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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel it’s a motherhood penalty… AIBU?

433 replies

Yudl · 13/05/2025 15:31

Recently got a new job in which they offered 95k. Unfortunately they would not be flexible on hours despite the fact that in my current role I work after collecting dd. Instead they said they would pay me until 3:30 which means my pay is effectively cut to under 75k (and only a small pay rise from where I am). I feel annoyed as I can do the hours they need but do need to do a pick up in between. We are expected to work some evenings anyway.

AIBU to feel miffed about this? DH is sadly no longer around to help

OP posts:
smellyhouseelf · 13/05/2025 16:47

I earn 18k per year. I finish work at 3.30 and my daughter finishes school at 3 o'clock. I therefore pay for childcare for 3 o'clock until 4 o'clock. Maybe you could try that.

spoonbillstretford · 13/05/2025 16:49

faerietales · 13/05/2025 16:18

If they’re paying that kind of salary, they can expect OP to use some of it to pay for childcare - like millions of other parents do.

Depends on the age of the child whether that is required- which OP hasn't said.

sheknowsitstoolate · 13/05/2025 16:49

Christ

MidnightPatrol · 13/05/2025 16:49

TheHerboriste · 13/05/2025 16:32

Where I work, after we were burned numerous times, it just so happens by great "coincidence" that none of our hires in recent years have been women of childbearing age. We find things are fairer to ALL employees when no one gets special reproduction-related privileges.

A real shame that you are discriminating against women ‘just in case’ they make an unreasonable request around flexible working.

I have also had some challenging requests - it’s never ‘can I leave at 4pm on Wednesdays’, more ‘I now want to WFH full time and pick my kid up at 3’ which I just can’t accommodate.

I never get any men asking for this kind of flexibility either, which is frustrating in itself as childcare is still so blatantly a ‘woman’s problem’.

IberianBlackout · 13/05/2025 16:51

It’s a penalty but it’s not their fault. We all know that motherhood compromises career growth, especially for us single parents.

faerietales · 13/05/2025 16:51

spoonbillstretford · 13/05/2025 16:49

Depends on the age of the child whether that is required- which OP hasn't said.

If they can’t get to/from school independently, then the likelihood is that they need childcare.

If it’s just the school run OP needs help with, then she can pay someone to do that and not interrupt her working day.

Fluffyc1ouds · 13/05/2025 16:52

I would jump at the chance to finish work at 3.30 and earn slightly more. It sounds absolutely perfect to me!

spoonbillstretford · 13/05/2025 16:54

faerietales · 13/05/2025 16:51

If they can’t get to/from school independently, then the likelihood is that they need childcare.

If it’s just the school run OP needs help with, then she can pay someone to do that and not interrupt her working day.

Or it might be that they live in a rural area and there is no public transport to and from school, and it's too far or unsuitable for travel on foot or bike. But her child is old enough to entertain themselves while she's home, given she currently doesn't finish at 3.30pm but pauses then restarts later in the afternoon.

faerietales · 13/05/2025 16:55

spoonbillstretford · 13/05/2025 16:54

Or it might be that they live in a rural area and there is no public transport to and from school, and it's too far or unsuitable for travel on foot or bike. But her child is old enough to entertain themselves while she's home, given she currently doesn't finish at 3.30pm but pauses then restarts later in the afternoon.

Edited

Yep - which is why I said that if it's the school run she needs help with, she can pay someone to do that for her, or accept that her choice to become a parent (and live rurally) means she has to limit her working hours accordingly.

potenial · 13/05/2025 16:56

TheHerboriste · 13/05/2025 16:30

Why should they allow flexibility for some lifestyle choices but not others?

I prefer to garden in the morning; should I be able to start at 11am at the same pay as those who work 9-5, in order to service my particular lifestyle choice?

Workers need to be available at times dictated by the employer. Claiming that is a "motherhood penalty" is entitled bullshit.

that's not what she's asking for, or what's being discussed.
She'd be asking to work 11-7, on the same wage as those who work 9-5. You've missed the bit about working after collecting DD.

If you get a choice over when you take your lunch break, this is an equivalent example of flexible working. Many people I know work through their lunch, and either eat at the desk or don't eat, and take their lunch break mid-afternoon in order to collect their children in it. Those without children also have this option if they want to pop out at 'lunchtime' to shop, or go to the gym, for example. Very doable and flexible in an office type role, and everyone is expected to just manage their own calendar around their meetings and workload.

pinkyredrose · 13/05/2025 16:56

There's plenty out of the 20k extra to pay for childcare and have some change.

LandSharksAnonymous · 13/05/2025 16:57

Being frank, OP, they've probably found the same thing I have: that people promise to log on again, after the school run, but either they don't or because they are providing childcare their output is poor.

AliBaliBee1234 · 13/05/2025 16:58

Do you think they'd agree if it was a Dad asking for this? Or do you think Dad's can't also be single parents?

Mine was ....

nightmarepickle2025 · 13/05/2025 17:01

I imagine they'd say the same thing to a father.

TurkeyLurkey4 · 13/05/2025 17:01

After school club if you want full salary.

somethinggoodisgonnahappen · 13/05/2025 17:02

I think YABU to get paid 95k and to expect to be allowed to skip out every afternoon to do school runs/ sort out child afterschool/make tea. Honestly I'd be delighted to get paid 75k to work 9-3.30! What a dream!

I'm sometimes flabbergasted by posters. Maybe this is why they get paid 95k and I don't as they value themselves so highly.

Sawseesawsee · 13/05/2025 17:03

I haven’t rtft but come on, OP! 75k is a decent salary and if they are flexible enough to allow you to leave early to be with your child, then great. If you want the bigger pay packet, hire someone for those hours.

I am absolutely in favour of flexible working and trusting people to get their jobs done but I think we risk becoming a bit entitled with requests and what ‘working from home’ means! If the role finishes at 6pm then a 3.30 finish means there would be 2 1/2 hours a day you are doing the school run and looking after your kid. That’s 12 1/2 hours across the working week - it’s understandable they don’t really want to pay you for that.

C152 · 13/05/2025 17:03

Hmm...I am on the fence. Granting every different type of flexibility isn't a legal requirement and, until it is, or until your new workplace has demonstrated otherwise, you have to assume they are old fashioned and the old rules still apply. It's completely foolish to do otherwise.

It would be nice (and make many more people able to work, not just mothers) if employers judged on output rather than hours in, and if there was flexibility over where and when hours are worked. However, not many organisations offer such genuine flexibility. You've said you have to do school pick up, they've said that's fine, we can offer you part-time hours. They're not paying you less because you're a woman, you're pregnant or you have a kid. They're paying you part-time because you will be part-time. If you want the full-time salary, work the hours in the way the business requires and arrange for someone else to do pick up. Needs must. (It's dreadful having to write that, as there is still a strong sexism argument that as most caring responsibilities fall to women, it's women who are usually forced into part time work and therefore take the hit to salary, promotion and advancement opportunities, and a decent pension...that's the motherhood penalty in action. No solution for that yet, despite laws that allegedly protect us.)

If you want a particular employer (one that supports mothers back to work, women at work, equal representation and pay etc), and you're lucky enough to be in a position to have the time to scour the planet to find one, then be open about your family and requirements. If you're at a point where you really need/want the job, don't mention you have a family at all. We like to think we've moved past this point, but we haven't.

Ceska · 13/05/2025 17:03

Sofiewoo · 13/05/2025 15:40

I’m sure they will notice the OP not being responsive or able to commit to any meetings around the school pick up window.

Agree

I think you're very lucky to be offered the role with reduced hours.

How old is she?

LondonMumBB · 13/05/2025 17:04

Everyone I know who WFH picks up their kids and logs back on. We used to do that too. No one has an issue with it. The work gets done, the children are happy and not stuck in after school clubs (they really don’t need even more hours in school). I would avoid this company. Having said all that, I wouldn’t actually mind a pay cut for part time hours to spend more time with the kids.

TheHerboriste · 13/05/2025 17:04

potenial · 13/05/2025 16:56

that's not what she's asking for, or what's being discussed.
She'd be asking to work 11-7, on the same wage as those who work 9-5. You've missed the bit about working after collecting DD.

If you get a choice over when you take your lunch break, this is an equivalent example of flexible working. Many people I know work through their lunch, and either eat at the desk or don't eat, and take their lunch break mid-afternoon in order to collect their children in it. Those without children also have this option if they want to pop out at 'lunchtime' to shop, or go to the gym, for example. Very doable and flexible in an office type role, and everyone is expected to just manage their own calendar around their meetings and workload.

Most employers don't allow workers to do childcare during business hours. What is OP going to do with her DD after she picks her up?

She's not asking to shift her lunch hour, she's asking to both WFH and do parenting on the employer's dime. Kudos to the employer for nipping it in the bud.

MsCactus · 13/05/2025 17:08

Can you do after school club or a childminder? Personally I'd not be happy with a 20k drop in salary when you'll likely be working in the evenings anyway

Ceramiq · 13/05/2025 17:12

It's really not reasonable to expect employers to accommodate school pick up in the middle of the working day. If they do, that's a massive perk.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 13/05/2025 17:16

Take the salary and pay someone to pick her up and drop her home.

DwayneTheRockJohnson · 13/05/2025 17:16

Seriously?? Hire a childminder to collect her from school. That’s what I used to do when DS was little and I certainly wasn’t on £95k. HTH.