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Original poster

Do your employers let you WFH with your kids at home in the school holidays?

17 replies

TheCheekyKob · 09/04/2024 23:37

This isn’t for people who are watching their kids but their employers don’t know.

My current employer are fine with you WFH with kids around but I’m looking to change jobs and wondered if it’s common or not..

OP posts:
JaniceBattersby · 09/04/2024 23:39

Mine is fine if the kids are there but I do actually have to do the work, so I often work into the evening if I’ve been distracted. My kids are all pretty much KS2 or above so don’t need major sustained interaction if I’m working.

WineIsMyMainVice · 09/04/2024 23:40

No not in any company I’ve worked for.
How can you actually work? Definitely depends on the age of the kids but mine are now 9 and 11 and I still couldn’t do a proper 8 hours of work uninterrupted!

Redcliffe1 · 09/04/2024 23:40

I think it depends on if you can get your work done, the age of your kids and if your able to come in if needed

Original poster
TheCheekyKob · 09/04/2024 23:42

Iv WFH for the last 4 years. It started during covid and they didn’t expect much work from us while covid was all happening. Had the kids home.

New job a year ago who are also ok with it.

kids are now 12 & 10.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 09/04/2024 23:45

When dd was at the age that she needed watching, no. We planned to pay for care up through age 12. Covid messed that up and she was home at age 10. It was not fun for any of us.

even now with needing no supervision I don’t let her stay around the house all summer while I’m working. She would be bored and I don’t think it’s good for her anyway. Last summer she volunteered all summer. This year she has a job lined up.

Ponderingwindow · 09/04/2024 23:49

We cross posted. I see you have 2.

at age 12, I think most employers are not going to require childcare. We wanted to use it because it was easier for us and better for dd because we live in an isolated location.

if you have 2 children, they have built in company and the 12yo can help supervise a bit so you may be able to get away with it. Its really the 10yo that is the issue.

mrsfollowill · 09/04/2024 23:52

My employer is not so strict- If they are under 10- childcare needed really- but a 10 yo year six who will come home and be self sufficient for 2 hours is fine. We have flexi so a few people do school pick up at 3 as their 'lunch' and so long as kids over 10 it's OK- really flexible but we are not always directly customer facing- think processing data so can allow it. Mostly only because we have very low staff turnover and everyone does a good job. If the wheels started to come off it would be questioned.

NewName24 · 10/04/2024 00:47

It will depend on the work you need to do and mostly, the age of the dc.

Secondary school age needn't have much impact if you are tucked away in a room they aren't in and out of.
Obviously younger dc will need your attention.
Some employers can be more flexible because the work a person does doesn't need to be being done at a specific time whereas something where you need to be in meetings / taking calls doesn't afford you that flexibility.

Codlingmoths · 10/04/2024 00:50

In the school holidays they understand occasionally, but i think there has to be trust there already.

purpleme12 · 10/04/2024 00:55

No they don't

Rosestulips · 10/04/2024 01:00

Yes they do, and if my child is sick they’ll let us stay home to work too. I work 1 day at home 3 in office

stitchinguru · 10/04/2024 01:01

I’m a teacher and wonder if you would be happy if I did some of my life admin etc during lesson time when term starts again.
The ‘W’FH thing is getting to be a bit of a joke!

YaMuvva · 10/04/2024 01:03

I WFH FT and have been with my company for over a year. Never did a WFH job before and when I started I organised the usual childcare and holiday clubs for school holidays. Until I was on a Teams call and noticed people with kids on their laps, talking to kids in the background, kids popping up etc. So I figured it was allowed and whilst I don’t declare that I haven’t organised childcare I don’t hide it either.
my 2 are a bit older though and can be left to their own devices all day as long as I throw them the occasional snack!

YaMuvva · 10/04/2024 01:04

stitchinguru · 10/04/2024 01:01

I’m a teacher and wonder if you would be happy if I did some of my life admin etc during lesson time when term starts again.
The ‘W’FH thing is getting to be a bit of a joke!

Well no but I imagine OP’s job doesn’t involve looking after 30 children.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/04/2024 01:06

I don’t think my employer would tell me what to do with my kids in the holidays, but they would be unimpressed by anyone who was meant to be wfh and wasn’t working or kept being unavailable due to kids at home. So really depends if you can do the job.

My youngest is 10 and I absolutely hate multitasking or trying to work with him in the background (he’ll just sit on screens if given the chance) so I basically don’t do it. I either take leave or use holiday clubs. My 15 yo isn’t an issue but often their holidays are the same and I also like spending time with her!

I only wfh with kids in the house if they’re off sick but I also hate doing that. It’s all too reminiscent of Covid times which I found hell on earth.

Randomsabreur · 10/04/2024 01:06

I could with my 8 year old but not the 5 year old or both of them all day. 8 year old would vanish into a book or craft thing and be very happy so long as fed adequately. 5 year old would be a pain...

I had to work with then 7 year old around last year as strike days didn't have any other options but my role is quite varied in workload and I put in extra hours when needed so there's a fair amount of flexibility both ways.

More often they're in a sports camp for half a day then I log on again later and finish my hours or talk a half day depending on how much leave I have left, and how busy things are at work.

Original poster
TheCheekyKob · 10/04/2024 01:12

stitchinguru · 10/04/2024 01:01

I’m a teacher and wonder if you would be happy if I did some of my life admin etc during lesson time when term starts again.
The ‘W’FH thing is getting to be a bit of a joke!

If you can work from home, teach 30 kids, look after your own and do life admin all at the same time then go for it.

You just come across bitter that some people have better working circumstances then you.

OP posts:
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