Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

When you have to take a day here and there for a sick day for LO or if you ask to work from home?

Ugh! I always feel guilty asking to work a half day or take off. It's ridiculous! I understand they're concern in work and the company, but I wish there was some sympathy.
My manager is divorced and never plans on having kids. Her life is all about work, which is fine... that's not my life.
Yes, my priorities changed when DS was born. I would put more effort in if I felt I got more support.

Just venting! I know I'm going to be on maternity this summer and I also am planning on taking the extra 6 weeks NJ allows for FML (which my boss doesn't know about since she's out on the Upstate NY office).

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

I am so, so lucky, my manager is so understanding and has gone above and beyond to accomodate me and my family. She is a mom too, the same age as me and we can totally relate to challenges of being a working mom.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Yes... and it's the only reason why I'm able to balance work/family so well... anytime the girls are sick I'm allowed to work from home, with no issue, no pushback, but I suppose part of the reason is that I've proven myself in the past. I get my work done, and done well, so nobody blinks an eye when I have to family obligations because they know I'll still get the work done. Truthfully, from October- February, there wasn't a SINGLE week in which I was in work eveyr day because of either snow or illness - I don't know how I would manage without the understanding of my supervisor!!

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Nope they have no understanding mine can care less be on time before 9 leave at 5. do they care if she is sick?no do they care if you have dr appt no my office is male dominated and they don't have a care in the world they work 12 hours or more and they do not care about any one who has an outside life. But my child comes 1st so I don't care I just do what I have to do

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Yes, very. She is a mom herself and she is also pregnant right now with her second. I couldnt ask for a more understanding boss. Im very lucky. In fact there are days that I come in when Eddie is sick and she INSISTS I go home to take care of him.

my company also doesnt generally allow working from home as a whole, not just bc of kids, but one woman in our group was having a rough pregnancy and she went to bat for her and WON.....she got her to be allowed to work from home for the last weeks of her pregnancy. It was unprecedented. She awesome like that.

Message edited 3/15/2011 9:36:17 AM.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Fortuneatly yes.
That is the whole reason I took this job- at 7 months pregnant no less!
My manger is pretty much a friend- we have been working together for years.
He came to this company first and wanted me to come over- I didn't think he'd go for it when he found out I was preggo- but he did.
I had to borrow time for my leave- and am still paying it back- and didn't get much time off- but in the end it was SO worth it.

I can pretty much come and go as I please... and I am SOOOO grateful for his understanding and trust in me.
I know that is not the norm.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Thankfully yes.

My boss is very understanding. He has two kids himself (HS age) so he gets it.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Yes - my manager is great. He is expecting his first DS later this year but, he's always been understanding and flexible.

I still feel bad taking time when I need it though but, he's always been great.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Just to chine in. Our VP boss is very understanding to anyone circumstances. My manager and two other people with kids have honestly taken off my days then I can even fathom but our director has taken just as many because her husband is sick. That typically leaves me to pick up all the extra work BUT I have full comfort knowing (or i hope) that I would be treated the same way if/when things happen in my life where I need to take off.

I have issues with unfair work practices where one person takes off constantly because of their kids and NO ONE else is allowed to take off (completely unbalanced) this happened at my past job and drove me insane. I think its great if anyone is allowed to work from home though as long as they actually work.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

My boss is a mother of 3 so when DD is sick she is very understanding. However, for Drs appts and stuff, she expects me to work around my schedule, which I do...Like take half days.. I ALWAYS feel guilty asking for the day too so you are not alone!

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

During our slow times, they are very accomodating, but during the busy times, they would prefer I leave DS with someone on the street rather than not come in.

They did away with working from home when the secretaries said it wasn't fair that they had to come in.

For those who work from home occasionally, how does your office deal with the conflict between those whose jobs must be performed in the office (secretaries, office managers, etc.), vs. those who do not need to be in the office for their positions?

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

My bosses are great and they "get it" - but I feel very guilty taking time off. I really only take off when I absolutely need to and I think that's why they are understanding when I do need to take time off (whether it's for DS or for myself like an appointment or whatever). I never used to use up all of my vacation time, which came in handy when I had DS since they let me carry over my days so I could get paid for some of the time I was out.

There are some employees here who seem to have a child related or personal issue much more often than other employees and the bosses are very understanding with them. Me, personally, I don't like to take days left and right, I really reserve taking days for when really necessary.

ETA: Oh and we are not allowed to work from home. I do usually end up doing some work from home if I have to take a day, but don't get paid for it or get time reimbursement.

Message edited 3/15/2011 9:48:18 AM.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

no. not at all. i have an office job and pulled all-nighters in the 3rd trimester of a high risk pregnancy. i work ridiculous hours. i am going back in 2 weeks and hope i can make it work. i am taking a pay cut in hopes of some greater flexibility - we will see if i can make it work.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

My boss/supervisor is extremely understanding but I don't take days off everytime my LOs are sick unless it's something serious...

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Sorry to hear that they're not very understanding

My job is VERY accommodating to families in general - it's part of the reason that I left the corporate world to come here. Be it a a dr. app or a sick parent, spouse or child, it's never a big deal. I believe that the employees that deal directly with the public just have to make sure that they're covered, but that's about it. I work in a public facility that is open late (until 9pm) & on weekends, so if need be we can take time here & there and just make it up when we can (otherwise we have to use our sick/personal time). So long as our work is getting done & we're clocking the time sometime during the workweek it's all good here. For all this place lacks, I'll be staying here at least until my son/future kids are in school...

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

No not at all. The couple of times I have taken off when DDs are sick I get an attitude when I come back in. But we get an attitude any time we take off really.

I don't have the ability to work from home. We used to be able to log in remotely and they did away with it. Don't know why.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Yes, she is because she has a 2 year old and is expecting her second any day now (I am covering for her maternity leave). So she is totally understanding.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

I think it's a perk of working for the govt vs/ working in the private sector. they really can't give you a hard time if you have the leave from what I have experienced.

of course when you have things due or are working on a major case and you call out, it's going to be an issue. but **** happens. what can you do?

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

This thread makes me sad.
I am not sure why most employers feel that treating their employees like children that need to be micromanaged and watched is good for morale or business in general
I have worked for companies like this- and I never felt like giving 100% when I was being treated like a 3rd grader.
But the companies that trusted me- and treated me like an adult- well those are the ones I want to do well for.

It's not a hard concept to get- yet so many companies just don't get it!

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Thankfully yes, she is a mom herself. I count my blessings everyday. I see how some of the other managers on the floor are completely apathetic!!!!

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

I also work for the government and my manager doesn't have to be understanding.

I have about 30 personal and 30 sick days and I can use them as I see fit (as long as I don't abuse it of course).

I just call and say "I won't be coming in today, please put me down for 8 sick" and that's it. I DO tell them WHY usually, but I am not obligated to in any way UNLESS I am using more than 3 sick days in a row (then I may need a doctor's note).

I have only used one sick day since I came back in November anyway.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?

Yes, very. I'm fortunate and grateful. My youngest has asthma and the cold weather wreaks havoc on him so October through March has been difficult. With two kids in daycare/pre-school, they also tend to get sick one right after the other. Luckily I can work from home when I need to but it does not mean I don't feel guilty for needing to do so.

Re: Working Moms... is your manager understanding?