Caregiver calling in sick too often. Should I let her go?

Yes, call the agency to have the caregiver replaced. That is what you're paying for.

Donte1423: Imho, any other persons who work for companies and call out sick too many times may be asked to present a doctor's note as to the reason of illnesses.
Another consideration is if she is legitimately sick, this may be detrimental to caring for your father as if she is on shift, perhaps she could possibly pass on her illness to him.

I would talk to her and show her absentee record. Ask if has reason. Explain importance of dependability. Give a time period she must have no callouts. If violates this then let her go. Home care consistent and capable help is very hard to find.

Contact the program that oversees her employment with you. Tell them how many times she's called in and that you need someone reliable. Or ask if the other caregiver can assume her hours

Sounds like her calling off before a shift is her intention to want to leave the job. Fore her.
If she is ill then she needs to have the time to see dr or get the rest she needs and not hold a job where you need a reliable person.

If I were in this position, I'd fire her. She's unreliable. I'd find someone reliable.

Hi,

Don't stay the course. Let her go. I have worked in care and disabilities and this is a sign of burnout. She will continually do this and your frustration will grow.
It is not up to you to look out for her, you look out for your Dad, so get him a second carer who wants to do the job.

Look after yourself as well.

This is a tough one and I have more questions than answers. My gut response, like most others, is to tell you to let her go. But then questions come up, like, how long has she been taking care of your dad? Of all of her total shifts, how many has she missed? Does he really like her? Is she a good caregiver otherwise? I would certainly be annoyed at someone who called in sick too often. My mom's overnight caregiver recently made medical appointments for days when she stays overnight with mom, and then could not stay overnight with mom. This has happened twice in October and I find it annoying, as she does not have another position and I am guessing could have scheduled that appointment for another day, which is what I usually do when I have medical appointments, that is I try to schedule them on days that have less impact on my workplace.

Whether she is truly ill or calling out because she has another job that day or has childcare issues does not really matter in my opinion. She only works 8 hours a week and if I hired someone for 8 hours a week and they missed more than two or three days in a 5-6 month period I would probably let them go. So I guess in my longwinded way I have come around to saying that you should let her go. But the kind thing to do would be to let her know, to give her some warning that if she calls out again that you will have to let her go.

Either way, you should let her go. If she's that sick she doesn't need to be around your Dad and It can't be Burn Out with your dad anyways because she doesn't work enough hours for Burn Out.

I suppose if you and your Dad like her and this only happens once a month, you could tell her that if it happens again, you will have to let her go unless she lets you and the Service to know the day before to have time to get an alternate.

You might just ask her what's going on?

There are so many reliable caregivers ,why stick with one who isnt? If she is sickly she should not be a caregiver.

When you asked if there is a benefit to the caregiver to have you fire her rather than quitting on her own, maybe her contract awards unemployment benefits if she is terminated, but denies benefits if she quits voluntarily.

How long has she been your dad's CG? You deserve answers. Ask her. Have a sit down talk and find out why she can't do her job as agreed.

Do you hire these aides and IHSS pays for it or are they employees thru IHSS or an agency? If IHSS employees, then u call IHSS and tell them what is going on or the agency involved. But I get the impression you hire them since u can also fire them. You need to start looking for another aide. When u find one, then let this one go. There is no law that says u need to give 2 weeks notice. If you did, she probably would not come back anyway. I am in a "no fault" State meaning an employer can fire and give no reason and a person can quit for no reason. Giving 2 weeks is a courtesy.

I have worked all my life and for someone to call out this often would result in immediate termination unless it was legitimately proven there was a valid reason - and even then they could be let go. She is plainly unreliable and it is affecting your father and you both. Talk with the agency or seek someone else at once - and when you find someone, lay out boundaries about calling out etc. Who knows why she is doing this so often - it is unacceptable.

Can you ask the IHSS to provide a replacement when the caregiver calls in sick? Your father still needs care, even when his caregiver is sick. Talk to them about what he is entitled to in this situation.

Sounds like the caregiver has something going on. Maybe illness or family issues or ... I suggest that your report this the his/her agency and ask for them to investigate the issue. Since the caregiver is only serving your family for 2 days per week and 8 hours total, this is not a case of burn out -unless he or she has more clients and has overbooked himself or herself. The agency should have a way of sending a replacement person when one of their caregivers calls in sick.

I'd say give it a couple weeks after reporting to see if the issue clears up. If it doesn't, then you might be better served with a more reliable person.

Dump her!

Unless there is something legitimate about her calling in (that is something you need to be assured of) dump her! Your dad’s health is just as important as hers.

Let her go immediately. It’s hard to find reliable caregiver at a home setting. Maybe a male caregiver would be a better fit? Especially if there’s transferring or lifting involved.

if caregiver don’t show, they don’t get paid.
Hugs 🤗

If a pay period is every two weeks, she's calling in sick 25% of the time. No employer would keep on an employee who calls in sick that often. Regardless of what's keeping her from showing up (it isn't sickness, but probably an issue with childcare or something like that), it isn't your problem to solve. Let her go and hire someone reliable.

I would want to find out what the real problem is.
Chances are she has another job. If she is calling in 1 day per pay period is it the same day or around the same time? That might be a clue.
I would look for another caregiver. Particularly if she is giving you only 2 or 3 hours notice. If YOU had an appointment to see your doctor and had to cancel it because she called in sick you would be charged for not giving at least 24 hour notice. (at least that is the way it is with all of my doctors offices)
And your dad should not have to put up with the frustration of having his schedule disrupted as well.

I’d guess that your caregiver has another casual job that pays better. She gets the offer of a shift there, so cancels you. It’s more likely than repeated ‘illness’ that comes and goes so frequently.

Get someone else. She's unreliable and you need someone you can count on.

If it were happening occasionally and they worked on having a sub get there in time, then it would be somewhat more acceptable but not what's happening now. I recently had to fire someone who was very sweet but was on her phone constantly managing her children and home life remotely. She was in her 40s, so not "inexperienced". Sorry, not what I'm paying for. And it's not my problem or yours. Let her go and make sure to complain to the IHSS supervisor.

This is unacceptable and you know it. You are planning on this CG to be there, doing her job and suddenly your dad is thrown off b/c she doesn't show--and doesn't give you a replacement to call or anything.

A 50% no-show rate? That's not OK.

You can stay the course and it will be more of the same.

I worked Elder Care and always called the day before--or if I had to call 'last minute' I got someone to cover. Then I'd call my client with the option that I'd come another day or she could have the replacement. NEVER leave a client hanging.