Not paying for childcare this autumn as bills go up

[Essenceandvibes]

I've just had an epiphany.....I absolutely won't be paying a penny for childcare this autumn as bills increase and I won't be made to feel guilty about it either. I can work from home and watch my baby and pick up my 10 year old from school without the assistance of anyone else and if my employer has an issue with it, he can pay an extra £2000 per month post tax to cover the cost of full time help.

Our bills are going to be about £800 a month just electricity and gas alone for our detached 4 bed house, this isn't even thinking about the increase of petrol or groceries.

The mortgage has also gone up a few hundred quid too....childcare and commuting is now a luxury not necessity and I really hope every parent joins me in asking for employers like it or lump it

Shameful the government have let everything get this far, the knock on effects will be huge

@FinneusMum

What is pathetic is someone who cannot accept
other women wouldn’t be able to get away with what the OP is doing. It might be possible for you because you work 2 hours a day but other people have to put in longer hours to achieve their work objectives.

Additionally some people are actually busy too WFH and would want their baby to be stimulated throughout the day.

You do have a FEW valid points @Essenceandvibes and it is annoying that everyone in Britain appears to be is just taking it all lying down - (all the cost of living/energy/fuel increases.) But this is a worldwide issue, and is not just affecting the UK. People can protest and say 'we will not take this!!!' but it's a worldwide issue. Pretty much every nation is suffering

Whilst you sound passionate and excited about your little 'epiphany,' it's really mostly just bluster and fantasy. DEMANDING you work from home, and 'fuck what my employer thinks' is not going to translate very well in the real world.

I think you have been watching too many chickflicks/reading too many chicklit novels. 'I will do what I like and you WILL accommodate me and give me a ten grand bonus, or I will leave and take you a tribunal' is really very likely most likely just lead to them 'letting you go.'

I know you probably mean no harm, but you sound a bit deluded, and living in a bit of a hazy dreamworld to be honest. (Several other posters do too to be fair.)

You think it's typical to work 2 hours a day, from home, and know you don't ever have to worry about job security because you own IP that the company requires? I would say that's extremely unique.

I think we should all be a bit worried that Mumsnet are disabling her account actually.....what happened to free speech?

Surely we should be able to post about some kind of protest without fear of digital censorship from these platforms?

@FinneusMum I would say your friendship group is unique then too. I know noone who works while they provide primary care to their pre-school children. At all. And I know LOADS of people who wfh.

@FinneusMum

What are you even talking about? You clearly stated up the thread you work a max of 2 hours a day. Your situation is unique.

Funny how WFH with kids was demanded during lockdown - when it suited the company to keep people working despite schools shut etc - but now, when it might benefit the parent, is deemed a totally unacceptable, outlandish idea.

Good for you OP

I have known of people “WFH” with kids in tow. Except they weren’t actually working they were just coasting along on charity funding money that they knew would eventually dry up (and then onto the next charity job etc etc). Was an eye opener but they weren’t working. They were most certainly being paid though.

I think we should all be a bit worried that Mumsnet are disabling her account actually.....what happened to free speech?

When we sign up we agree to the guidelines. If she's breached the guidelines they're right to remove her.

This is such an eye-opener, maybe it's just not common in my industry as we're service-led, but even with my friendship group I've never known it apart from during lockdown.

It's really, really sad. There's already a whole heap of benign neglect with the 'work anywhere from your phone!' MLM bossbabe crew, but for it to spread out to other industries means that something is seriously broken.

I don't agree. At least not for a very vast majority. There will of course be exceptions, but most people cannot do their contracted job well as well as look after a small child properly.

@FinneusMum

I genuinely don’t care what job you do, I just picked up on the fact you said you worked for two hours a day which is highly unusual. I mean good for you but you’re certainly not in the norm here.

YABU. Your employer should be a bit flexible but you can't expect them to be ok about you wfh with a baby. It's not their fault

I think you may have lost everyone at ‘detached four bedroom house… ‘

Do you or don't you work 2 hours a day?

She hasn't breached the guidelines though so I'm not following?

If she had the post would be taken down. Looking through her replies, I can't see anything that should get her banned at all?

@FinneusMum

I am not wrong though. You work for two hours a day. I don’t care what you do (I know that’s probably hard for you to take on board) you could blow smoke out of your arse for 10k an hour for all I care.

Fact remains you work for two hours a day and you think this isn’t unique. OF course you wouldn’t pay for child care.