To expect work to cover my child care costs?

[CatThiefKeith]

Background is I work as a receptionist at weekends, but the weekday receptionist is having some health problems following a routine operation and I got a phone call this morning asking If I can cover her job for the next fortnight.

Dh works full time, plus 3/4 evenings in a different job, so the only way I could do so would be to employ a childminder or increase her days at preschool and use a childminder for the rest of the day ( it is only open mornings)

It is a minimum wage job, so I would effectively be working 14 days without a day off for less than £3 p/h.

Would I be massively unreasonable to say I will do it if they cover the childcare costs?

Wow! Ask if she insured also!

It is very unfair of him to pressurise you into letting his teenage dd look after your child. It's not a bit of evening babysitting while your child is in bed. I wonder how much he will be paying his daughter to do it....

Just say that you don't wish to offend him but you don't think that would be appropriate....

Yeah I would ask to see a copy of the daughters childcare qualifications, insurance, be allowed access to your the location where the childcare will take place as well as a list of minimum child proofing that will be in place.

This must be a wind up! Not really but it's getting ridiculous

I am speechless, she is 19 admittedly but she got sacked from her summer job in a hotel last year for smoking spliff in her room!

No. Just bloody no. she has got a pony though

For free ? I doubt it. Yes if she's so great why not employ her as temp receptionist would be cheaper than paying you at nmw

I would say " haha! I wasn't aware you had a sense of humor but I guess it's always better late then never!"
Gosh what a twat.

Reply

'I think there has been a misunderstanding. I don't expect you to arrange my childcare. I am asking you to pay for it, with the qualified childminder I choose, in order for me to do the shifts. This is my bottom line.

As I said I totally understand if you would rather make other arrangements but if you want me to do the shifts you need to agree to pay for childcare arranged by me.'

I'd be tempted to send a really straight-faced response listing all the questions Galactus suggests.

He sounds like an utter twat. Just reply with a curt "no" and then leave it at that, please don't let this cock bully you into it.

No way would I let some pothead stranger look after my child!

Honestly, if this wasn't so anger-inducing it would be hilarious.

The boss is an utter knob. But we all knew that from his first email.

OP: they need you more than you need them. A temp or pay you properly. I suspect you'll find that they rope in pot-head daughter to do the cover, so you'll probably be off the hook.

Please, please please send the email asking for her childcare certification, experience, disclosure documents, insurance and childproofing etc

or a wee email saying - 'seriously, this is my child we are talking about not a pot plant that needs watering over the holidays.....'

Hahahaha... pot plant.

Suggest that their employees liability cover is unlikely to stretch to covering this scenario! What on earth are they thinking!

Or just don't reply. Is there any expectation you'll check email when YOU ARE NOT AT WORK?
Is there any expectation you'll work additional shifts that you're not scheduled for?
Clearly there is, but ykwim :)

In your situation I don't think you should be expected to work those hours unless the company is prepared to pay towards your childcare. They are not your agreed hours. You have carefully planned your working week so you don't have childcare and that is very sensible. So I think you are in the right here.

I am speechless! What a balloon.

I like YellowDinosaur's reply.

And start looking for a new job. What an arsehole. Why can't the daughter do the shifts?

I haven't replied, I am still

I love the Pot Plant line though.

Cheeky bugger. How on earth can he think this is appropriate, I would be tempted to go to HR.

SP, somehow I doubt there is a HR..,

That's hilarious! A pot plant!

Why can't the stoner daughter cover the other receptionist?

That's incredible. Reply suggesting that the daughter is not suitable but as an experienced parent HE would be fine and you'll drop dd round to his office on your way in.....

"Why can't the stoner daughter cover the other receptionist?"

Because it might affect the boss's business if that was done badly...

Thank you for your kind offer of having your DD look after my child.

I was not aware she was a childminder! You kept that one quiet!

Obviously I am not able to even consider leaving my child with a new childminder without first seeing their Ofsted reports, CRB check, insurance documents and a reference from their last employer. If you can get all that to me by xxx, I'll think about giving her an interview. If that goes well I can have a look at the premises on which she plans to look after DD to check that they are appropriate. Then maybe she can spend a few hours with DD so I can see how she interacts with her. Then perhaps we can talk about the details.

I'll leave all that with you, shall I?