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Original poster

Would you be able to take your child into work?

113 replies

ScamTheSchool · 19/10/2021 18:57

Our school is having a "take your child to work" day next month. It is compulsory and there will be no other alternative program provided. We have to provide the name of the company he will be going to. They encourage girls to go with dads and boy to go with a female relative or acquaintance. [I'm not in the UK]

DS has SN and I'm a SAHM mainly because the school would not allow him in the after school club due to this. DH works in a law firm, and would have had to subscribe him two months ago. It's a national initiative so every large company provides something. We received the info from school today; and had assumed that children not going would be provided with an alternative program at school. This is not the case.

Due to his SN there is no way he could participate in the program at DH's office.
PIL is retired and MIL didn't work post DC.
BIL & SIL live too far away.
No other family.
I have done a bit of freelance work over the past couple of years, but can't give a company name and am not currently employed.
He wouldn't cope with going to one of the large company open days and anyway it seems they were booked out months ago. He's our eldest, so we didn't know about this until recently.

I have to arrange something, but have no idea what or how! Whilst I know some other people, there's no one I could reasonably ask to look after my SN child at their place of work for the day. I could keep him home and explain what my last job was, but I'd have to lie on the form to the school and I imagine he will have to give a talk or write up what he did.

Would you be able to do this?

OP posts:
practicallyimpractical38 · 19/10/2021 19:00

I would write everything that you have written here in a letter to the school and let them come back to you.

userchange987 · 19/10/2021 19:02

That is bat shit. No, neither DH or I could for security reasons. I would be going straight to the head with that one!

trilbydoll · 19/10/2021 19:05

What if you were a teacher Confused or a doctor Confused or an oil rig worker - there must be so many jobs where this simply isnt an option. And while I could take mine into work if I had to, hell would freeze over before I took someone else's child!

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blackheartsgirl · 19/10/2021 19:05

Personally I'd just lie and say he was il with a stomach bug that day..

I know you're not in the UK but I'm a bit wtf at a compulsory take your child to work day.

And no I couldn't. I work with dangerous chemicals and machinery in a factory and is totally inappropriate for a child to be there

Teaandakitkat · 19/10/2021 19:06

Can he spend spend the day at home with you doing what you usually do? Your work is equally valid. Might be an interesting eye opener for him to see what all you have to pack into a day.

To answer your question, yes my dc could come and sit in the office with me. But I can't imagine they would find it very interesting and I would struggle to invent interesting activities for them.

bonfireheart · 19/10/2021 19:06

I couldn't cos of security reasons. However my workplace does do a "bring your child to work day" probably twice a year (precovid) but only limited to about 20 kids and they're taken on tour of building, a few partner buildings, get to try some stuff out etc all very well organised. If I couldn't take her, her dad never sees her, everyone else in in family is a teacher but not sure she would be allowed with them either. What a stupid concept.
My daughters school does a day where all the kids take on the jobs at school eg teacher, gardener, even headteacher and they love it.
I would say to school you can't do this or as SAHM the child stays at home with you and learns all the work that does into being a parent.

Heyha · 19/10/2021 19:07

Jesus there is no way they can make that compulsory. It's normally offered as 'if you would like to take the opportunity to do this, please feel free to do so on X date and provide us with basic details of where they will be going".

Though have just seen you're not UK so no idea on the norms where you are, sorry.

bonfireheart · 19/10/2021 19:08

Tbh once I had zero childcare and I worked in an office of 3 people so DD came with me, did some photocopying, drew a picture for everyone, and we had a sofa in the office so she had a nap!

MajorCarolDanvers · 19/10/2021 19:08

Both of us work from home so it would be totally pointless.

Teaandcakeordeath83 · 19/10/2021 19:09

I work in a lab. There is absolutely no chance I'd be able to take one of my kids to work. It would potentially be very distressing for them due to the nature of my job and work policies simply wouldn't allow it. That's a crazy ask. Part of me is assuming this is a private school or similar so perhaps it's more common in that sector... Never heard of it at one of our local schools. They've had parents go in and talk about their jobs/ fire fighters turn up in the fire engine etc.

DockOTheBay · 19/10/2021 19:12

She could go to my husband's work, but he just works in an office so it wouldn't be very interesting. And 3 days a week he works from home so that would basically just be her watching TV all day.

I work in a secure medical facility so no visitors allowed, certainly not young children.

MIL, Mum and Dad are all retired. Other relatives work in a call centre (which I guess would work but be boring), as an electrician (not safe for kids) as a therapist (not appropriate for kids). I can't really think of many jobs where this would work to be honest.

MrsSchadenfreude · 19/10/2021 19:12

I’m not in U.K. and we would not allow this. In fact I’ve just had to put something round telling people not to bring their children into the office. We’ve had a whole range from 4-16. I was nearly knocked over the other day by two unsupervised five year olds running up and down the stairs screaming. We’ve done work experience for 18+ children, but this has to be requested months in advance.

speakout · 19/10/2021 19:17

I find his hard to believe OP.

Very few workplaces would be able to accomodate a child.
NHS? Teaching? Police? Firefighting? Bar work? Sex work? Night club? Busy restaurant? Laboratory?

With respect OP I think you may have misunderstood the request.

There is no way that bringing in chlidren to a workplace is suitable in many circumstances.

speakout · 19/10/2021 19:18

Our school is having a "take your child to work" day next month. It is compulsory and there will be no other alternative program provided.

Hmm
Original poster
ScamTheSchool · 19/10/2021 19:18

there must be so many jobs where this simply isnt an option.
We'll quite.

One of the places I freelanced for had a lab and they shut part of the lab for the day and let the kids make slime and burn things Grin However, places were limited and there's no way I'd trust DS in a lab!

there is no way they can make that compulsory it seems they can! Standard state school. We had assumed they would have an alternative "let's talk or research lots of different jobs" activity for kids who couldn't go anywhere.

OP posts:
speakout · 19/10/2021 19:20

there is no way they can make that compulsory it seems they can! Standard state school. We had assumed they would have an alternative "let's talk or research lots of different jobs" activity for kids who couldn't go anywhere.

In what way is it "compulsory"?
The school has no authority over external workplaces.

Original poster
ScamTheSchool · 19/10/2021 19:22

The day is mandatory for all students. There is no alternative program available
Says the letter from the school.

OP posts:
gogohm · 19/10/2021 19:22

I would but only because I work for a church. My kids were always to work in school holidays - they are a dab hand at flower arranging and can clean brass like pros !

JaninaDuszejko · 19/10/2021 19:22

Have him home with you and get him to do housework. Just because what you do isn't paid doesn't mean it's not valuable work.

mafted · 19/10/2021 19:23

What is the consequence for not participating?

JaninaDuszejko · 19/10/2021 19:24

Oh, and under 16s aren't allowed on site so I couldn't take my child to work. Not only that but doesn't a scheme like this encourage nepotism?

MaggieFS · 19/10/2021 19:27

Wow. That's crackers. Do you know any other families who you could ask what happened in past times for similar situations?

I think you need to invent your SAHM .pte .ltd company and have him work with you for the day.

Newwifeatnumber10 · 19/10/2021 19:27

It’s entirely inappropriate to have children in a professional work environment. It annoys me so much that schools think they can dictate this. As for parents coming to work with children because they have no childcare, makes my blood boil.

ImFree2doasiwant · 19/10/2021 19:28

I'd want to know what happens if you don't do it?

dreamingbohemian · 19/10/2021 19:28

I would interpret that as the day off from school is mandatory, because they will not be open, not that you absolutely have to take them into a workplace.

No school is so stupid not to realise there are loads of families where this just wouldn't be possible.

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