - my boyfriend gets landed with the shitty shifts and really has to fight for time off over Christmas and New Year because he doesn't have a famliy, no children etc... so the staff with kids can have the time off... he also seems to get a lot of the really early (4am) or really late shifts (finishing sometimes at 2-3am)... I should probably add that he works at an airport - not a veterinary practice!

Still a bit of a piss take!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:58:22 GMT

no problem - to me it is the minority that make it hard for the majority

Also in agreement with Gillian that there are good and bad in any group of employees with child or without.

However I do still feel that sometimes employees with children do have more rights in the workplace in some instances (especially those returning to their old employment after maternity leave who can pretty much call the shots on their terms) and that positive discrimation in these cases can be to the detriment of other employees and cause a lot of resentment and bad feeling within a team - I should know I have been piggy in the middle a number of times through this and it is so hard to be fair to both sides when one side has a whopping advantage

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Steph Phillips — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:30:37 GMT

Just read your post again Sal.. realised your not tarnishing us working mums with the same brush.. I read it quickly the first time and it made me a tad mad.. didn't read your first few lines properly! sorry!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Steph Phillips — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:20:36 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]

[quote user="scotlass"]

Think us mums are all the same, mum 1st everything else comes after that, its a good job their are employers out there that realise this or we would be back in the dark ages!

[/quote]

and I really dont have a problem with that , the majority of working mums I have worked with have been very responsible and havnt taken the p - but I have to say there have been a really annoying minority I havnt got on with. I understand a mother will always want to be there primarily for their child but when that means that I end up carry the can because 'x comes first and work can go hang' (and yes a nurse has said this to me) then I will dig my heels in and say look its your kid its your problem - dont make it mine. I have never minded covering the odd shift but there are a minority that will really take advantage. Its not just about being fair to a working mum its about being fair to other members of a practice team too.

[/quote]

Sounds a bit harsh Sal!

I hope your not tarnishing all us working Mums with the same brush!

Yes, there are some mum's out there that take the biscuit - and also some Mums that are lucky enough to be able to have sitters when they are working..

..There are also Mum's like me who refuse point blank to spounge of benifits, & work f*cking hard to earn a good living, without the "luxury" of having a permanant sitter - luckly I trust my son in my workplace, & I couldn't imagine being on edge worrying about him in work.. and I certainly DO NOT expect my colleagues to "babysit" MY SON when he's with me.. a child is a parents responsibility NOT a "problem" as you so delicately put it - and I would't dream of asking my fellow workmates to entertain him.. I take plenty of things to work with me when he has to come in - things like DVD, iPod, toys, colours etc.. and he is a bloody diamond..

Sorry if that sounded harsh.. but all the comments like "I'm not a babysitter" is sooo frustrating... WE KNOW!! (well.. I do anyway!)

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Gillian Mostyn — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:09:51 GMT

In my experience staff are either 'good' or 'bad' and children are simply another excuse to use for 'bad' staff

As far as the possibility of some staff resenting them being in a staff room or other communal area - tough. They are just mini people and deserve the same respect as you would give to anyone else.

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:48:00 GMT

[quote user="scotlass"]

Think us mums are all the same, mum 1st everything else comes after that, its a good job their are employers out there that realise this or we would be back in the dark ages!

[/quote]

an example

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:18:00 GMT

Urgh, the last thing I'd want to do when I sit down in the staff room is to have to listen to a kid!

I don't have a problem with them coming into the workplace, as long as they are 100% supervised (not by me)... are 100% quiet - staff room is my quite time... and 100% clean up after themselves!!! I'm not wiping melted chocolate off the table before I sit and eat my lunch, I'm a veterinary nurse, not a babysitter.

I would be mortified if I went to the vets OOH and was asked to look after a kid while mummy or daddy ran bloods etc... it's not professional. I think if you're gonna do it the practice needs to have a leak proof system in place!

Haha - there's a guys opinion!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

paula morgan — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 14:52:53 GMT

Think us mums are all the same, mum 1st everything else comes after that, its a good job their are employers out there that realise this or we would be back in the dark ages!

Re: Taking Kids to work?

Steph Phillips — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 10:24:03 GMT

[quote user="Sal (the 1st) Holesworth VN CMH Chyp (M)PNLP"]I understand the comment you are a mum before a nurse from another poster but you are also an employee[/quote]

I'm a Mum before that too! ..Simple..

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

My children are a fixture at work and have been since babies. The gorier the surgery the better. One of our nurse's children (8) is often in the staff lounge before and after school.

It is all about the behaviour of the child!

[/quote]

10000% Agree on this!! My boy loves seeing 'mummy & her friends work' - He is so well behaved, I'm one very proud mummy .. the staff love him and have no problem with him being there.. I'm doubly lucky!