To think I can WFH 9-5 in the holidays with my kids at home

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

I recently started a new job where I’m based at home full time. Was a bit nervous at first not going into an office as I’ve only ever had office based roles but I’ve found a good rhythm and routine and we meet in big city once a month so I’m happy with that.

I was off through February half term but I don’t want to use all my holidays too soon. Obviously Easter holidays are coming up. My kids are 6&9. Holiday clubs not only cost a fortune but the kids absolutely hate going to them. I can get family childcare for a couple of days and DH can take a couple of days off bit WIBU to keep them at home while I work? They’re old enough to entertain themselves i’d just need to make their lunch and check they’re still alive.

For context - I know people at my new work who WFH on half days with their 1yo babies there. One of them was late to a meeting the other day because the health visitor was round!

[Coffeepot72]

@Optionschange

What's it like working for the Cs?

@TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl I think @Optionschange is referring to the Civil Service

[Alicetheowl]

Surely it depends on the child. I was a quiet little thing who loved spending time alone drawing pictures or writing stories, in my room or in the garden if it was sunny. I was mature for my age and quite obedient. I had a SAHM but if I didn't I would have been fine with a brief chat during a 15 minute adult coffee break in the morning and afternoon, and a walk around the park with a sandwich lunch spending quality time with Mum for an hour. I would understand not to disturb Mum unless it was urgent. Throw in a bit of TV I would be happy.

But if you have a very active bouncing off the walls type constantly wanting to go out on their bike, or a needy 'Mummeee look at me' type or a very social, chatty type who loves loads of human interaction, not so easy or fair on them.

[Stickmansmum]

My 6 and 9 yr old would be ok. A bit stressful for me but doable. Don’t know your kids.

[fitzwilliamdarcy]

@ItchySnoof

"I couldn't cope/didn't have the privilege so no one else should". Oh please.

Love these bosses forcing working women to sign things to say they will put their kids in childcare (with no addition to salary, might I add). But lets force women back into work, yes yes.

Like they would even know if meetings are being attended and the deadlines are being met.

Christ alive, the entitlement. So it's the employers' job to pay parents more than non-parents and/or pay parents' childcare costs for them?

What do you think would happen to women trying to be employed if that became the expectation?

Women are their own worst enemy sometimes.

[fitzwilliamdarcy]

@frogsandtoads

I fail to see how it’s an issue if all work is completed on time and to the required standard ? Why does it matter who else is in the house at the time if my employer is happy ?

If you really felt like that, you'd tell your boss. There's a reason you haven't and that's because you know it's not on.

[Fizbosshoes]

I guess all jobs are different as are all children. In the situation you've described OP I would imagine it's do-able over 2 days of Easter holidays but think it might be more problematic over a longer period like summer holidays.

I'd be very dubious, however, about how much work could be done whilst in sole charge of a 1 year old (unless they were napping)

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

I have no idea why my post posted in 2 parts 🙄

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

Are you talking to me? Because I don’t work a company that begins with C. If you ARE referring to me - then I suggest you un-pat yourself on the back and leave the poor sod you think you’ve caught out alone

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

Are you talking to me?

you’ll have to be more explicit

[Optionschange]

What's it like working for the Cs?

[Pubesofsoberness]

Oh and I did work in care for 10 years before doing 2 of the 3 years training to be a mh nurse , so know what it's like.

But when you then have a child dx with asd and become a single parent with no help nursing becomes impossible.

So I now work for the CS on less money than I would if I'd qualified but my pension is not bad, I wfh the majority of the time and the hours are flexible and I get more A/L than my dsis who's been a nurse for years. Also, no responsibility

[Pubesofsoberness]

@Callmenat

Pay isn't shit. Neither are the pensions.

It's shit for what thet have to put up with and the hours they do

[Callmenat]

@Pubesofsoberness

People aren't training to be nurses or teachers because the pay and conditions are shit!

Pay isn't shit. Neither are the pensions.

[CeriB82]

WFH is WORK. This is why I absolutely detest it.

oh i have kids and no childcare. I have a new dog and it needs me.

not the workplace problems.

[Fossie]

@anexcellentwoman

And people wonder at the problem of teacher recruitment. It is not just money but the fact that so many jobs are now work from home. why would anyone one bother being a doctor, nurse, paramedic, teacher when you can work from home, And look after your kids.
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-misses-secondary-teacher-recruitment-target-by-over-40/
40% unfilled teacher training places
The future will be children being schooled at home by computers at this rate.
So many crucial public facing jobs are family unfriendly and inflexible. So many mothers on here appear to find it is easy to combine WFH and childcare
One of the teaching threads on MN recently suggested dropping so schools opened four days a week.
Threads like this will make difficulties for schools to recruit teachers harder and harder.

This. I do wonder why I bother. There are so many jobs out there where you can work from home and look after under 10’s. Why teach in a school?

[anexcellentwoman]

My brother is the Head of Department in a large Science Department in a comp. He is the only full time member of staff in the Department. This means more than one form tutor for most classes. It means a lack of continuity in subject teaching.

[bellamountain]

I remember my DF working from home when I was a kid. My sister and I would entertain ourselves until our DM got back from her job. It wasn't even that uncommon in the old days for parents to take their kids to work in the school holidays. Although 6 is still quite young. If you are able to logon early in the morning and finish earlier in the afternoon and then at least they'd have you around in the afternoon to do things?

[anexcellentwoman]

This is from Govt guidelines on flexible working in schools

'The Department for Education’s Flexible Working in Schools was published in May 2022. This non-statutory guidance set out the benefits of flexible working, including retaining experienced staff, recruiting from a broader pool of teachers, promoting wellbeing and improving work-life balance. It also pointed out the potential for flexible working to attract former teachers back to the profession after a care-related career break, particularly in shortage subjects.
Many of our schools clients have seen an increased number of staff seeking the flexibility to develop their own “side-hustles” or to take additional jobs. For some this is a way to explore a transition away from a purely school-based career. For others, it is more about supplementing income in the cost of living crisis. There has also been an increase in requests for compressed hours and periods of home-working during normal school hours, particularly from senior leaders.

This means teachers can now ask for flexible working patterns and even opportunities to work from home. If wfh is to become the norm and everyone has the right to request it enshrined in law, more teachers are going to want part time jobs with opportunities to work from home. Eventually there will have to be more opportunities for students to use an on line platform at home.
It certainly won't be to everyone's liking. Rather like the situation now in many GP surgeries where the majority of doctors are part time. Students will have to get used to having two or three class room teachers at Primary. And far more non specialists teaching at secondary schools (which is already the case )

[Invisablewoman]

I thinks it’s ok for the odd day but not as a regular thing for days on end.

I wfh and had my nearly 12 year old home for two strike days and it was still distracting.

I wouldn’t attempt it with my 7 year old except in an emergency (e.g. he’s been sent home from school poorly early afternoon and we’ve muddled through with him on the sofa with his duvet and the tv). But it’s very far from ideal on both the working and parenting front.

[anexcellentwoman]

I am a teacher and I constantly hear teachers who are upset by their work life balance. A little googling brings up
The Teacher Wellbeing Index, a survey commissioned by the Education Support charity, found that 77% of teachers experience poor mental health due to their work, and that 72% report being stressed and overworked. The survey points towards the average teacher’s excessive workload, and a lack of a work-life balance, as being the key drivers for poor mental wellbeing among those working in education.
It’s little surprise, then, that teachers are set to quit the profession in droves: research by the National Education Union found nearly half of all teachers (a staggering 44%) plan to leave schools altogether by 2027, with 52% saying their workload is ‘unmanageable’.

I imagine cosy work from home jobs do not suffer from work/life balance without the demands of commuting and yet able to supervise children after school etc. Who wants to do it? Apparently fewer and fewer people are applying to train.

[LethargeMarg]

I think one day a week -depending how chilled your 6 year old is -you could probably get a way with . They could have a chilled day at home with a film and getting them playing with something that keeps them engrossed, going in the garden etc and taking them out on your lunch break for an airing but it really depends how good your kids are at occupying themselves, I think that some kids can be ok in that situation for the odd day but most kids would struggle to occupy themselves and be on screens or you'd be having to entertain them and neglecting your work .

[Pubesofsoberness]

I wfh now the majority of the time, no issues with the dc being around although mine are older some of the team have younger dcs.

Mine are 10 and 12 and I wouldn't really want to do it more than a couple of days a week though

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

@Shinyandnew1

Which is very unlikely to charge as ultimately-they need nurses in hospitals treating patients, and teachers in classrooms teaching.

Exactly and I can’t imagine saying to nurses and doctors “we are not allowing anyone else ever to work from home - you’re welcome” literally no nurses or teachers would give a shit

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

@Quveas

She took the call with her gorgeous toddler sat on her knee.

I wonder if you are aware of how many "gorgeous" laws that breaks?

One of our directors took a work call whilst she had her granddaughter sitting on her knee. She was dismissed for gross misconduct. Because she was responsible for setting an example and implementing policy.

It doesn't matter whether your employer permits chldcare during working hours or not - working whilst actively caring for a child of that age simultaneously is a health and safety risk, and leaves the employer open to litigation and fines if anything happens to the employee or child.

Sorry who exactly is gonna sue an employer on health and safety grounds for a staff member having a child at home? What would they even sue them for?

Genuinely curious

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

I wonder if you are aware of how many "gorgeous" laws that breaks?

@Quveas

Why don’t you tell me? (I bet you can’t because it’s not illegal).