How many hours can a single parent realistically work now?

[firstmentat]

Just interested in people's opinions. What do you think is a realistic number of productive hours per week a person can work during the lockdown in the circumstances below? An expectation of full time hours is probably unrealistic, but how much is reasonable to expect? Trying to manage my expectations re work productivity.

If there are suggestions of a tried-and-tested timetable, I would be really grateful.

• Single parent (the other parent is not involved);
• Two children, 4 and 6;
• Not a key worker (so children at home);
• Desk job (similar to data analysis / software development);
• Some light managerial / supervisory duties;

Thank you all!

I expect my staff to work the same number of hours and shifts that are stated in their contract.
Those who can't are given their P45.
I don't expect the staff who don't have children at home to pick up the slack for those who do.
That includes Christmas and school holidays.

Is that you Mike ?

If they can do 20-25 hours they're doing well , it would essentially mean working in the evenings and/or very early mornings and therefore not getting a break which wouldn't be sustainable long term, but pandemic needs must

You sound a peach to work for @ColourMyDreams

OP I'm not a single parent but a friend who is is working pretty much full time, after the kids have gone to bed, maybe grabbing a couple of hours during the day.

She is exhausted.

With children that young, I would think a couple of hours during the day max eg by sticking then Infront of the TV or playing but probably not in any fixed pattern. Then making up another 3 or 4 hours in the evening?

Thankfully most employers aren't like ColourMyDreams and recognise that these are exceptional times and provided people are putting the effort in, some people due to personal circumstances just won't be able to do full hours

At that age it probably depends on how long they are willing to stay on devices or watching tv / how long you are willing for them to do this

Mine are in front of the tv 8-12 minimum each day so that I can have uninterrupted (!) work time

Then me and DH (here is the luxury) split 12-6 between us with the kids

If I needed to take the afternoon off completely I might try and wake up earlier than the kids, say 5/6 and work until they wake up, sort them out then go back to it

8-10 hours is hard / relentless to carve out but 4-6 hours should be feasible

Well @ColourMyDreams sounds like a proper cunty employer!

I’m WFH with a 3yo. My employer has been brilliant, and as long as I’m hitting targets don’t mind what time I put work in. It’s not easy, but I’m managing 6 hrs roughly a day.

Very helpful @ColourMyDreams Really answers the OP’s question

I'm a single parent. Working from home with a 7 year old. I'm working about 45-50 hours a week at the moment. I'm not however home schooling my DS as I just physically can't do everything.

Before I was furloughed I was doing 25 hours and it was a struggle but do-able. Anything more would have tipped the balance into pure insanity, and 20 would have probably made my life easier. I only have 1 dc though who’s 8, so relatively easy to abandon with a screen.

My employer understands that productivity is likely to be down right now. That ensuring the mental health of their staff is more important than getting contracted hours from them. That even people who can work from home are likely to be anxious and concerned, and in need of support.

This thread has really cheered me up, because now I thank fuck I don't work for ColourMyDreams.

@ColourMyDreams
You sound like a nightmare to work for.
OP, I know it is very hard. I think single parents should be given priority in some way when the childcare is opened finally. Don’t be hard on yourself and just do what you can. A few weeks of tv won’t harm the kids.

colourmydreams you seem like a top notch employer to work for...

Single parent with 3 kids under 5. Any sort of WFH with the kids around is impossible - the toddler needs supervising CONSTANTLY. I can't even do a solid hour or two while the baby naps, the other two aren't at the age where they are distracted by screens yet.
My employer (local government) decided I was a key worker, and gave me a key worker letter, so my childminder was happy to take them even though I'm mostly WFH and rarely out in the community or in the office at the moment. So now I'm getting my full hours done.

I think it depends on how goodbyour dc are at playing alone and together with each other.

In am ideal world -
6-7am you work while they sleep
7-8.30 breakfast and time together
8.30-10 they play with Lego or similar while you work
10-11 outside time together
11-12.30 movie for dc while you work
12.30-1.30 lunch together
1.30-3 they again play together you work
3-6 family time including dinner toys bath etc
6-7 bedtime hour on CBeebies while you work
7-9 they are in bed, you work.

So that's 8.5 hours work time for you but only if dc are compliant and your work fits in those timings.

I'd also add in a couple hours Sunday eve for you to "get ahead" on the weeks work so you have those hours to take off if needed.

But I'd take the above with a dollop of realism and accept that best laid plans often go awry.

@ColourMyDreams well that’s nice what about the parents picking up the slack for the childless? What excuse do the childless have? Parents currently are trying to do two full time jobs home schooling and working some leeway is required.

I work my full time hours, and during busy week work longer. I’ll extend my working day so I can take time during the day to help DCs with schoolwork. It means I have less time to chill on a night but I find I’ve become more productive with the time I have. DCs are secondary school age so not as demanding of my time.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz not sure if your 4 year olds have been particularly awesome or if it's a while since you've hung around one, but expecting two 1.5 hour sole play sessions, uninterrupted by sibling battles / howls of pain after jumping off something unsuitable is immensely unlikely on a daily basis. You've also not added the 1.5-2 hours that OP is likely trying to do on homeschooling for the 6 year old at least.
There's also the housework, shopping and cooking to be accounted for plus op getting a shower and at least 30 minutes a day to take a breath.
Realistically I think that in these circumstances I'd expect 4-6 hours, maybe 8 on a day where there was something urgent and it is worth having a total veg day.

If this is you, can you ask to be furloughed for childcare reasons, even if it's just a few weeks?

Sometimes it means my DCs can’t keep up with schoolwork but I’ve found a little time spent together on a weekend doing schoolwork catches them up.

There are 4 men who own the company I work in. 3 of them have young kids so they get it and have said to just do what you can when you can. I think as a result of this that people are putting in more effort. I have received emails at crazy times late at night where I never would have before.

What excuse do the childless have?

Why do the childless "need an excuse"? Are you saying that someone who has gone through five rounds of IVF without success deserves to pick up and work the extra hours that someone who has children isn't doing?

I don't recognise colourmydreams' name but I recognise their style from some threads ladt year

Having said that... what about the parents picking up the slack for the childless?

@SoVeryLost I'm childless and working full-on eight hours a day. No one's picking up my slack. In fact the only people our company have furloughed are the ones with young children (and good on them for doing that). So I don't get what you're trying to say or have you got slacking childless colleagues?

1-2h in the morning before they wake up (if they wake up early they can stay in bed for a bit with soft toys/books).
2h during the day with tv on
2-3h in the evening after their bedtime

So 6h work.

Lone parent here, mine are a year older than yours. I gave up on home schooling entirely after two weeks, it was stressful for them and me and it’s simply not workable for single parents imo. I manage a few hours a day and sometimes wake in the early hours to get stuff done but then I also work for myself, so I don’t have quite the same pressures of having an employer monitoring my output.