My parent in another state has become ill with COVID- or flulike symptoms (100F temp the first day with chills, then overwhelming fatigue, a little diarrhea, dyspnea with any activity, severe joint pain and body aches). SpO2 is holding up so far. Test results take several days where they live. They are in their 70's and both with other health risks. No other immediate family there, and their friends have other significant comorbidities and are not going to be able to help. The well parent is trying to care for the sick parent - barely holding on, and not going to manage if anything gets worse or if the illness drags on for several weeks (or if they both end up sick, or god forbid someone is hospitalized).
I am wondering if I'm going to have to go there, and maybe on short notice, and possibly for weeks. But it's my first year in a new district which I think means I don't even qualify for FMLA, I don't have any leave saved up, and they don't really know me. Do I....try to ask for an unpaid leave? I think CARES act would cover two weeks at partial pay? Though I'm embarrassed to say, I don't even know if that act covers schools as employers.
We can live on my spouse's income, I'll be OK with money, but I'm not sure how to start this conversation at work (talk to HR? the principal?).
I'm pretty sure there's not a line of people out front waiting to take my underpaid job in a school as we prepare to re-open during a pandemic....hopefully they will work with me. If anyone has ideas about how to proceed, I'd appreciate them.
NutmeggeRN, BSN
2 Articles; 4,743 Posts
Yup see above