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?

Sounds like an absolute piss take - are you management not doing something about it?

@Snoopsnoggysnog Their response so far is to send emails reminding people that children must be in childcare (which are ignored) and to keep threatening to remove wfh. I suspect the latter will happen, which would really be the cherry on the cake as I’ve found it super beneficial for managing my own disability (whilst not taking the piss).

I guess the cost of childcare forces people to do this.

Where are you getting that idea from? The majority of people on here claiming to work a full time job while having a baby/toddler full time at home with them are apparently on mega salaries. It’s not a case of not being able to afford it, it’s just them being happy to not invest in their child’s development.

I agree that working from home will not last if people continue to take advantage.

I have noticed that those people who argue to loudest that they are just as productive at home as in the office are those who have small children or elderly parents to care for.

people disappear between 2:30 and 4:00 for the school run. They refuse to come in for in person meetings. It can’t continue - so wfh will be ruined for everyone.

i wfh one day a week if I have no in person meetings on a Friday. It’s handy to have some quiet time to deeply concentrate on big reports etc. it’s also handy for deliveries - and one day without a commute is also nice.

but I know it won’t last / too much piss taking

@Wiluli It’s all about organisation , I got up at 6 and have 4 hours child free as everyone including all kids are asleep , I do 2 hours when my partner is home ( normally all phone calls and things I need to be completely concentrated , then I spread the rest over the day so 2 hours from 8 am to 7 pm is far from impossible , it allows me plenty of time to reply to email , organise work for my team and fill up what I need when she naps or is playing

All your kids and your partner are still asleep at 10am every week day?

Your husband must also work a very short day to still be asleep at 10am but then already home by 7.

I’m a solicitor too although private sector . And able to do it .

Yes, my colleagues are able to do it too, because the slack is being picked up by others.

No he takes them to school on that time .

I’m a team leader so any slack is picked up by me . I’m not saying it’s easy but it’s only temporary until the age of 2 anyway and I quite enjoy it although it’s off course exhausting at times . I was a single mum for 13 years anyway prior to this baby so I’m used to do a lot in a day . I also already worked from home before the baby so I was already organised to have part of the day to my oldest child as she has autism . Needs must , I actually love my job too so that helps

I just don’t get this. You’re a solicitor in the private sector? I assume you work in house not client facing then. You must have a very light workload or what do you do if there’s some really urgent legal issue or challenge?

@Wiluli I’ve worked in the private sector and I struggle to believe that you manage to do your contracted hours whilst taking care of a baby, AND pick up any work for your entire team as well, without working through the night. What sector is this?

I do 2 hours when my partner is home ( normally all phone calls and things I need to be completely concentrated)

And there's the difference. I need to be completely concentrating for pretty much the whole of my working day. I struggle when my 13 yo is here during the school holidays (the summer holiday just gone was awful - he's too old for summer camps, too young for independence, and as much as he understands I need to work, I can't ask him not to interact with me at all - I hate having to have tell him not to bother me).

I don't have a partner.

100%

I wish they’d just admit it too rather than pretend that baking cookies is a productive work day.

I struggled hugely through lockdown and eventually knocked home schooling on the head because I thought our patience and sanity was worth more than colouring in Twinkl sheets. I don’t think for a minute that anyone juggles well.

I think that all these piss takers who are happily doing messy play while their more professional counterparts are doing actual work, will come to regret it when the recession hits the workplace. Do you think employers are going to keep the people who barely do any work and refuse to get childcare over those who can work properly all day?

You are completely deluding yourself if you think a working parent gives a child more attention than nursery.

I also think a lot of to do with managers not realising how much the kids are at home is why people get away with it

You aren’t really working from home while looking after kids then are you?
From your own posts you do 80/90% of your work during time your husband is watching the kids - therefore providing childcare, and then a few emails in the day.
It’s more like having opposite shifts with your husband.

Talk about a pointless thread! Journalist or a teen with too much time on their hands!

This is very interesting.

My friend experienced horrendous DV and has left her exH but is now in a PLO process with childrens services. It’s supposed to be a 12 week process where she does some bullshit assessments (ex has got nothing to do, welcome to the world of misogyny) but she is now in week 20 and has had no assessments arranged. Children’s services are dragging their heels and don’t seem concerned about the fact her MH is fragile AF having to go through this. She says on PLO meetings the SWs and the LA’s solicitor always WFH and have children pop up now and again too. Makes me wonder if the reason she’s still in hell waiting is because of these feckless public service staff.

Tbh is plp are able to do this and their children are being well looked after them seriously more power to them. I think nurseries /crèches are just grim for under 3’s

Yes so awful for children to go to a place where there’s toys and games and friends! Poor little things. Much better to spend the day being ignored by mummy and daddy while they work.

I’m really sorry to hear about this. I’m not in this sector but it wouldn’t surprise me, unfortunately, if this were the case. It sounds extremely similar to what I see day to day.

That’s what most will do , do it while kids sleep or occupied .

We paid for childcare before lockdowns when the kids were both in nursery, so we still pay for childcare now they are in school, even thoigh I wfh....especially where we can't take annual leave to cover the holidays. My kids are 6 and 9 and I can't work with with here for a day, wrap around after school is the most I do, some of the week. Nursery, school clubs and holiday clubs are an essential part of both for us being able to do our jobs properly.

My employer has confirmed last week that from 14/11 all staff must return to office based 2 or 3 days per week. We have been advised for months this may be happening. All contracts still state office based.
Lots of people panicking as they gave up childcare provision they had pre covid & have no childcare available.
I.will be glad as some people have been taking the p**s for months & not been available when needed.

@weepatour company said that months ago they wanted people in 3 out of 5 days. But they haven't really enforced it YET.
But they have also given up a third of the office.

Exactly the same as what is happening in my DPs work right now. He has been dealing with all these “excuses” for the last few weeks but it’s because people have been taking the piss since lockdown ended that they have made this decision and essentially ruined it for themselves and their colleagues so I have limited sympathy.

I don’t think people realise that until you get a full time home worker contract then you are an office employee, even if it’s part of the week. If you choose to change your lifestyle whether that’s not paying for childcare or moving miles from your office on the thinking that you could wfh forever, then more fool you