All my sick time/pto was used for my kid. If I was sick, I went to work. I got pointed one time because I had a fever and no one wanted to work near me, my supervisor said I could go home, and then pointed me. When my young son was, when his symptoms blew up, I had to take unpaid FMLA because I was getting called out of work so much. I almost got fired for it. and I also agree with your last paragraph. I do know, In retail, in my time, the (young) childfree usually had to work second or third shift, and the older and parents got first shift. I thought it unfair, until I got older. Senority plays a factor too though. so idk. edit, and the whole time I was dealing with the stuff before I got fmla, I remember co workers saying I was getting special treatment. I did not want to leave work, I didnt want to cry and stress over lost income, I wanted to stay and do my job. I was so stressed out, having panic attacks, sometimes at work, def at home, and even somedays was suicidal. The loss of work, because PTO ran out quick, was loss of income. Daycare wants you to pay for your child’s “spot”. so you pay for them weather they are home sick or at daycare, except if im home, Im not making money. I was worried every day about making rent, having food, and my little monster of a child having trouble. I wanted to kms I was so stressed out, and coworkers were talking behind my back how I was getting special treatment. I didnt want special treatment, I wanted a healthy kid so I could work unbothered, and pay rent on time.