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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:
Atla · 19/10/2021 19:38

Is there any way your DH can sort something with his firm, given that they have a programme for this and that you've only just found out about it?

I couldn't do this (NHS nurse) but DH prob could - software engineer with snazzy offices with 'break areas' with football tables and free snacks etc.

If no joy from your dh's firm then your D's will just have to stay home for the day?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 19/10/2021 19:42

Just say "No, little Timmy will not be participating." You can keep him home for the day and watch a few shows about jobs he finds interesting.

neededafart · 19/10/2021 19:42

Personally I could. BUT that's not really the point. This idea is stupid and unfair.

I would say a highly % of parents would not be able to do this. I don't understand what on earth is a positive of doing this !

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hellcatspangle · 19/10/2021 19:42

This is ridiculous OP. I'd write to the head, tell them it isn't happening (and maybe include the huge list of jobs where it's not doable) and ask them for suggestions what to do with your DS on the day.

qualitygirl · 19/10/2021 19:47

What age are you talking about?

Lottapianos · 19/10/2021 19:51

'As for parents coming to work with children because they have no childcare, makes my blood boil.'

Same here. Absolutely not ok

This sounds totally crackers OP, and totally unworkable. I would be less than impressed if I had to deal with a colleague's child in the workplace. Completely inappropriate

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 19/10/2021 19:55

Those children whose parents are teachers, do they get to go to school that day (albeit a dfiferent school or even a different classroom in the same school they attend)? Grin

What do they suggest if neither parent works?

Original poster
ScamTheSchool · 19/10/2021 19:55

Ages 10-12

OP posts:
iwishiwasonhol · 19/10/2021 19:59

yeah pretty sure my child can come to work with me to sit under my checkout for 8 hours

NeverTheHootenanny · 19/10/2021 20:02

No, I don’t think I would be able to take them on site for H&S reasons, they could watch me do my job from home I guess.

I think just keep him home with you. As others have said, your job as SAHM is equally valid and it might do him good to learn what you do in the day whilst he’s at school.

Starlightstarbright1 · 19/10/2021 20:04

I was a childminder when my Ds did it. I sent him to school as he was only meant to observe He helped out in holidays anyway so knew what my job was.
He has a far better day at school with visitors about careers police came and others i can't remember- i realise this isn't an option for you

myheartskippedabeat · 19/10/2021 20:04

I work in a hospital partner works in an unsafe environment for kids
I'd just be telling them I'll be sending my children to school as normal owing to it being term time and the school having a legal
Obligation to have them!

InTheLabyrinth · 19/10/2021 20:04

No way with DH.
He could come into the building with me, but not into my work space.

I'd take the "no alternative provision" as you need to supply the childcare - school wont be open. Not that you need to fund him a placement.
Or, his work location is "Your address" with job as "SAHM".

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 19/10/2021 20:08

We both WFH now but there's no way work would allow People to bring their kids onto calls or have them involved 8n any of the actual work. She could sit on the sofa watching telly while I work in the same room but that's it.

Ginger1982 · 19/10/2021 20:13

Just keep him off that day.

Heatherjayne1972 · 19/10/2021 20:13

Ha. You really wouldn’t want my child assisting with your dental treatment
Would you ?

My boss would go mental

qualitygirl · 19/10/2021 20:13

Age 10-12 Then hell no...🤣

I work in pharma...in a lab and some days in an office. To get access to my area you need to do a minimum of the following:
-on site health and safety essentials training and lab garbing and degarbing training. We can make allowances for visitors but they are usually ppl from the same environment or from other sites.

There would be absolutely nothing they could help with...literally nothing!!...you even an access card and IT account to use the printer.

They could watch ppl testing but they wouldn't be able to get too close to be honest.

lunar1 · 19/10/2021 20:14

They can go to work with DH, best make sure to pick a day where he has an 8-10 hour surgery, I'm sure they will be fine in the corner of the theatre 🤦🏻‍♀️

Who on earth thought this up!

forrestgreen · 19/10/2021 20:22

Let him stay home with you. Plan a meal, budget, shop and cook it. Use washing machine. Talk about food hygiene.
Life skills

MajesticallyAwkward · 19/10/2021 20:22

I'm sure it's not unheard of that it's not an option, I'd be going to the head and explaining what you have written here.

Me and DH couldn't take DC to work, im subject to security clearances and couldn't tell anyone else anything or let them listen to a call or see any of my work. DH is subject to a number of NDAs and can't share much of what he does... I can't think of many people I know where DC could just join them, H&S and insurance can be prohibitive especially when it's minors!

GeorgiaGirl52 · 19/10/2021 20:24

@JaninaDuszejko

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.
This^ Help him write a report on "What Mums Do At Home While We're At School" For bonus points, bake cookies for the class.
Original poster
ScamTheSchool · 19/10/2021 20:25

I don't know that the consequences of non compliance are!

They've linked to the national info website. I've had a quick look though and it tells you how to apply for a dispensation if your school is not joining in with the program. There's suggestions on activities for the schools to do with children who can't find a suitable setting. Nothing about what to do if your school has made it compulsory and your child has nowhere to go. I suspect that is purely down to our school...

OP posts:
imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 19/10/2021 20:25

Age 10-12 seems too young to benefit from this sort of workplace programme. We have 16+ year old in for work experience but they can do actual work. I wonder what the overall aim is of a day at work for 10 year olds?
If it's compulsory to work for a day, is there anything creative that he enjoys that he could spend a day on at home and describe it as a career goal? Artist, musician? Could you spend a day doing something nature based and find a park keeper, zoo keeper, etc to chat to about their work?

TheSpottedZebra · 19/10/2021 20:27

This is so interesting! What country is this please? I'm guessing it is somewhere that is less individualistic than the UK?

I presume there is provision for those who cannot go to another workplace -can they do work,experience in their own school?

AtleastitsnotMonday · 19/10/2021 20:28

I’d be tempted to say I was a stripper or lap dancer and tell ds to yawn dramatically the next day and that he’d had a late night on his work experience.