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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask employer this

94 replies

Timidiff · 17/01/2022 21:55

I WFH full time, my childcare cost is killing me.

Would i be BU to ask for my lunchbreak between 3-4 so I can collect DD, then work for the final hour. DD is of an age where she can entertain herself for an hour.

Or is it too cheeky?

OP posts:

NoWayNoHow · 17/01/2022 22:26

We introduced a hybrid working policy that has core hours for 10-3 (when the business can reasonably expect to get hold of you/schedule meetings) but allowing staff to complete the remainder of their hours at a time that suits. Could you ask your work to entertain something similar for you?

LulaLulaloo · 17/01/2022 22:27

now i see why everyone is keen for WFH to remain

Because we work to live rather than living to work?

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 17/01/2022 22:29

Totally depends on the culture of your organisation I guess.
I use wraparound care most days or kids do clubs but I try to do 3:15 pick up on a Friday.
If I was close enough to walk I would do it everyday - but due to traffic and parking it takes me an hour to pick up at 3:15 & 25 mins to pick up at 4:30.
My boss is fine with it, we are hugely flexible when we are at home, judged on output rather than hours.
Might as well ask though. Worst that can be said is no. Tbh I'd work half an hour longer and have half an hour actual lunchbreak.

qualitygirl · 17/01/2022 22:30

Do you have an assigned lunch hour? Is everyone supposed to take it at the same time?
I know my workplace wouldn't (and doesn't)have an issue with this.

EmergencyPoncho · 17/01/2022 22:31

Unless there is a valid business reason why this wouldn't work, I can't see a problem.

Twinstudy · 17/01/2022 22:32

Guess it depends on your work culture. Loads of people disappear at school run time at my work, I take a break to take the dog for his morning walk at 10. Noone cares (or notices 😄) but my job is very flexible. Definitely no harm in asking.

CatNameChange101 · 17/01/2022 22:34

It depends on the work culture. Where I work it would not be an issue and actually appreciated to have a team leader available to cover the earlier period where most are on their lunch. You can only ask 🙂

ThePlumVan · 17/01/2022 22:36

‘now i see why everyone is keen for WFH to remain’

I don’t see - please explain ?

SpookyScarySkeletons · 17/01/2022 22:36

Definitely ask. As a people manager I would consider this request and probably grant it as long as the DC were of an age where they wouldn't be impacting in that last hour of work.

rayglasgows · 17/01/2022 22:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Kite22 · 17/01/2022 22:37

Agree with everyone else - it is worth asking, but will depend on the culture of your workplace / attitude of the manager you are asking, but also the work that you do and how much of it is reliant on someone "being there" - whether that be to attend meetings or answer phones / queries from clients / service users / customers / colleagues around the world / etc. Remember we all answer these threads thinking of our own specific job and not all jobs are the same.

SarahProblem · 17/01/2022 22:42

I don't think there's an issue with you doing the school run but possibly not ok having a child at home without another carer. It does happen at the minute where I work but now the company is formalising hybrid working we're being explicit that you can't have an unsupervised child whilst you work. Companies have been very flexible whilst the pandemic has been a thing as it fits the business need but I think it'll revert back soon.

Do you work if your child was off school sick? What's the company approach presenteism or measured on outputs?

SephrinaX · 17/01/2022 22:43

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Message deleted by MNHQ as it quotes a deleted post

HereLiveIAmNotACat · 17/01/2022 22:48

I do exactly this twice a week. Though it’s great for DD who doesn’t have such a longer day I do find it exhausting not getting a break and much prefer days when I’m using ASC. It’s also quite irritating when colleagues think you’re not there in work hours when really you’re taking exactly the same break times (only not actually enjoying a break). Still it saves a lot of money and is better overall, don’t think it’s cheeky to ask at all.

Socialcarenope · 17/01/2022 22:50

This is pretty normal in mine and DHs work, though we can't be in sole care of child and nice back working (contractually).

Monty27 · 17/01/2022 23:10

Just ask for a meeting with your line manager.
Sadly some people take the piss WFH making it difficult for others.
I'm out the other side thank goodness. My mantra was... it won't always be like this.
I hope your manager is supportive. Even just one more year. You can do it.

gwenneh · 17/01/2022 23:14

I used to collect my older 2 and bring them to the office with me (at the suggestion of the company president) while I finished out the day and now DH collects them on his break and brings them home.

Whether it will work for you depends on your role and yes, company culture.

GirlInACountrySong · 18/01/2022 01:26

@LulaLulaloo

now i see why everyone is keen for WFH to remain

Because we work to live rather than living to work?

Until you are all back in the office working again

violetbunny · 18/01/2022 02:10

You can only ask, the worst that can happen is they'll say no. You might want to submit a formal flexible working request though to try to ensure they give it proper consideration.

Blossom64265 · 18/01/2022 02:45

Everyone in my workplace with children old enough for this does it. No one bothered to ask permission, but we have much more autonomy than the average office.

Whereismumhiding3 · 18/01/2022 04:21

How old is she?
Tbh if she's primary school age and not old enough to walk home alone then I would t think she's not old enough to be not supervised generally whilst you wfh past time she gets home at end of working day
By time in my work, we are talking secondary school pupils it isn't an issue if they are at home whilst you wfh - - is all fine fair enough - but more tricky when primary school age pupils unless they walk home and are really Yr 6 level.

Except for the lockdowns when it was "whatever we can do to keep things in all the services running... "

So it's key how old she is? If you're talking about a Year 6 child and you think wfh may carry in long enough then say I want to take my lunch break at 3pm (if it's a matter of driving her as no buses). But what do you do when you have a meeting then?

Whereismumhiding3 · 18/01/2022 04:24

I think OP needs to be clear and say what age her DD is. It's very relevant

Otherwise this is all conjecture

PhilCornwall1 · 18/01/2022 05:20

People in my teams do this all the time and as far as I'm concerned, they can take it when they want to. As long as they don't have client calls or a scheduled meeting, they can decide.

I'll often get an email to say one or the other is going to take their lunch break between X and Y. Never bothers me, as long as the work gets done.

Iggly · 18/01/2022 05:58

@GirlInACountrySong are you one of those who think we should be chained to our desks 9-5?

Simonjt · 18/01/2022 06:03

No harm in asking, I work part time, I tag my lunch on to the end of the day so I finish earlier, it works really well. We book our lunch out so everyone knows we aren’t available so meetings are booked when you are etc.

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