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

Honestly I wouldn't bother replying to people. They live in a tiny world where they can not comprehend that other people's jobs may not run like theirs and that everyone should parent like they do.

The only thing I would have said, is something you've already done, check with your manager to ensure you're covered.
I'm a teacher and the amount of people that dislike me because I now dont have a lot to do over summer, its taken me years to get to this point and hu dress of hours work in the last half term to ensure I have everything ready for Sept. They don't see the hours I worked in June and July to be able to spend most of summer with my kids

Like you I also take some time just for me, I go away with friends every year and it does me the world of good.

Exactly - these threads always go the same way and it's so predictable.

And did these staff get paid for taking this quiet time?

A classic case of just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

I'd be absolutely livid if it ever came to light a colleague had been behaving in this way. It's not jealousy, I just can't abide piss taking.

You can't have your kids at home for the 6 weeks holiday (and take them out everyday etc) and then book annual leave for yourself. You may 'get away with it' or you manager may unofficially tell you it's okay but morally and ethically I think it's wrong.

There's plenty I could get away with as I WFH, but I don't as it's just not fair.

It's different if your childcare let you down or there were other extenuating circumstances but to plan this and then take your leave as soon as the kids go back doesn't sit right with me at all. It's taking liberties.

People like you will ruin WFH for everybody

She said she posted to get opinions and on the back of those opinions asked her manager who has approved it. So that’s why she posted. Of course the thread has moved in a lot but people are still telling her that her manager won’t like it!

And that other thread isn’t relevant because that was about much younger children, babies and toddlers. Not an 8 and 10 year old.

MN is well known for being shitty about people WFH and assume every job is, or should be, a clock-in and clock-out one where everyone is paid for their time/ labour and not for their skills or expertise.

It is quite old-fashioned and I get it, people are envious. But envy is fine so long as it isn't a crab-bucket mentality.

And lots of posters seem to have difficulties not realising that not everyone has the same sort of job as them.

you’ve posted on a public forum for opinions from others. I’ve replied with how it would be viewed from my workplace (who are actually a fab employer with very good flexible working policies and support for parents) and how your colleagues may perceive it. If your managers have approved your set up then I don’t know why you posted on here for advice to be honest - crack on and have a good summer!

and if you want to see the ‘other side’ of your arrangement then look at the trending thread set up by a user who is frustrated by someone looking after their kids on work time and how it impacted their outputs…
with regards to healthy and safety - I’m not saying that you replying to emails whilst looking after your children would result in harm to your customer - it’s more if you are popping out and are in a car accident on work time, or you or your kids had an accident whilst you were juggling work and childcare at the same time, your work would be under obligation to investigate that (and maybe even report major injuries) as they have a duty to keep you safe whilst on work time if you are supposed to be working…

I think so. Recently registered user. Claims to be in a senior position but no work, no professional development to catch up on etc etc. Can’t take decisions for herself.

very angry if people question her. Wasn’t able to talk to her boss until she wanted to prove people wrong. Etc etc.

😂 aren’t you a delight.

I was entering into a conversation.

you felt you needed to come on to the internet to ask a very specific question about your employer and if you could get away with not working for a month.

apparently you can. I was simply commenting that no one here knows so why ask us???

Not really.

Sales start on black Friday.

The last few years I've noticed most stores have reduced their Xmas stock early in December and in many stores, there's no Xmas stuff other than food left as they're putting out the January clutter-busting/fitness stuff.

Same as most stores currently have their autumn/Halloween stuff out right now in July and by the time the end of September comes around, you'll find a small amount of reduced Halloween stuff in the back as every store is putting the Xmas stuff at the front.

Same as you get Easter Eggs just after Xmas and discounted Easter Eggs the couple of weeks before Easter because the stores have moved on to summer stuff.

And you got a reply on a Friday evening? Sure you did!!!!

Or maybe they’re expressing concerns that this sort of behaviour is considered acceptable in public sector employment!

This was clothing retail in a touristy area, so January was always one of our quietest times of year. Lots of people would take annual leave, or do half days etc. We even changed our hours sometimes to close early as we were actually losing money just by having the doors open.

Thanks! When I worked in retail it was in the city of London (ie the financial district) so school holidays weren’t really that relevant and our January sale lasted throughout January.

This is a gazillion years ago though.

I used to work in retail - our sales started Boxing Day and we were busy until maybe January 2nd or 3rd - but as soon as schools went back, trade died off completely and the rest of the month (plus at least half of February) was absolutely dead as anything.

We had days where we'd maybe put 8-9 sales through the till, if that.

It isn't accurate at all. Higher level jobs are frequently the ones with more flexibility in them compared to the rigidity of many minimum wage roles. I can do very similar to OP and am far from being in an entry level role. I am one of the 'mythical' 100k fully WFH employees who is able to flex my job to fit my life instead of life flexing round my work. I work extremely hard when I need to, I am efficient and organized as I go. I am not going to start creating 'busy work' like filing emails or any of the other stupid suggestions made on this thread in order to fill the quieter times.

I don't see OP being defensive. I see her being extremely patient in the face of some deeply unpleasant comments about her, her life:work balance, her parenting etc.

Retail? Are January sales no longer a thing?

I worked in an edtech company, and it was largely dead throughout the summer holidays. 8 weeks of quiet time.

I absolutely encourage my staff to do long breaks, get house stuff sorted etc during the summer! The first six weeks and last six weeks of the school year were usually chocka, we did a bit of give and take, and always wanted one member of staff on the inbox, but otherwise it was literally 1% of normal volume traffic.

Anything to do with hospitality, alcohol sales, retail, removals among others have quiet Januarys.

It's why a lot of companies in those sectors have their 'Xmas do' in January because it's quieter and so are the hotels/restaurants they book.

Exactly