I have been there before and in my experience, men managers never understand things when it comes to kids as typically they never have to deal with it. Usually the mother is the one who takes on the burden of taking the time off to take kids to the doctors etc. By burden, I don't mean kids are a burden by any means so please don't take it that way. On the other hand women are managers are more sympathetic to kid related issues. In my experience, the only time women managers were not sympathic and understanding were the ones who never had kids or their kids are grown so they either never had to or forgot what it was like to deal with children. I have 2 young kids (9 and 4) and have to deal with the same issue as my boss (female) does not have kids. I hope things work out for you. ((HUGS))

Unfortunately, I think we live in a society where job takes precedence over family in far too many people's eyes. You need to do what is best for you. And by the way, for your boss to hang up on you is unprofessional at best. I think you need to seriously question if this is a god place to even be working. I know times are tough, but I think you explore all the options.

I fully understand and I had this happen with my son through the years. Employers were NOT sympathic and although I would do everything to get myself into work when sick, I could not do that when my son was sick.

The schools would send them out when they developed fever or had rash (without a doctor's note that explained the rash and that it wasn't contagious). It's why I believe so many women who have children are passed by, i.e.the "glass ceiling," because their children makes them say NO over their job.

The district manager called today and told me he will visit next week and we'll talk, he got my email. After a week, he finally acknowledges my concern. I am dreading this as I know the District Manager & Store Manager are pretty tight. Please pray for me.

Do you have an HR department you can go to and report the behavior of your bosses? Or some kind of corporate integrity? No one deserves to be treated that way! Especially in a work environment! I would look into your rights as an employee and find some help out there. There has to be some kind of resource available for you. I would possibly do some research online. Hope all goes well for you!

Oh, you work retail...one never knows what will happen. What pleases one boss can piss off another..there is no such thing as job security in many jobs any more.

Kismet what way is she being treated? No one cares about reasons you don't show up, they just know that they have find someone to cover your shift.

I have worked a few retail jobs - for big corps. There is no way that any of them would allow you to bring your young child with you and let them stay in the break room all day. They aren't a sitter service. They have liability they have to deal with.
I have gotten slack from management for punching in while having my at the time, young son with me.

I wouldn't doubt if all that info is in your employee handbook..some managers follow the rules to a tee.

It's probably good to find some kind of back up plan in case this happens again.. A neighbor, or a sitter who can take care of your kid when you are in a pinch.

What I was talking about is the way that he is talking to her and the fact that he hangs up on her. I understand that there are rules and policies, I am not blind or oblivious to that, but no one person, regardless of where you are employed, deserves to be treated that way. And if her boss "finds a way to get rid of her" because he feels that she "went behind his back or above him", then I would suggest finding a different job because I sure as heck would not want to be treated that way. There are policies against retaliation and there is also protection for employees against that sort of thing. I do understand that your place of employment is not a sitter service, and no place for a child to be hanging out while you work, but her boss didn't seem to oppose the idea either, only the fact that he didn't want to expose the sick child to others at work. From what the OP says, it's ok for the boss to be sick at work all week, but not for others to be sick while working..so is it safe to say that they should tell customers who are sick to leave the store as well?

There are not many options for single parents when they get a call from school/ daycare telling them they need to pick up their children and they have no other options than to leave work to get them. What are us parents supposed to do in a situation like this? We don't want to lose our jobs because obviously we need it to support our families and survive, and certainly do not want to leave our children when they are ill, so if you have any other options or suggestions, please feel free to give them.

I just looked it up and Maryland is an AT WILL employment state. That means an employer can let you go without a good reason and it's okay. Don't forget that. There are some exceptions and they are below.


http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/wpatwill.shtml

So then we are going to find ourselves collecting state benefits because there is no stability in the workplace, and employers are just able to let people go at their own free will? WOW! I guess I am one of the lucky ones and have a job where they are sympathetic to single parents, and they do have policies against retaliation, have corporate integrity, and they do take it very seriously. Glad I do not live in a state where they have the "at will" policy..

There is no stability in the workforce anymore.. For every person working there are at least five people chomping at the bit right behind you to take your job.

I have been working since the 70's. I have been yelled at, hung up on, had books thrown at me, been hit on, had construction workers not do as I ask because I was a woman, etc. Yet my work ethic has always been consistent and professional. I have won over foreman with my knowledge and earned their respect.

I have had crazy bosses, I have had great bosses, I have been a boss. I have been called a great boss, I have been called a mean boss. I have had women bosses who have children who have been cruel, and women bosses without children who have been sweet as pie. I have had understanding men bosses, I even had a boss who would get drunk and take his guns out to show everyone..(I'm talking about real guns) Every person, every boss is different. Every person interacts with each differently.

Through all my years of working, the advice I would give to anyone is to do your best, try your hardest, pull your weight. Treat people how you would want to be treated. If someone gives you a hard time, confront them directly and discuss your grievances.
Don't expect raises, always consider them to be something you earned, not something you expect to get.
Always go beyond your job. Always be agreeable.
If a team is relying on you and you can't deliver, have a back up, make the plan work.
In the case of the OP, what I would have done is ask my boss if he wanted me to call other employees to see if they could cover for me. That would have given him an option and more likely then not, he would have said, no, I will find someone, yet he wouldn't have felt that you were dropping the ball in his court.

Many Managers are under constant pressure and are being pulled in 100 directions at one time.. Working together and making the wheel run smoothly takes a whole group. A bump in the wheel can throw everything off. That's why we all need to have a back up plan.. For ourselves and for our work.

My other suggestion is that if you are going to file a grievance about someone, wait a week and calm down, unless its something very urgent.

You said that the boss went to work with the flu, or a cold..probably because he needed to run the store and make sure he had coverage and was able to provide customer service to the customers who frequent the store who buy the product that pays the salaries.

Someone spoke about a state being an "at will" employment state.. But in reality whether an employer is able to let you go just because or if they have to document a reason, it's usually because the employee isn't pulling their weight.

A job is an opportunity not a right. And once you get that job, it's not set in gold that you will have it forever...

Right now I have a job that never in a million years I thought I would have to be doing at this point in my life, yet I am thankful that I do have it. Occasionally when I run into Head of HR in the hall, I thank him..he laughs..

CA is at will too. :p

Arizona is also an At WIll state.

I agree MsViv..but I still stand behind the fact that he could have approached the sitaution differently.

I'm sorry you are under all this stress. I've already prayed for you, and I hope things turn around drastically and suddenly for the better.

It doesn't matter if you live in this state or that, with these rules or those... The RIGHT thing is for people to be kind to one another.

NC is an at will state too, but my boss has said many times he would rather make someone quit, my guess is so we don't have to pay unemployment. The gossip girl just told me today that the boss ranked me higher than his other managers, so I'm hoping the District Manager takes that into consideration.

Yes, my boss came to work with the flu for a whole week when we were capable of running the store without him. He also brings in his 16 year old daughter to help out a lot. I realize there is a huge age difference between his daughter and mine, but the liability is the same, that's why I offered to bring her.

I think the District manager will be fair, but I'm still dreading it. All sorts of scenarios are going through my mind.