Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

WFH with kids

78 replies

OneOnEachHip · 21/04/2023 21:20

Good Evening,

Does anyone here WFH whilst looking after their kid(s)? I know it's not the done thing and is frowned upon my employers, but... does anyone here do it? How do you find it?

OP posts:
moonspiral · 21/04/2023 21:30

Do not do this. I had a much admired colleague who did this and got fired.

Scotlasss · 21/04/2023 21:31

Had to for about an hour once. Was on edge, kid was unhappy and I couldn’t concentrate. Only in emergencies, otherwise nope

AreMyDucksinarow · 21/04/2023 21:32

Mine are older, and can entertain themselves (secondary and late primary ages)

I wouldn’t be able to do it with younger children.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
blackpinkinyourarea · 21/04/2023 21:33

Im assuming you have a preschooler? Dont do it. You can't give your child the attention they need and give your job the attention it needs simultaneously. One or both will suffer.

hungryh1ppo · 21/04/2023 21:34

My 9yo is home for one hour at the end of my working day. It is fine. Work know about it, they actively encouraged me not to get paid childcare. However, he is very independent and quiet, he plays in his room and potters about happily while I finish off what I need to finish. The odd time he needs a bit more input I work the time back in the evening. Work are happy, they have just given me top marks in my yearly evaluation.

shelbaba · 21/04/2023 21:36

I bring my 5yr old home for the last few hours. 3-15-5pm. It's only 3 days a week though. It's usually ok but sometimes she drives me mental!

FawnFrenchieMum · 21/04/2023 21:36

Age 2 or age 10, one hour or all day. Huge difference so can’t really comment.

ComeTheFuckOnBridgett · 21/04/2023 21:39

My partner works from home most days while I look after the kids (I know technically not the same as what you're asking). 99% or the time it's fine but it can be a bit of a pain for him if the kids are in one of their moods/ he's on calls/ they want him while he's busy etc and we can't always be quiet.

I suppose it depends what job is getting done/how old the kids are but I wouldn't want to work from home and have to concentrate while having to look after little ones. I'm sure it would be a bit easier if the kids were older and could do their own thing.

SpecialControlGroup · 21/04/2023 21:42

It's not just frowned upon, with many employers it is a definite no no.

But even if it is just frowned upon, if having your children at home while you are working means that you aren't giving 100% to work, you are likely to find yourself in performance management processes pretty quickly

BHRK · 21/04/2023 21:46

i can’t work at home with young kids no, nothing would get done. But now they are 9 and older it’s fine for the odd day or two. They happily mooch about and are independent.

thebestbirtheraccordingtoDD · 21/04/2023 21:46

Wfh during lockdown with 9 year old DD here all the time.

She comes home from school now while I'm
Working until 5. No issues work have never mentioned it being a problem

Dogsandbabies · 21/04/2023 21:48

At my office it is against contractual agreement so would be classed as gross misconduct. Do check your contract. My 12 year old will occasionally be at home while I work, like on teacher strike days, but she is completely independent and would never interrupt a meeting.

Goodoccasionallypoor · 21/04/2023 21:48

If you have no experience of this then I'm assuming you didn't have kids during the Covid lockdowns, meaning your child is very young.

I did do this during Covid with a 1/2 year old it was awful and I wouldn't do it voluntarily long-term.

A few people in my team at work clearly carried it on after everything reopened and it was very easy to spot. Didn't do their careers any favours.

unicornsarereal72 · 21/04/2023 21:48

I work From home. It is in my contract that children under a certain age will be in child care in my working hours.

SaltyGod · 21/04/2023 21:50

I do this very occasionally when my childcare fails. 2 kids age 7 and 10. It's really hard and I wouldn't recommend

cravingmilkshake · 21/04/2023 21:52

Nope. You just cant do this. It doesn't work

Blanketpolicy · 21/04/2023 21:53

It is not "frowned upon" by any employers. They either allow it or don't.

It should be something that is discussed and formally agreed in writing how it will work so it protects both parties. It should never be done covertly or you may find yourself in trouble.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 21/04/2023 21:56

Depends on the job and depends on the kids.

Cece92 · 21/04/2023 21:56

I do it and my employer has no issues at all most of my team have children the youngest child being 2 (his grandmother watches him in my colleagues home) to id say 15 ish. The difference is they all have a 2 parent home where as I don't. My DD is nearly 10. She's very self sufficient. If it's holidays I don't see her until 10. She will sit with her iPad, get a shower, food ready and go out to play. I finish at 3 2 days. The other 3 I work until 6. Can be tough but she's really good and I tend to take breaks in 10 mins rather than 2x15 and my half hour lunch. It's easier when she's at school she's at after school club and her dad will pick her up until I finish work. Fridays our kids finish school at 12.30 so she comes home changes and tends to head out if weather permits. My manager knows all our situations and honestly so supportive. There's been times I've had to change my office days and missed team events so she's told me to bring DD in for it to join in. She has been to some lunches outside work to with me as I've had no childcare. Xx

Duttercup · 21/04/2023 21:59

I had my 2 year old home today because of a nursery closure. I have an extremely family-friendly employer and I would describe it as a fucking nightmare. I only did the couple of calls I needed to do, and she was as good as gold for them. But good as gold for a 2 year old entailed her coming to me once every 4 minutes for a new snack, periodically holding my hand or stroking my thigh and one moment of enthusiastic singing along to Tangled.

It's not doable, it's not fun and you will get found out.

Saschka · 21/04/2023 22:00

DH does this on school strike days etc, and even though DS is 6 and very well-behaved, it is pretty crappy for both of them.

DS doesn’t enjoy sitting in front of the tv all day, not allowed to interrupt DH. He gets lonely and bored and starts messing about for attention (literally banging pans together once, to get DH to pay attention to him). DH hates it because he feels like a shit parent, and also can’t concentrate on his work wondering what is going on downstairs.

Unless your child is 15 and more interested in their phone than in you, don’t try this. It really doesn’t work.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/04/2023 22:03

How old are the kids you have and how long per day are they there while you work?

I collect mine from school. This is my lunchbreak. They are Year 3. They have their screen time and snack 3.30 when we get home til about 4.15 when dh gets home, during which time I am in my office working. My employer knows, and it's perfectly fine.

Frankly, Mumsnetting is a greater WFH distraction than my child Grin

It wouldn't work if it was even half a day, or I had much younger dc.

Hubblebubble · 21/04/2023 22:06

Only in emergencies, like strikes, snow days and those inset days they spring on you without enough notice to get childcare. And even then, I utilise flexitime so its only for a few hours. I then get the bulk of my work done in the eve when DC is asleep.

Hubblebubble · 21/04/2023 22:06

And my line manager knows and is wonderful about it. In fairness though, I'm very good at my job.

demotedreally · 21/04/2023 22:07

unicornsarereal72 · 21/04/2023 21:48

I work From home. It is in my contract that children under a certain age will be in child care in my working hours.

What age?

My children are just coming to the age where this is ok, but I am interested in where your employer draws this line.