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?

I don't get these responses. Just because your contract says travel required doesn't mean you're not entitled to expenses directly incurred by travelling. That's why you can claim for hotels and meals. I don't know if exceptional childcare is an allowable HMRC expense but it's a perfectly valid question.

Ask! It can’t hurt. I said that I couldn’t do some( extra, paid) work when the kids were small if
chilcarw wasn’t covered as well - and they did pay it.

Same here. When I travel my DH has to do drop offs and pickups, even if it means leaving the office earlier and WFH in the evening and other adjustments. Can’t your OH adjust his schedule while you are away?

Where is the children's DF? If he isn't dead, a deadbeat, or travelling for work himself at the same time, I'd expect him to care for his children. If he is dead or a deadbeat, firstly that sucks and I'm sorry, secondly, yes, in those circumstances I would definitely ask. It's a business expense and the business should cover unavoidable expenses of travel.

In our house it wouldn't be an issue: DH would be looking after his own DC and would tell me to enjoy the trip.

I really think your partner should have this unquestioningly. You’ve never been on a business trip ever, and there’s going to be a problem with 10 days? And you have one child!

You say “men wouldn’t ask because their wives would be expected to cover”. Their wives covering is no different to your partner covering surely?

I’m amazed that so many people support the “business “
I don’t accept that childcare is mainly the mothers role, and actually would argue that putting a value on childcare to an employer rather than it being a freebie is key to equality.

I don't accept that childcare is mainly the mothers role either but in your case this issue isn't with your employer. I do believe there are things employers can do to support working parents but paying for childcare is not one those things.

They are asking you to do something which is in you contract. The expectation is that you are in a position to fulfil all aspects of your role. This includes factoring in childcare for when you are required to travel. You have a partner....i really don't understand what the issue is.

My DH travels a lot with his work. Not once has anyone every asked about inconvenience to me, his partner, or any personal costs he may incur as being part of a family. It's part of his contract and he is expected to make arrangements to accommodate the requirement.

Unless it is in your contract that you must have children, your employer does not need to cover the expenses of lifestyle choices that you've made. It's also why you can't claim for a cat sitter or to kennel your dogs either. These things are your responsibility.

I mean I go away with work and I expect my ex husband to cover (within reason- I do ask him but he says yes).

I would do the same for him.

I had this. I had 3 international conferences i was required to attend in a 4 month period, all of them going over a weekend. My partner was working long days all the weekends involved, so i had to bring in some v expensive childcare on top of doing both before and after school clubs on the school days involved. It came to over £600

I was just going to pay, but when i saw what it all came to i spoke to my boss and he approved as a one off. We now discuss childcare implications and costs for any extended travel. It is tricky tho. If i had an obliging partner at home, i don't think childcare would have been covered.

I have always worked in multinationals and me and lots of my peers have had to travel a lot. I have never heard of anybody claiming for childcare costs, that includes the women with children because they organise cover with their husbands!

How about just asking your employer then?

Do please come back and let us know what they say as we'd all like to know .

Well yes OP can definitely ask but I think they can say no.

A costed proposition first would help. But also presumably these weren’t the first trips you’d been asked to do in eight months, with travel in your contract?

Meanwhile, back in reality...

It's nothing to do with an employer if you have a child or not. It's also not their responsibility to fund any extra costs you may have as a result of that child.

Why can’t your partner look after them?

You’re perpetuating that women can’t work after children

You're the one doing that by trying to demand your employer pays your childcare costs instead of taking responsibility for it yourself 🙈

You still haven't said why it is your partner can't cover. Is he a shift worker or doctor on call or something?

@Poinsettiasarevile did your partner ask for his employeer to cover teh costs?

OP is your partner going to ask his employer to cover the costs?

Youre not challenging anything for women at all. You’re continuing to attach child care costs to women

Asking your employer to cover childcare costs because your husband won't step up is just perpetuating the idea that childcare is women's work.

The OP has not given a personal example like yours or is a single parent.

She is saying she is being discriminated against but isn't showing how.

It doesn't help I've worked with men, have brothers, friends and a DP who do/have parented their children so the mothers can work away, go on holiday, etc

I did feel quite conflicted. A colleague was in the same position. Kids the same age as mine, but because he had a wife who didn't work weekends, she had to suck up working all week and looking after the kids all weekend solo. So, my company were happy to pay someone to cover my childcare, but expected my colleagues wife's labour for free. I did point this out, but did not push as it was not my fight to have.

@lifeispainauchocolat correct, it’s not my employers responsibility if I have a child or not. However I don’t believe I should incur an additional £300 expense to cover time on their behalf outside of my contracted hours

Where is this £300 figure coming from? Your children are currently in full time childcare and have a dad around who can drop them and collect them.

But you're only incurring that expense because you had a child. That's not anyone else's responsibility except yours and your partners.

It's not a business expense - it's your personal expense that only you (plural) are responsible for.