Reported to social services by coworker

[UnsocialServiced]

My frankly bonkers coworker has reported me to SS because she is concerned about my 3 old. I was wfh last week because my DS had a slight temperature. Whilst he was home and I was working he had a day of watching films. (3 films in one day). I'm not saying it was great parenting but I was in the next room could hear him at all times. He also kept coming into chat with me and play in between working etc. Anyway Coworker told me today that she was concerned about DS being ignored and felt she had no choice but to pass her concerns on. What will happen now?

I'd be furious with her. As far as SS go, I really wouldn't be concerned, they'll see you're a normal working parent trying to juggle raising a child with WFH in the middle of a fucking pandemic.

I'd make a complaint about your colleague's ridiculous behaviour though.

I don't think anything will happen with Social Services, but your main issue now is how are you going to avoid her in your workplace? If it were me, I think I'd have to leave, as I'd refuse to speak to her ever again and I'd spend every day wanting to hit her; the horrible, sly bitch.😡

@FTMF30

Not sure what will happen now. But that was a bit neglectful tbh. You shouldn't be working with a 3yo at home. I'm not exactly blaming you as parents (mostly mums!) have been put in impossible situations due to covid. I can see how it would have come across to your colleague and why she would be concerned, not enough to warrant a call to SS though.

My guess is they'll not take the report any further or do ahome visit to check all is well. That is an uneducated guess though.

Don't be ridiculous please

I'm a child protection social worker, what does she think we have all been doing with our children whilst we work from home and navigate a pandemic

I'd report her malicious reporting it to my line manager / HR

I would make a formal complaint about it to your line manager. Her behaviour is completely inappropriate and needs to be dealt with.

Don’t worry about social services. They absolutely will not care about your son watching a few films.

Complain to HR: this sounds like bullying. Does she have form for it?
Millions of parents across the world have worked from home this year with kids in another room watching TV. I don’t think SS would be interested in this at all. Her complaint may well be read by a SW with their child in the next room watching TV

I'm so angry for you!!!

I would not be complaining to HR. I would be making other parents aware in a factual and dispassionate way what this person has done. Other parents will think you are being reasonable and this person is bonkers.

If the films in question were Nightmare on Elm Street 1, 2 and 3, then maybe she would have a point. I'm assuming though that it was the Disney output...and that you fast forwarded that section of the Lion King

Yes. Watching Toy story 1-,3 is right up there is the child. Neglect cases !

I am a social worker - worked from home with my own children at home during some of lockdown. Standard when they were younger to wfh if they were ill off school - I’m not exactly going to spend a full day by their side checking on them; they watch tv, read a book or play quietly if feeling a bit better, and I probably spend small chunks of time with them through the day.

Do not worry!!! At all...

But that was a bit neglectful tbh

It was nothing of the sort.

You shouldn't be working with a 3yo at home

What do you suggest?

I'm not exactly blaming you

Well, th are.

Parents (mostly mums!) have been put in impossible situations due to Covid

Exactly.

Fucking ridiculous post.

Your coworker isnt bonkers, shes a malicious, interfering timewaster. Report her.

@isittimetogotobed so you don't think social services would be overly concerned? As I said I know it's not great parenting but there are no other concerns and nursery are happy with DS development.

I watched FIVE films yesterday. It was fucking excellent.

Bet he had a lovely day.

She might have ‘framed’ it that way.

Still doesn’t stop her being a malicious fecker.

Raise hell at work. Ask her to provide proof that your child is neglected and that you need support.

Make the bugger squirm.

If it’s any consolation my sister who is a social worker (child protection) spent the majority of lockdown working from home while her 4 and 2 year olds watched TV in the next room. She had no other options.
They’ll do nothing OP.

I would lodge a complaint at work about harassment for this OP. She sounds totally batshit (as do the PP who has called you "neglectful" - ffs). All her colleagues who have kids will have done this over the last 6 months.

@FTMF30, you’re joking right 😱

Disingenuous, shit stirring cow.

FTMF30 - so you'd expect the OP to be superglued to the child 24/7 as anything else is 'neglectful'? Are you the coworker?

You do need to report this at work, this is serious.

Don’t talk such rot @FTMF30. What OP has done is what a good proportion of parents Are having to do at the moment and is not even in the same ball park as “neglectful”.

OP I should imagine that SS will be rolling their eyes and NFAing this as a malicious complaint. You really must go to your manager and/or HR department and make a formal complaint though. This is harassment.

I don't think it's a good idea to leave a three year old in a room alone nearly all day. But I doubt social services will be interested.

@FTMF30

Not sure what will happen now. But that was a bit neglectful tbh. You shouldn't be working with a 3yo at home. I'm not exactly blaming you as parents (mostly mums!) have been put in impossible situations due to covid. I can see how it would have come across to your colleague and why she would be concerned, not enough to warrant a call to SS though.

My guess is they'll not take the report any further or do ahome visit to check all is well. That is an uneducated guess though.

What do you suggest the OP does in that scenario then?