You've got a major presentation at work, your spouse has personnel problems to deal with and now your child has come down with a mild fever. Or worse yet - your small person has come down with the chicken pox. You stayed home the first couple of days while they were feeling the most miserable but now the little tyke is running around like nothing's wrong except that they can't go back to school/childcare for two weeks and you're wondering how you're going to get any work done.
Now what? Sure, if it was life threatening, you'd have your priorities straight and stay home. But when those gray areas of a child's health bump up against strict childcare policies and a heavy-duty work schedule, there's only one truly satisfying answer if grandma's not available - the Virginia Mason sick child day care (technically known as Tender Loving Care - Childcare for mildly ill children).
Originally set up for Virginia Mason employees, they are now open to the general public on a space available basis and have a separate room specifically for kids with chicken pox. Some companies even offer subsidized access to VM TLC as a benefit - if I was still working in management, I'd insist on it.
TIP - call or check the website when you DON'T need the information so you understand what's involved and then keep a registration form on hand for the event you DO need their services once you've determined your being able to work is worth that much money for a limited period of time.
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