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!

[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 )

[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]

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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[Optionschange]

What's it like working for the Cs?

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

Are you talking to me?

you’ll have to be more explicit

[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]

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

[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)

[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.

[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.

[Stickmansmum]

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

[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.

[Coffeepot72]

@Optionschange

What's it like working for the Cs?

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