To do the bare minimum to get by at work when you have a toddler and not feel guilty about that?

[Abutre]

I am in a professional job, took years to train, office based. I do the nursery run every day (DP cannot due to his work schedule).

My manager said the other day that ‘I know you want to give 110 percent to work so let’s look at promotions by the end of the year.’

im sure this was a throwaway comment. But I’ve been thinking about it on and off ever since. I do what I can to get through the day but have quite literally a list of other things on my mind at all times. I cannot give my all in work when I’m also a mother to a very young child. I feel like it’s a joke to even expect this from a mother. Yes I know it’s business etc etc but what is expected of working parents (usually mothers) is not realistic. Aibu?

It’s because many of these types of jobs ask FAR too much of their staff. We should all push back. Horrified by the hours I used to do. Ridiculous. These women are not talking about skiving but doing their job competently but refusing to be exploited. Good for them.

There are piss takers with or without kids everywhere.

You can spot them a mile.

It's fine to be mediocre.

Never understood people who gave their time to their employers for free

Because that's how you move up the ranks and get the 6 figure salaries. And, to be clear, you're getting paid, so it's not free.

But, since you don't understand the concept, you'll always just be that person in the corner. Which again, is fine.

Are you talking about the OP?
Doing the bare minimum suggests skiving to me.

You haven’t worked in the City then. The “bare minimum “ there would be leaving at 6pm

I think we don't all agree on what constitutes the bare minimum anyway. Is this enough to avoid the sack, or getting everything done in your job role but not more? Can you make mistakes if they're not important ones?

Who cares what time you leave though? That has little to do with your input or output.

I’ve seen the bare minimum brigade at city law firm too, some are very good at it!

You don't get paid to do "what you can". I would expect you to do your work at the required level regardless of children etc.

When your child doesn't get the best care when sick, will you be ok with it if it's a doctor who's a mother?

If the company/job is asking too much of you, then change jobs.

Why do you feel entitled to be paid for doing less than others in your role.

There's laziness and paper shufflers everywhere yet those very people expected top service when they're on the receiving end.

apologies My wording was quite flippant. You do your job. If you don’t want to press for promotion while you have a toddler - or ever- you don’t have to. It’s ok to do your job adequately .

This. Having children is a lifestyle choice so your colleagues shouldn’t have to pick up your slack. It is unreasonable being late most if not every morning -colleagues of mine go this and it slows me down which on a busy day isn’t great. You need to start later or split the drop offs with your husband -l struggle to believe he can’t do any. It’s possible to work with young children and get promoted -l did it less than 6 months back at work after having twins

To me it’s doing only the things that are required in your contracted hours and absolutely no more. No taking on additional tasks or staying late.

This with bells on!!

I think you are overthinking this. They seem happy with the effort you are putting in. Think separately about whether or not you want a promotion at the moment and proceed accordingly.

"To do the bare minim at work when you have a toddler and not feel guilty about it?" Honestly it depends on the job and what the "bare minimum" is and what affect it has on others? If by "bare minimum" you mean that others are having to improve your work, or do extra work on your tasks because you've done so little, it doesn't enable the company to meet targets or meet the needs of its clients, then you should be ashamed of using your toddler as an excuse for being lazy and either put more effort in, or leave and find a job you will actually do. If however, by bare minimum, you actually mean you don't, for example spend hours researching round a issue in your own time, or you don't voluntarily take on extra work to help your co-workers, that sounds utterly reasonable.

YABVU you're getting paid to work, get on with it.

In some jobs doing that is a huge challenge l. It's both the bare minimum and maximum you can do. In others this really would be very little.