Being labelled unreliable as a working mum

I think you’re being a bit OTT. You need child care for after school as you can’t work and look after a 2 year old at the same time. Either you’re neglecting work to do the child care or vice versa

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Use this website to explore how much UC you could receive while in work. The number of hours you work is irrelevant for UC. They also help with up to 85% of child care costs

https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

Look at this regarding tax free child care that is in addition to free hours.

Is the manager aware that your child is there AND you are the one looking after her?

TBH at 2 I don't think you can do both roles (work and childcare) at the same time - if your employer has the 'this is your workload and your timing on how you do the workload is up to you' then fine. finishing your work load when they are in bed or working more efficiently when they are in school/child care fine.

If you are trying to work while also providing childcare then you can't - because BOTH will suffer. When they are older you can - for example either myself or my husband will occasionally work at home - our youngest is 14, if we were in work he'd be home alone and be fine - because we are at home we will have lunch with him or get stupid questions which take 2 seconds to answer - your trainers are where you left them.

so many people banging on about contracted hours.

The OP's CEO has made it clear that he/she is paying to do a job and as long as the job is done, he/she doesnt care about the rest of the time. The OP has made it clear that there are time when the workload is very heavy, where she has to work more hours. So I would imagine that over a year it evens out.

Just because some work places insist on "bums on seats" regardless of actual workload, doesnt mean all do.

Sounds like some of you are jealous that the OP has a pretty sweet deal!

This.
I think you have every right to feel targeted and singled out.
Ask for clarification as this is adding stress to your life that is unreasonable and unwarranted.

You sound amazing OP.
It is very difficult juggling work and single parenting.
Mind yourself and ignore the usual nasty posts that love to give a kicking to a struggling woman.

It is a consistently unpleasant theme on MN, which is very tedious.

I work very efficiently. I can complete tasks in 20 mins which some colleagues will take an hour plus to do. This is largely due to my experience. At 4:00 I go to collect my child because my work for the day is done. My colleagues may be there to 5/6. I am not going to carry on working just because others are. So I get what she means here.

Also I hardly ever get a lunch break so add that onto my finish time

Has your employer honestly said that they are ok with you looking after a 2 year old while you work? You say you have to work after pick up? How does that work?

You mentioned that you don't have childcare in school holidays? Do you have approval from your employer that you will be working while looking after a 2 year old? Or Do you have enough annual leave to cover the whole of holidays?

My work would never allow this. They don't allow any primary school children to be at home while we are working. Only exception is sickness, but in that case we can take emergency leave etc.

You should consider either getting more childcare or reduced hours to fit with school pick ups.

Also how on earth do you cope with not eating all day?

And I do get your point about hours - I work 30 hours Monday-Friday and if I have meetings Friday afternoon I might do a half day Weds and still do my hours and my job.

i have an all day conference this Friday so im only doing half a day tomorrow and next Thursday!

@Positivegirl you seem to be avoiding advice/posts about UC paying childcare - up to 80% of the cost! You need to look into this - it’s an in work benefit.

I know it’s tough I’ve done it with 3 including a baby - but lots of us single parents work . It doesn’t get easier when you have to juggle school holidays either.

But that's you and many people assuming that is happening. She has said she does her hours, she has happy clients, CEO and HR are happy, most colleagues are happy it's only her LM and PM who have raised issues. So it sounds like they are the exception and everyone else is satisfied with OPs contribution.

I think you're being disingenuous. And ridiculous.

Can you please answer my question about what your average working day looks like?

But she’s not just nipping out to collect the child - she’s then the child care for after school……..you can’t work properly and care for a child properly simultaneously

If you’re picking up the kid from school who is then looking after the kid when you are back at work?

Yes but there is ‘doing your hours’ when you’re 100/% focused and able to work and ‘doing your hours’ while simultaneously looking after a toddler. It sounds like she’s doing the latter which is why so many people think she’s taking the piss.

She has said repeatedly she does do her hours.

It looks like you are avoiding answering how many hours a week your child is in childcare?

Maybe she is being chippy because people are being chippy to her. She isn't working less she just skips her lunch so she can leave early. She is still doing her contracted hours. OP has said this.

I honestly can't believe this thread. OP is a classic example of someone the government is trying to keep in work. It is exactly this scenario that has led to free hours of childcare, OP is a contributor. She is trying to remain a contributor and here, a forum overwhelmingly women has for so much criticism for doing her full job but using her lunch hour to collect her child. A situation her employer agrees to on employment, they have the responsibility to accommodate it.

It is quite obvious flexible work options is the only way to ensure parents can meet their work and family obligations.