HELP! My cube-mate bought her sick kid to work today

[rene moon]

I want to gouge my eyes out. I am stuck here at my desk, with cartoons running all morning. It hasn't stopped the kid from running around, making too much noise, coughing all over stuff back here.

She said she didn't want to leave him with a sitter, so we are subject to his illness. And of course, the higher-ups won't say anything---they never do!

I am trying to work on a project and it's a major distraction. I normally am not that "kid-friendly", so I am trying to be cool. But it is hard when I am trying to write!!!

ARGH!!! what should I do???

On Edit: We are a federal office (elected official)

[bleedingheart]

1. how old is this child?

I have never brought a sick child to work...I have two kids with asthma and I have made other arrangements for their care if I had to work...

[rene moon]

2. He's about 4, I think

She does this alot.

[bleedingheart]

5. geez...

on one hand I can understand if she does this because she has no one to watch the little guy and needs to keep her job...but then again how can she work with him there?

My boss used to do this with her baby when he would get sick ..but he was in a portable crib and she kept him in her office with the door shut....big difference.

[Lex]

3. Tell your supervisor that you want to go work at home

for the balance of the day because of the cartoons and the coughing, etc. distracting you.

[GOPisEvil]

4. That's seriously inappropriate.

You'll know who to thank when you're sick later this week.

What's your sick leave policy? Sounds like your cube mate needs to be at home dealing with her child.

[radwriter0555]

6. The woman SHOULD be able to stay home and care for her ill

child.

Gosh, isn't america great?

[rene moon]

8. She can, if she wants to

All the other women with children here do it. We have a really great childcare policy. But she chooses to come in, everytime!

[tigereye]

28. I would never take my sick kid to work

but then I don't usually take him to work when he is well, either. :)

you and she both have my sympathy. Someone should tell her to take him home.

[imenja]

get those little foam earplugs from the drugstore

[Matariki]

7. Go home?

that's horrible.

[rene moon]

11. I would but my computer is down

So, I am stuck here today. I guess I will have to suck it up!

[gollygee]

9. That is absolutely wrong

If the child is too sick to be at school or daycare, the child is too sick to be at work with mom.

If the child is too contagious to be at school or daycare, the child is too contagious to be at work with mom.

I'm a mom so I'm not by any means a child-hater or anything. And this is just plain WRONG.

I'd complain to your boss or supervisor or whatever.

[skygazer]

10. I don't know what to tell you

I have three kids of my own so I'm pretty sympathetic to people's kid problems. It sucks when you have to work to pay the sitter and your kid is sick and you can't afford to stay home and your sitter won't take the kid because he's sick. Kind of a catch 22.

However, it's not fair to inflict the kid on your co workers either. Especially if you don't control them. My assistant manager used to bring her kids to the store where I work and she'd go off doing her work and leave these kids to their own devices. They were 4 and 6. And the employees would end up watching them! Which sucked.

I dont' know what to tell you - if the higher ups won't do anything, it seems kind of useless to complain. I've been in the predicament your co worker is in and it's no fun. I guess I can see both sides too well.

[Nikepallas]

12. blame BUSHCO...always do that when in doubt

If this woman had to bring the child to work is this an indication she would suffer (in some way) if she stayed home with the child?

And I personally know personal babysitters and day cares who will refused to care for a kid that is sick. Some care givers-sad to say-are not capable of caring for an ill child.


I can understand your stress especially if you are not a "kid friendly" person as is. Just remember how you are when you are sick and see if you can must up some empathy for the kid.

[LisaM]

13. Is your co-worker out of sick days?

This is what the FMLA is supposed to cover.

[rene moon]

15. No

We have a flexible policy---she could have stayed home today. ARGH!

[bleedingheart]

17. yeah but FMLA is without pay...and is for long term illness

it can't be used for sick children unless they have chronic illnesses...like asthma and then each event has to be carefully documented.

[LisaM]

26. I think you can use your own sick days to take care of sick children

it used to be that you couldn't, and I think the FMLA changed that.

[BlueJazz]

14. Sounds like Hell! ......This is a sore point with me.....

I mean, Parents who send their Kids to school sick and also bring them to work sick.

I remember in Grammar/High School, Kids would come to class sick with the flu and coughing their butts off..because they wanted to have "Perfect Attendance".

Soooo..at the end of school they would get a big deal certificate stating that they had shown up every school-day.

What they didn't know was half the students in the audience was thinking: Yeah, that's the inconsiderate Son-of-a-Bitch that came to school infecting all of their class-mates..pricks...

[Atlas Mugged]

16. Bringing a virus to work is unforgivable!

I don't mean to be harsh, but quit being a doormat and do something before you get the damned flu or something!

I'm just getting over the flu (3 damned weeks) and I'm very tempermental about this sort of thing.

[rene moon]

18. I think I will

It's driving me :silly:!

[hiley]

19. I have 4 grown

kids and 6 Grandchildren and I feel for you. With a weakened auto immune system I hate it when my kids show up with their sick and contagious children ! I already did this and never pushed my ill kids on others, thought it was my responsibility to try to protect everyone if possible. She should have stayed home with her little one.
Don't feel bad about being put out coz' you are at work not her home !:hug:

[Atlas Mugged]

30. Exactly

I broke 4 ribs a year ago in an accident, and since I've had this violent flu - I've cracked them again from coughing my guts out.

[AlCzervik]

20. Make sure they pay you for your missed time at work next week

and tell them the source of the illness. thats just as bad as when they send their kids to school sick and then your kids winds up missing a week because of them.

[MissMillie]

21. Any chance you can work at home?

I'd walk into my boss's office and ask him/her. I get sick pretty easily and hate it when people come to work sick.

[rene moon]

24. No, not possible today

:(

[sangh0]

22. TIme to hang up playboy posters and start using lots of curse words

Make it just as uncomfortable for her as it is for you by engaging ADULT activities and discussions. Maybe you can get a partner on the phone and start talking about the sex acts you will be performing later tonight.

And offer lots of candy and other junk to the child. This way, the kid will still be bouncing off the walls when this women bring the child home. If the mother scolds the child for anything, smile and wave at the child, then tell the child "It's OK. You didn't do anything bad"

[rene moon]

25. hahaha!!!

LOL---that's good.

[Lady Sonelle]

34. Being A Childless S/M Dominatrix Has Its Good Aspects!

When I was forced to work in an office, we had the same problem. Some clueless breederbrain hauled her son to work whenever he had a cold or "needed some time off" from school... which seemed to be every few months or so... beeyotch mother never seemed to "get it" that her son was a freakin' VECTOR!

We caught every nasty bug that was making the grade school rounds. Closing My office door was not effective as the little brat would promptly *open* the door and come in!

Fed up, I brought a paddle from My "toy-bag" to work and kept it in My filing cabinet. When Little Snivleigh came in yet *again* with the Congolian Crud, hacking and spraying, I took out My weapon of ass-destruction, a huge, steel studded black leather double-flat paddle and slowly began whacking My palm with it whilst giving him the Dominant's Stare Of Death. Being double flanged, the leather flaps came together with a terrifyingly loud WHACK!! against the palm of My hand.

Snivleigh froze, turned to look with the classic deer-in-the-headlights glazed gawp. WHACK!! I stared straight into his eyes and began to emit a very low, vibrating growl. WHACK!! By now the palm of My hand was pinky red, but the paddle continued its metronomic WHACK!!

Snivleigh bolted from the office with a yelp of pure terror! he never opened My door again. Apparently he didn't tell Mummie, either, for she never said a word to Me about it.

Lady Sonelle
Who would never HIT a child! My toys are *clean* thank you!

[WMliberal]

23. don't take that shit.

do something about it.
Dealing with her; approach her in terms of HER interests. You'll get much further than suggesting what's in YOUR interest. First, suggest to your neighbor that it might be better for the child's health if he/she were in bed, instead of running around. Second: tell her that the child's running around is distracting HER work, so she might as well be at home anyway (and remind of the generous sick policy).

If she is still obstinate, go to the boss. Speak again in terms of the boss's interests. "the child is a distraction for the mother and the coworkers. the child could make everyone else sick and then we'd ALL be home ill." Say "I've already suggested as much to her, but she feels afraid of the repercussions of not being at work. Your assurance could give us all a better day at work."

[MemphisTiger]

27. I would tell her in a very non-abrasive way

that you would appreciate her staying home with her sick child and not distracting and possibly infecting the office with this virus or bug that the child has. If that doesn't work, get a bit rude with her like cough on her phone or something, if she isn't in a position of authority over you. Just make sure others in the office are on board with you. Safety in numbers.

[sbj405]

29. That sucks. I had the same situation

Damn coworker would bring his kid and wife in. The woman was obviously bored out of her mind. Eventually, management did say something. So now she and the kid go to another floor (which I have since relocated to).

Ask your supervisor if in light of the distractions you can work from home (if that's feasible)?

[BiggJawn]

31. I'd tell her tomorrow (If she doesn't bring the kid in)

Exactly how inappropriate and unprofessional you thought this is. Just get face-to-face and tell her. if she wants to escalate it, fine. FORCE the higher-ups to "do something" about it. I can't imagine anyone in this current business client siding with your co-worker.

Be prepared for a bunch of whining about not "caring" about children and the like, but stand firm.

You're in a Federal office, NOT a day-care for virus ridden kids.

Oh, BTW, I have a kid, but when I had to take her to work sick with me, it was when I was the graveyard guy at the TV station, so it ws just me and my sick little kid. When I got a day job, I stayed home with her.

I don't like it when ADULTS come to work hacking and pleghming virii all over the place either.

[rene moon]

32. She finally took the kid home

Yay! So quiet---except for the fact she sprayed air freshner all over and the office reeks. Argh---it never ends!!!!!

[sangh0]

33. Mexican food for dinner tonight, and lots of OJ in the morning

then spend your morning in the office spraying your own brand of deodorizer.