Asking employer to cover childcare costs

[Totupthenumberspls]

I’ve been asked to go on a business trip for a week, is it unreasonable to ask the company to pay the incremental childcare costs?

Yes I think they should pay. Our company has an expense category for additional childcare and I’d imagine it’s for exactly this reason.

It seems like you are really upset and put out for having to do this travel. If you say you 'don't have to be there' then could you join by Zoom or something? If not then they asked you to go for a reason. Imagine if everyone asked for hundreds of pounds to cover childcare for this type situation? Raise it with your boss by all means, but don't expect it. Also it might make you look like a bad team player. They probably rather you not attend than have to do that as it would open the floodgates for everyone else.

It is not work's responsibility to cover your childcare costs, especially if you don't need to be there. If they were saying you MUST go then it might be acceptable to ask them to cover childcare costs, but if you don't need to go then just don't go if you don't want to or can't afford the childcare. It isn't work's fault that you have a child to care for, and there is the option of not going if you can't manage it with your child.

@Totupthenumberspls I am gobsmacked at the misogynistic replies you’ve received!

At my company it is in the employments T&Cs that it will pay for childcare when you are expected to work hours that you wouldn’t usually. This helps with retaining excellent working PARENTS and the gender pay gap - which again in my organisation is about career progression rather than salaries, as there is no actual salary difference for men and women.

Please do ask.

Jesus fucking Christ, what a stupid post.

Unfortunately you started a thread based on your own sexist views. That because you work in a male dominated industry, then men wouldn’t share this issue because their doting house wives would take care of the childcare while they were away. This just isn’t true when both parents work.

I was asked a while ago to work on a non-working day in order to attend a meeting. I asked my boss if the company would cover the additional £80 childcare for that day - they said yes. They could have said no, but they wanted me at the meeting and they also want to retain me long term, so I think they see it as worth £80. I wouldn’t ask for it now as my children are at school, the only extra I would incur now is after school fees which are a lot cheaper than nursery.

Good on you Op. what a great response from your employer. You are valued and supported by them.

Good result.

Welcome to mumsnet 😂

Well done OP.

Just say you’ve lost your passport and or can’t afford the additional childcare costs, that’s what I’d say anyway

loving the discussion here.

It might be unusual and a lot of people don't expect it. But it shouldn't be like that.

Whats the harm in asking? never happened in 8 years, and it doesn't suit OP. Ask for £300 and see what they say.

As an accountant, I don't think there is an issue or tax thing around paying one off extra childcare like that. (would need a policy and some investigation if it became a regular thing)

If OP worked for 8 years, without being asked to travel, then it is a fairly out of the ordinary, even if the contract does cover that

Of course your day rate should be higher when working away from home, my husband charges a higher rate when he's working weekends and nights for his business. I'd fully be expecting to be paid better for being away 10 days straight which includes a weekend when it's not usual. Then that will cover the extra expenses.

Let me get this right, you believe your employer is responsible for your childcare needs, if they fall outside what you deem acceptable?
I’m flabbergasted you think any employer is responsible for decisions you have made in your private life.
It’s in your contract, you signed the contract and accepted the T&Cs. They aren’t moving the goalposts but you are.

Great for your husband, but if that's not what the OPs contract says...

No - lots of large London city firms do this. I haven't used the ad hoc nanny service yet but am told it's excellent and you get the same person all week so good for emergencies. Fully checked and qualified nannies...but that's beside the point. I'm trying to say that good companies understand that childcare is a burden shared between parents and that they might need to help fund care if asking employees to travel away from home. It's worth asking if it's something they could pay for.

Well done OP. It's a win for you and for others in the same position.

Do you have contracted hours though, or is it one of those .. or how ever many hours are needed to get the job done type contacts, which most senior jobs are.

It doesn’t mean they can work you all hours obviously but one business trip a decade is hardly that. It’s just asking you to do your job, so no no reason they should pay extra childcare costs. No reason you can’t ask though. You never know

It wouldn’t even cross my mind, hilarious. Why would your employer pay for childcare costs?! Your issue is you don’t want to go and feel you don’t need to, just address that and have a sensible conversation.

This. And for the record, this is HMRC's (and the tax Courts') view too. You can certainly ask your employer to pay (mine never would have), but if they do, they will have to deduct tax and NICs from the payment, or gross it up so you receive the full amount net.

I would get my husband to ask his employer to cover the costs of pickup and dropoff while you're away.

Good for you OP!
In my working life I’ve been such a doormat, never again. Know your value and don’t be afraid to ask for it is the message I get from this.

Can’t believe the responses in this thread !

good for you OP for asking and that your employer paid.

Why should OP be out of pocket for additional childcare on a trip her work have asked her to go on. If a person living on their own was asked to go on the same work thing for example and needed a pet sitter I would expect work to pay. Not comparing dogs to DC 🤣 (well maybe my own!)

Because you signed a contract stating "unlimited hours, travel as required, location as deemed necessary" that's why and you either had children knowing this was in your contract or signed it when you already had kids

Is the training not also for your own personal development or is it completely unrelated to your role? If the former then take the opportunity as I’m sure it is already costing the firm a lot to send you. If the latter, why are they sending you?!
My husband is military - when he was away and I had an extended work hours event I had to pay for childcare. That’s the norm!