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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

School run and TOIL

396 replies

Mumguilt25 · 27/12/2025 19:28

I am 25, mum of 1 (DC is 8). Started a new job in August which is a step up — more money, more freedom and flexibility.

In my previous role I literally had to take my lunch break to cover the school run 🙄. New manager was really relaxed and said just do the school run and also take 30 mins lunch whenever (its an hour otherwise) which felt nice and relaxed.

She’s also agreed I can WFH 3 days a week and be in the office 2, so on WFH days it’s pretty chill.

Everything was going fine until I put in a TOIL request for 4 hours for extra work I did last week. She refused it, saying she appreciated the effort but that it’s “give and take”.

I’m feeling really annoyed by this. I didn’t choose to work extra hours for fun, it was work that needed doing. I also don’t see how flexibility around school runs = unpaid overtime?

AIBU to feel annoyed? We didnt discuss it beforehand.

OP posts:
NotDarkGothicMama · 28/12/2025 23:34

YABU OP. You get 1.5 hours of paid break a week over and above your contractual entitlement, and you claimed back 4 hours TOIL for a couple of late evenings? Lol.

I manage a team of 30+ people and let them take time out for GP appointments, school plays etc. In return, they work extra when on occasions when it's needed. TOIL is for travelling over a weekend or having to work because of an emergency on a day off.

AlexaBeQuiet · 28/12/2025 23:27

I’ve not read everything but I get the picture. You are seriously on thin ice here. I don’t know what your job is and whether you are paid by the hour or salaried. If salaried you are absolutely taking the piss and if I was your manger I’d sack you. I really don’t know what to say.

Laura95167 · 28/12/2025 23:16

HewasH2O · 28/12/2025 22:43

Childcare is your problem, not your employer's & they certainly don't have to be supportive. It's your responsibility to have appropriate childcare in place after school if you are meant to be at work. How are you covering the school holidays?

Edited

What happens in school holidays @Mumguilt25 ?

Papersnowflakes · 28/12/2025 23:15

Please tell me this is a reverse op?! I can't believe anyone is this entitled /clueless.

Laura95167 · 28/12/2025 23:12

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

Who told you that? Because they dont. They must consider "reasonable adjustments" but theres no obligation to agree them.

There is certainly no rule for paid time to go to school pick up, which you already know because your old employer told you, you must use your lunch for it. Some employers dont even offer sick pay, you just get statutory sick nevermind special leave for childcare. Legally they can refuse flexible working requests, they can make you take unpaid leave or annual leave for childcare emergencies.

Hoardasurass · 28/12/2025 23:11

ACR7 · 28/12/2025 23:10

Is anyone else thinking a lot of the topics on MN at the minute are fake. It’s getting silly. No one could possibly be this entitled. Even after people point it out she’s still going strong. Can’t be real. And I say this as someone who has an 18month old. It’s abit of give and take with work but just no way would anyone expect what op did in the real world

Edited

School holidays and the post Christmas pre new year lul

ACR7 · 28/12/2025 23:10

Is anyone else thinking a lot of the topics on MN at the minute are fake. It’s getting silly. No one could possibly be this entitled. Even after people point it out she’s still going strong. Can’t be real. And I say this as someone who has an 18month old. It’s abit of give and take with work but just no way would anyone expect what op did in the real world

Mt563 · 28/12/2025 23:03

Lol. You're so lucky to have a boss like this but you'll lose the job or at least the flexibility if you don't start appreciating it and acting like a responsible, respectful adult.

ForZanyAquaViewer · 28/12/2025 23:01

MumsGoneToIceland · 28/12/2025 22:53

What employers have to do is consider flexible working requests but they don’t have to oblige if it’s nor practical for the needs of the job. They absolutely don’t have to give you time off for 3 pm school runs if it’s not convenient - that’s what after school clubs or childminders are for.

What your employer has been though is more than flexible in 1) allowing you an hour off in the middle of the working day and then 2) allowing you 1,5 hrs off paid per week which is. 78 hours per year and then you have the audacity to claim back 4 hours of pay back from them - unbelievable! I’m surprised they kept their cool, they’re a better person than I am. If it was me, I’d rethink the whole arrangement since you’ve shown no gratitude that they’ve gone above and beyond for you.

Edited

I think you meant to quote OP’s comment, but got mine by mistake.

HiCandles · 28/12/2025 22:54

You should have your daughter in childcare every day that your working hours extend beyond her school day. Doesn't matter where you are physically working.
I am an employer of 40 doing various shifts both on site and at home, not 9-5 office work, and many have young children. Without exception everyone organises childcare of some kind. Absolutely nobody expects to pop out of work for school run and pretend to be effectively working once children are there at home. We once got wind that someone wasn't logging on regularly on WFH days, repeatedly despite being warned, so her working pattern had to be changed to on site.

MumsGoneToIceland · 28/12/2025 22:53

ForZanyAquaViewer · 28/12/2025 22:27

They don’t ’have to’ do anything. They certainly don’t have to let you have paid time off every day.

Is something wrong with you? After over 300 responses and over 90% of respondents telling you how and why you’re being massively unreasonable, how are you still asking these stupid questions?

What employers have to do is consider flexible working requests but they don’t have to oblige if it’s nor practical for the needs of the job. They absolutely don’t have to give you time off for 3 pm school runs if it’s not convenient - that’s what after school clubs or childminders are for.

What your employer has been though is more than flexible in 1) allowing you an hour off in the middle of the working day and then 2) allowing you 1,5 hrs off paid per week which is. 78 hours per year and then you have the audacity to claim back 4 hours of pay back from them - unbelievable! I’m surprised they kept their cool, they’re a better person than I am. If it was me, I’d rethink the whole arrangement since you’ve shown no gratitude that they’ve gone above and beyond for you.

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 28/12/2025 22:44

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

By who exactly? A mate in the playground?

Are you going to wake up and acknowledge the 90+ percentage of people telling you the actual score?

SunnyViper · 28/12/2025 22:44

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:30

Rude

Totally accurate. I foresee you losing this job.

HewasH2O · 28/12/2025 22:43

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

Childcare is your problem, not your employer's & they certainly don't have to be supportive. It's your responsibility to have appropriate childcare in place after school if you are meant to be at work. How are you covering the school holidays?

Taxiparent · 28/12/2025 22:41

@Mumguilt25, please can you update to let everyone know if you understand why posters are disagreeing with you and think you are being unreasonable. You take at least 1 hour per week of working time to collect your child from school. Therefore, when you completed the 4hrs of overtime, it was reasonable that you should do this without TOIL.

RecordBreakers · 28/12/2025 22:38

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:30

Rude

@ForZanyAquaViewer may have been a little blunt in her phrasing, but she has made a very good point.

We are now 14 pages / 345 posts into this thread, and I reckon everyone is incredulous at your entitlement. 91% of voters have said YABU, but you haven't engaged at all with the point everyone is making.
You are obviously reading the posts as have replied to specific questions from posters trying to confirm if they have read / understood it correctly, but have not in any way acknowledged that you are being very unreasonable. Or even in any way tried to justify or explain your reasoning.

Hoardasurass · 28/12/2025 22:36

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 28/12/2025 22:32

If you have flexibility just give yourself those four hours back with longer lunch breaks

She already is and owes about 26 hours already after deduction of the 4 hours she did this week

ForZanyAquaViewer · 28/12/2025 22:36

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:30

Rude

Please push this point with your manager. Say the things you’ve said in the OP and on this thread to her.

Come back and let us know how it goes. 😊

Hoardasurass · 28/12/2025 22:33

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

Who told you that because its bs. You have the right to request flexible working they have the right to refuse. If they grant flexible working you still have to do the same number of hours you can just do them at slightly different times. You can't expect to get the pay for 40 hours a week but only do 38.5 per week as thats theft/fraud and can get you sacked for gross misconduct.
If you keep taking the piss you can expect to have to log every minute you work and explain why your away from the desk during your working hours and if there's a pattern of you not doing your contracted hours you can expect to loose all flexible working.
Time to give your head a wobble and start acting like a responsible adult and stop taking the piss at work

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 28/12/2025 22:32

If you have flexibility just give yourself those four hours back with longer lunch breaks

BendingSpoons · 28/12/2025 22:31

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

No they don't have to at all. Most people pay for afterschool club and work until 5/5:30. You are apparently under working by 60-90 minutes a week, so you should be doing around 4 to 6 hours extra every month, not just this one.

Bushmillsbabe · 28/12/2025 22:30

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

No they don't, ultimately your childcare arrangements are your responsibility to make work around your job, rather than the other way around. They have to consider flexible working requests, they do not have to agree them. Some are very inflexible, your boss sounds better than most.

Sorry if this has been asked - where is DD's Dad in all of this? My employer expects me to share responsibility with DH. If my girls are sick, I can take 1 day but expected that my DH will do 2nd day. Sharing school holidays etc.

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:30

ForZanyAquaViewer · 28/12/2025 22:27

They don’t ’have to’ do anything. They certainly don’t have to let you have paid time off every day.

Is something wrong with you? After over 300 responses and over 90% of respondents telling you how and why you’re being massively unreasonable, how are you still asking these stupid questions?

Rude

OP posts:
redskydelight · 28/12/2025 22:29

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

Er no. Employers do not have to let you have time off to do the school run and to allow you to work whilst also supervising your child.

Some employers are flexible enough to allow this for older children (and 8 is probably borderline for being in this category), but others will insist that proper childcare is used.

ForZanyAquaViewer · 28/12/2025 22:27

Mumguilt25 · 28/12/2025 22:23

What is your arrangement? I was told that employers have to be supportive to childcare etc

They don’t ’have to’ do anything. They certainly don’t have to let you have paid time off every day.

Is something wrong with you? After over 300 responses and over 90% of respondents telling you how and why you’re being massively unreasonable, how are you still asking these stupid questions?

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