WFH with children

[Annie232]

On many threads I hear women pop up and mention how they WFH x number of days and so don't need childcare on x number of days. Incidentally, within my NCT group on discussions on return to work a few of the women have said similar and that they plan to WFH 1/2 days a week and therefore save on childcare. Is this a thing now?

I’m surprised you even know what LinkedIn is with such outdated views on work

He works a few hours a month for a good salary - say £100k?

I do know some folk can charge thousands a day - they are usually at the very top of their field and have worked for a long time to reach the level were their time is so highly valued.

a handful of hours is a day or two a month. Let’s say two days - he must earn at least £3k a day?

I realise that is possible - but can I ask what he does?

www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-under-fire-as-ps3000-a-day-shipyard-bosss-pay-likened-to-signing-lionel-messi-3635260?amp

Could you give a few examples? I'm not being snarky or anything. I'm just trying to think of a job where you can work handful of hours a month and still well paid and a full time job. All the examples I think of doesn't fit to all aspects of the description.

Think I would rather pay for childcare and keep my sanity.

He is a software engineer.

He is one of a handful of people in this country that understand a niche coding language used by some banks to operate their cash machine systems.

The code itself was discontinued years ago, but some banks created their own version before it went dark, they were then stuck once support was ended for said system and it’s been hard to hire for coders who understand the language ever since (as it’s not taught anymore and most moved onto new areas of work)

Its rare the particular bank he works for needs his support (hence the few hours a month) but when they do it’s a case of needing it fixed or else their entire network of cash points are down.

DH likens it to him being paid to essentially be ‘on call’ all the time but very rarely needed.

Im incredibly jealous as no way I could do my role from home with the kids (if he wasn’t at home too)

CherylCrows Basically you have a job that pays you full time for a few hours of actual work. So yes of course if you have an easy over paid job then of course you can WFH with a child. In the real world most people have employers that expect people to work all their full time hours.

I'm surprised that so many people with such lucrative careers don't view decent childcare as an investment in their children.

This goes on much more than one might think. Hence the delays in getting hold of anyone or getting a new passport/driving licence.

It was rife in my old FTSE company and because your line manager changed constantly it got worse and worse. We all knew the women who were trying to do it.

Considering I don’t personally have a lucrative career not sure where you’re going with this frankly

but some banks created their own version before it went dark, they were then stuck once support was ended for said system and it’s been hard to hire for coders who understand the language ever since (as it’s not taught anymore and most moved onto new areas of work)

Actually most of these will be moving to a supported code soon.

COBOL? Any software engineer could learn it but it's dying out so why bother. A few hours a day will not get you that much. You're not going to be living a life of luxury on it.

Hence why DH is making hay whilst the sun is shining

thankfully he is well versed in other coding languages so will pick up another role fairly easily, especially since experienced coders are still quite rare these days, many grads entering the job market but for management level positions he will be fine. Or at least that’s what he says

Having tried to do this during the pandemic due to the lack of available childcare I can tell you it is the most stressful thing I've ever done. You cannot work from home with a baby. They need full and constant attention. As does your job.

Myself and my husband work from home and cover the 5 days between us which is excellent as we don't need wrap around childcare for older school age children. We collect them on our lunch break, home for 3pm they have a snack watch some TV and then we finish at 5pm. Our almost 3 year old is in full time childcare. For an under 5 year old this is impossible. Your mental health will suffer horribly. I strongly recommend against it

It is impossible to WFH and look after kids at the same time. Not to mention unprofessional.

The only difference WFH to working from an office or place of work is literally your location and surroundings. Would you take your kids into work everyday? Nope. It is unacceptable to have kids at home while you are supposed to be working as it is impossible for you to be objective and actually work without distraction.

Indeed! Quite extraordinary that someone so high up can do so little and there’s nothing else to behind the 2 hours a day.

Surely the company with a staffing body working 25% capacity would want to increase profit by 400% and make those workers work to their contracted hours?

This kind of spin of high flying six figure potential with very little work and lots of people under you rings a bit like an MLM. I’m not saying you work for an MLM but it’s the same kind of dodgy AF business model that favours the few people at the top and exploits the people at the bottom

It's not impossible but I agree it's not a great idea

It's impossible for me to work in the office without distraction some days. I wish it was acceptable to tell work colleagues to be quiet

His employer is happy to pay him 160 hours work for just a handful of hours? How?

If you’re contracted to work 40 hours I think it’s a reasonable expectation to work more than ‘a few hours a month’. If you finish the job in a few hours then do something else

Ive only ever heard of this working style on MN, never ever in the real world and I know lots of people that work in tech

Thank you for explaining. So he’s employed by the bank and not SE?

Lots of companies updated their IT systems realised WFH does actually work and have gone to a hybrid 2/3 days in office 2/3 days at home.

This in turn means they can reduce their office costs. My company reduced their office space by a 3rd.
Also is a carrot to lure people in the door esp ideal for older kids coming home from school, getting work done at home or online deliveries.

I honestly don't think people can WFH and adequately look after pre-school age children, nor is it good trying to WFH if your spending lots of time refereeing kids bickering.

Lol, do people realise many Director roles are paid millions from shareholders and attend meetings a few times a year. Companies pay for brains. Cheryl earns so much as she is actually thinking quite a lot and makes high level decisions that net millions. Some people can percolate ideas and play with a baby.
Most people are talking about lower level roles, not everyone is told what to do.

people earning millions probably have nannies!!!

and probably attend in person board meetings etc. so probably do need childcare - even if they don’t put in 40 hours a week.

global head of mar tech probably is not millions - more likely low six figures.

Hahaha. People make up so much old crap on here. On another thread CherylCrows is an expert on child psychology. And Chelseatractors writes in such a similar style to Cheryl. Must be all that tech stuff makes them sing from the same hymn sheet.

I still call bllsht on this. No way does a global head of whatever in an international company work 2 hours a day. So she’s saying she’s so niche and special she can do a couple of hours work a day. Nobody reporting to her she needs to catch up with, no meetings with other senior people during the day, few enough emails she can do all of it when her baby sleeps, earning a large global head of salary but not paying out for any childcare even a pt nanny. Don’t buy it for a second. One day a week, sure. 5 days a week and the whole of the huge FMCG are happy to work entirely round her baby’s schedule to have contact with her. Just no.