to think I can get by without childcare in August because work is quiet?

I have asked this more than once as I think its important in order to know if you ar taking the piss or not...

If you are so sure your work will not be impacted by having your kids there and doing things with them, why are you not telling management or anyone at work this is what you plan to do??

If you are so confident it will be fine, then why not be honest?

Thing is, OP, I can't quite understand the 'business' aspect of this. It might not be your fault, but a culture seems to have arisen whereby for 4-6 weeks of the year you are all underdeployed but still being paid.

This doesn't make good business practice. A good, dynamic business would be asking the question, "How can we make use of this down time that we get every year?". I am puzzled why this isn't happening.

Only you know what your work entails. I find it odd that your asking permission on an internet forum. My mum used to take me to work during the holidays I would sit in the cleaners cupboard for four hours with a colouring book and snacks. Her boss knew.

And if that's the case then just let your manager know what you are doing. You seem to be avoiding answering that particular question.

Surely the fact that your managers are on annual leave is the example here? They're not just taking random days out and then taking their official leave during a busy month. And you mention you have leave booked in September - is this when it gets busier? So you leave your team to deal with the extra work?

If you genuinely think it's OK and it won't be a problem then just tell your manager. I definitely wouldn't be doing it on the sly.

I'm afraid I agree with you. I see this everywhere, all of the time. This is one of the reasons we are in such a state. We used to call it skiving, taking the piss, or bone idleness, although there is also an element of fraud. It's poor management if it's happening, and it is dreadful business practice. I sincerely hope this isn't the public sector, that would make it even worse.

She knows full well it isn't fine, which is why she has no intention of telling her employer what she's planning.

I also suspect looking at the voting that it’s rife which might explain why the UK is in such a mess

My work goes v quiet in August. There’s not a chance in hell that I’d be going on days out when I’m supposed to be working. That’s gross misconduct. If you need leave to look after your children then book leave but you can’t go on outings during working hours unless it’s worth potentially losing your job over.

I think the OP has convinced herself it is all fine whilst not telling her employer. Quite honestly if you aren’t visble, not needed for weeks on end which just happens to be the school holidays you might find they just need someone part time or merge two roles, or a job share

What industry is this OP, is it public or private sector, and what does a 'busy' week look like in terms of hours, day length etc. I think folks would need to know this before announcing AIBU or not!

If your job is happy with you working like that then fine. So if they see you out and about when you are down to work they are OK with that? If not I would be wary of getting caught.

If your work is organised exactly as you describe here, everyone is on holidays and you are just holding the forth in case something would happen, it might work.

Overall it really seems you don't need full time daily childcare and can use some mixed mode.
I'd still recommend booking some activities for the children - week in the middle, or some random days. It will be more fun for them and you will be able to think and talk about it in the mixed way - some days they are at the activities and some days they are with you.

Gosh yes it’s rife in the civil service. Still they are so efficient - why not? HMRC, Probate Office, Office the Public Guardian, various local authorities. I have to contact one very large local authority a couple of times a month. They quote 1 hour wait time if you call and 6-8 weeks if you send an email.

I came on to say exactly this. If they are so flexible then why can’t you be open about it?

Is there nothing else you could be doing? Our office can be quiet in August so it is when we do some tasks that are difficult to fit in during busy periods.

I don’t know what you do - obviously! But even Doctors are struggling to get work in this economy!!! GP practices literally can’t afford to hire doctors.

Most organisations are making cuts - the point is to save costs to stay afloat as the economy is atrocious!

My point is, yes great you’re able to do this and you have an amazing work life balance, what an ideal job!

I would just be worried that maybe your job isn’t ‘essential’ to the running of the company if you have so much free time or your absence can go unnoticed for SO long. (A month)

Also, it does sound like you are indeed expected to take annual leave during these quiet periods like both your managers. Otherwise just tell them to protect yourself incase you are found out

Yeah, I do think OP needs to be honest - after all, if it's not a problem, then there's nothing to hide.

My mum didn't work. Aged 8+, we were left to do our own thing most of the summer. Told to go out and play in the garden, hang out with our friends, whatever. It would have made no difference if mum had a flexible home based job, we were allowed to be kids and make up our own entertainment.

My own kids were similar age in the covid era. I had no choice about holiday clubs. So I worked full time from home (as per my pre-existing contract). I took one day off a week. Rest of the days, they had to just put up with getting a bit bored, or finding ways not to be. No harm was done. In fact, I got promoted off the back of it!

This is the crux of it for me. If it's absolutely fine and not any problem at all and your employer is happy with you working flexibly as long as the work gets done, then why would you need to hide it.

My test for anything I'm not sure about if it's OK, is 'am I happy to be honest about/can I justify it'?

I often do some work from home either my children there, not whole days, but the hour or 2 from when they finish school to when I finish work. This is agreed with my boss and I work later as necessary if my work is disrupted. So I'm not against doing a bit of work at home with older children present, but I am against dishonesty/not being upfront about your plans.

An odd day yes. I am part time and my employer is flexible (similar ages). But I wouldn't be allowed to go out and about.

I know plenty who do it in the civil service. They WFH, have kids at home and some do a second business from home.

I mean, you can give your opinion, but saying she'd get sacked at your place of work doesn't really mean anything either way.

The OP came on for opinions. I gave mine. Otherwise, what's the point?