AIBU to want to WFH

[KatyRebecca84]

I work for the NHS in an admin role. I do not need to physically be at work. I only have two days left at work before Xmas. My daughter has just got over a chest infection and I am so worried she will become poorly before Xmas. I don’t want to send her to the CM (only two days left) this week, I just want to keep her home away from germs!

We have a work laptop that can be used if isolating but they don’t seem to let us use it for anything else.. even though with government guidance we should WFH if we can.. so we could actually share the laptop and take it in turns WFH.

Would I be unreasonable to say I need to use it this week (only two days) as CM is awaiting a PCR? It would only be two days, I can return the laptop straight away after for anyone else needing it (it hasn’t been used once in six months!) so I can keep DD home with me?

I’m obviously lying about the PCR but I just feel it’s unfair! (I’ve asked months ago if we could use the laptop even when not isolating and my manager said no.. although I know I could take it higher as she doesn’t seem to care or push for anything for us!)

I just want to have a nice germ free Christmas and see family.. we didn’t see anyone last year and cancelled family plans this weekend due to the chest infection!

I really wouldn't lie to your employer.
I would just be honest and say your DD is ill. You're entitled to carers leave also. So just ask for it.
Do it the right way.

I don’t see why it would be unreasonable to ask. What’s the worst that can happen?

Oh and don’t lie, just tell them the truth.

Definitely ask them! Sounds perfectly reasonable

How old is your DD? Could you work properly whilst also looking after her?

Sharing laptops was a big no-no at my organisation during lockdowns for fear of passing on the virus. You'd be okay as you say it's been unused for six months, but what about the next person?

How do you actually work from home whilst MH sing a kid small enough to be at a childminder?

Because my DD has just got over a chest infection and I don’t work until Thursday so she isn’t really that poorly now and I feel if I say she’s poorly, it will be carer’s leave and they’ll not let me use laptop as it’s only for Covid related sickness/isolating apparently! Therefore I won’t even be doing any work which makes me feel more guilty! If I say it’s PCR related, they’ll let me have laptop!

My work haven’t been sympathetic at all and given I’m the only one with a child, I find it really hard to get them to understand. I feel I can keep myself safe at work and away from germs but she is at a CM where it seems bugs are rife! Also my DH has taken time off with her already so he can’t take more time off as his job is very stressful!

So you are going to keep your daughter at home whilst supposedly working? How are you going to look after a pre school child and fit in your eight hours work?

You can’t look after your daughter and work, take parental leave maybe?

@Helenluvsrob

How do you actually work from home whilst MH sing a kid small enough to be at a childminder?

She’s 3.5 and I would work as much as I could and then in the evenings.

@Fairyliz

So you are going to keep your daughter at home whilst supposedly working? How are you going to look after a pre school child and fit in your eight hours work?

Like I did in the middle of lockdown when the nursery she was at closed! I’m feeling this is the better option than taking carers leave as then I wont get any work done as I wont even have the laptop!

You can't work with a 3.5 year old sorry. It's not as though you can plonk her in front of the TV and check on her every couple of hours. I have a 4 year old and if she is at home due to illness or whatever I have the day off. If your work are happy for you to work flexi hours then great but by the sounds of it they're not so you'll need to either take the day off or send her to the CM.

I'm not going to lie, you are effectively deceiving your employers.
Would you really be able to wfh with 100% attention if you're at home with your child? Would you actively ensure that you wouldn't just take an extra 10 minutes, here and there for a cuppa, a chat with your child, putting some laundry on etc...?

You must be honest with your employer.

Sorry.

@mummyh2016

You can't work with a 3.5 year old sorry. It's not as though you can plonk her in front of the TV and check on her every couple of hours. I have a 4 year old and if she is at home due to illness or whatever I have the day off. If your work are happy for you to work flexi hours then great but by the sounds of it they're not so you'll need to either take the day off or send her to the CM.

I’d have the laptop for two days.. I can do my work at any time in those two days. (I’ll save time as not travelling to work either!) I don’t plan on plonking her in front of tv all day for two days, I had to make it work before when I had no choice.

Just wondered what peoples opinions were!

She's said she will work in the evening to make it up. I don't see a problem with that really. Might mean some late nights to make up the hours though, which might not be great

Please don’t do this many staff members would like to keep their child at home pre Christmas to ‘protect Christmas’. It’s not fair on your colleagues or patients as you will not be at normal effectivity whilst looking after a child. Either take annual leave, unpaid leave or find alternate childcare. If the all admin staff or clinicians took the same attitude the nhs would collapse within the day.

If you would for the nhs look at your working from home policy. You should be able to apply for WFH and I think they need a good enough reason to say no?