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

Have you even thought for one second about those who work in the childcare sector ? Childcare providers are also being gripped by the cost of living crisis but there's also the added factor that we've been underfunded for years too.

We are facing having to chase for payments already by families struggling to budget with increasing costs for all families. I'm doing everything in my power to not increase my fees, I've only ever increased them once in 12 years but I'm now having to take a cut where I can to stop me having to increase them but it won't be sustainable for much longer.

When you talk about doing the childcare yourself whilst working that's simply something you wouldn't be able to do, parenting whilst working yes maybe but at a disservice to your employer and your child. Doing so may cost you your job but I bet guess that will then open up opportunities for the childcare providers who lose theirs by you removing your child.

The rise in costs of living is not your employers fault so im unsure why you feel they should pay the extra for your childcare. Its unfair to both your baby and the company you work for as neither will be getting what they need.

Your Employer might not give a f*ck what you think either! I actually believe that some civil disobedience is called for, but unless the large majority of Employees in your company take the same action as you, you’re dispensable. When you are sacked, you’re childcare problem is solved, but you will lose your income. It’s a choice you are making!

The PM can’t legislate to force everyone into an office, particularly those working for private employers. I’ve run a remote office for 19 years now and don’t have an office to go to.

Fascinating thread ... thank you OP!

It would be great if you could do a follow-up and let us know your employer's reaction when you tell them your terms and conditions for continuing in their employment. 😊

Wow OP what a GOOD Idea! I'll shuv my 1 year old in a spare seat in the back of the ambulance at work. I'll only give my patients 5% of my time, because I know my baby takes up 95% of it. My employer can like it or lump and and I'll be able to pay my bills! Thank you for such a great idea! Why didn't I think of this?! All my financial worries are floating away on that unicorn outside the window. Ta!

I think you need to think long term - your oldest is 10, so can get away with no wraparound care - could you take lunch at school pick up time? This is what I do and my employer put it into my contract that my lunch would be taken at 3pm so no line manager can come along and change it.
£2k for childcare is a LOT. Even our most expensive nurseries are only £1600 for a FT baby (I wfh for a childcare company). You could try a childminder, which would likely be cheaper. You’ve also got only another 2 years before your youngest will get funded childcare hours - in the long run that isn’t too long. I pick up my 3yo from my childminder when I pick my oldest up from school, but I plan my day so I’m able to do this - meetings before 2pm only (unless an emergency and I make people aware that my toddler will likely want to make a guest appearance), and I do everything urgent before school pick up. I leave my laptop/phone on, respond to emails as they come in, and do 2-3 hours admin when the kids are in bed (by admin I mean finish non-urgent reports, continue editing/designing future marketing materials, stuff that isn’t due the same/next day etc). By all accounts I’m exceeding job expectations and I’m more productive in an evening by nature.
My 3yo gets her funding in September, so she’ll be doing longer days with her childminder, my 9yo can go to after school club, and normal working hours can resume.
Think about how you can manage for now, not sacking off childcare completely.

I am soo with you. If you can WFH. Great. It worked for me. Saved so much money on childcare. Yes i did the work at nights/ evenings, whenever i could while homeschooling kids. It worked and my job was done properly. Now apparently WFH is not an option ( it worked perfectly ok) even the employer said so. I am finding myself in very difficult financial crisis. The petrol, mortgage, el/gas, food had gone up ( each has gone up 20-100%. My salary increased by £30. So yes go for it. If the wages are not going up than some other benefits must be offered to working parents.

I’m with you, so many people in this thread completely not getting it.

Oh we get it. OP and their various guises doesn't

This won't work. And when people do this it just makes it harder for any women with kids to be hired in future, because of pisstakers like you. So thanks for that

Good luck

Another idea would be to ask your boss for a meeting; outline your concerns and ask questions f there's any compromise

Pay rise?
Flexi hours so you can reduce childcare

Alternatively, look for another job with a higher salary

To those saying the employer will sack and reappoint obviously don't know anything about recruitment

@Runwalkskijump

Incredibly obvious now.

I’m guessing your employer won’t give a fuck either. Good like in the job market 😂

I am soo sorry. You tried to vent and find some support. and it is your right. I am sick of all the”supportive” mums! You know what ladies do you feel better slugging of someone? Like can you get a smaller house, why are you blaming employer, what kind of mother are you working from home with a baby? How can be your bill be £800.??.? The OP was not asking about you silly opinions! She asked for support and if it is right to ask the employer to offer some help ( wether helping with chilD cost or Flexible hours?. If you cannot support why even comment! Just because is on internet and you can? No wonder people have mental issues when all they get is abuse? We all have bad days and good days. I thought this website was to support each other? What a shame🤷🏻‍♀️🥺😣😡you do not agree just scroll down and post something positive🏋️

It’s really not safe to work from home
and look after such a young child. You won’t get much work done and you risk your child hurting themselves whilst you are working. Just not worth the risk in my opinion. We did it in lockdown and juggled it between 2 parents. DP morning shift, me in the afternoon & then both working late at night when kids in bed. Was ok only for short term. Perhaps you can cut down on other things and reduce childcare to 3 days or go part time on a temp basis yourself?

Yup, the people laughing away at examples of jobs where you clearly couldn't work with a baby. 🤦‍♀️ Because if you can't take a baby to one type of job that is obviously not going to accommodate childcare at the same time, the OP is deluded.

You do realise that most of the people disagreeing with you most probably voted for the government that caused this shit storm.

I work for a small organisation and my boss steps up and steps in all the time when we all have difficulties. So she no doubt would be flexible enough for me to work from home and look after a child if it meant me keeping a roof over my head.

But if I worked for one of these big bloody companies who were making billions in profits whilst not raising wages then I'd be there with you.

The fact that so many people on this thread are on the side of the employer and not the employee is shameful.

Yes everyone don’t pay for your childcare and then all childcare providers will shut. I work in a nursery and won’t be working for free. And then there will be no one to look after your children.

I disagree with the OP, I work in the public sector helping some of the most vulnerable people in this country, and I worked 1200 unpaid hours - that’s 32 working weeks - during the 18 month lockdown to cover for parent colleagues. My contribution is now exhausted as far as I’m concerned. So no, I’m not supportive of the OP. I’d support higher taxes (which would affect me) to subsidise childcare and I’d support strike action, but I will no longer support anything which requires me to work without pay, which is what my colleagues wfh with their children causes.

I think it’s so arrogant that posters think they have the right to demand to be paid the same wage to do far less work than their colleagues, as if they are the only people whose circumstances matter.

Did you experience lockdown?? 😳 working from home with a small child was not something I will ever repeat ever again.

What a terrible position to be in, you have my sympathy OP I can’t imagine having to choose between possibly damaging my child by largely ignoring them and making them feel like even a slight inconvenience constantly or keeping them fed and warm.