To take my 2 year old to work tomorrow?

[IceCreamMum]

I’m a single mum and I don’t have any other choice as the childcare I had arranged for tomorrow has just fallen through now. I don’t know how my boss will react to me just turning up with DD, I can’t ask him as he’s not answering his phone and he won’t see my email until tomorrow morning when it will be too late anyway. I’m a member of senior management (Head of Department at a Zoo) and unfortunately I can’t work from home tomorrow, I have to be on the site tomorrow one way or another due to work commitments. Would I be unreasonable to take DD to work with me tomorrow? I don’t have any other option whatsoever and I also don’t have anyone else that I can ask for childcare this late either.

Unlikely to be a good idea but you probably already know that. What is your job.hoe old is DD?

Depends. If you work in a play centre that would be perfect. If it’s a building site, not so much.

Have you tried the babysitting site?

DD is 2. I’m a Head of Department at a Zoo. I can’t work from home tomorrow, I have to be on the site no matter what tomorrow due to work commitments so I don’t think I have any other option but to bring DD with me now unfortunately.

No, don’t be ridiculous. You’ll need to take emergency leave.

Agree with the first reply.

single parenting sucks at times like these. I used a nursery for DS to reduce the chance of this happening

Any emergency nannies in your area?

What will you do with the child while you are in meetings etc? You can't leave a 2 year old alone in your office. And please don't dump them on support staff (said as someone who had a perfectly nice ten year old with an ipad dumped on me once). It's not fair on other staff.

Are you taking her to work in the hope your boss will send you home?

How do you propose to do the work you need to be there for with a 2 year old in tow?

And do what with her? Palm her off on someone else? You won't get shit done with a 2yo in tow, and if she falls over and gets hurt it'll be a legal clusterfuck.

No, you cannot take her. Your options are pay for emergency childcare or take leave.

It sounds like the First Act of a 70s Disney movie where the kid ends up being raised by monkeys.

Don’t know any emergency Nannies.

DD is in a nursery but I’ve just had a message now to say that they are having to close tomorrow, that’s the childcare that has fallen through. I can’t arrange any other childcare either at this short notice and I have to be in work tomorrow one way or another unfortunately otherwise I would have taken emergency leave but I can’t tomorrow.

It doesn't sound like the sort of setting where it would be appropriate for a 2 year old to attend.

Depends on the workplace culture. At my work people have done this multiple times. Have you ever known anyone else do it?

I'm a senior manager and where I work that would be very not ok. Staff bringing children to work at most places would require a risk assessment. Who would watch her if you are busy doing something, would one of your colleagues need to? You won't get anything done if you're watching a 2 y o anyway. YABVVU.

Don’t know any emergency Nannies

That's what the Internet is for.

I’ve known the CEO to do it once and also another Head of Department has done it once but other than that no. Both were a few years ago.

This. You are legally entitled to time off for family emergencies. Though it's unpaid.

Can you call in sick?
Can you take a day's leave?
What if you had broken your leg?

My point is that companies cope when people can't work. No one is indispensable.

We used to use one of the emergency sitting services if something went awry - have you tried that? Sitters.com I think if that is still around (been years) or also if your DC go to nursery can they add an extra day if tomorrow is not their regular day?

I did once have to take my then 4 year old into the office for similar reasons during half term as I had an urgent meeting that I couldn't miss. But I didn't stay much beyond the meeting. DS came with me and amused himself by typing on my laptop for most of the time. It wasn't ideal but it wasn't the end of the world.

Of course not. You need to take leave, just like you would if she was sick and couldn't go to nursery.

Of course you can take emergency leave, just like you would if you were sick, injured etc etc

You can't do much about the nursery closing. That's not your fault. Has anyone else taken their young child with them before? Any chance you could take her and someone could pick her up a bit later?

Assume there could be insurance implications?
You will need to call in the morning and see what your options are

What are you actually going to do with her at work though?

Childcare.co.uk has similar options. I've not used them for emergencies but I've used it to find babysitters.

Any other parents from the nursery you could ask a favour and promise to return it with taking their child for a day?

what is so important at your work tomorrow that you have to go in but would also be able to do it with your 2 yo in tow? I cannot imagine that a presentation or board meeting would go well with your toddler joining?