to think I can get by without childcare in August because work is quiet?

[isitPeri1]

Every August, work slows down massively. It has always been this way. There is barely anything coming in, hardly any meetings or deadlines, and most of my team is off. My manager and her manager are both away for the whole of August, so it is very unlikely anything urgent will come up.

I have primary school-aged kids and I am thinking I might skip childcare this year. I usually only have about one to two hours of work a day in August, and some days there is literally nothing to do at all. Anything that does come up, I can usually fit around the kids early in the morning or after they have gone to bed. I have proper annual leave booked for September when they are back at school, so I will get a proper break then.

Has anyone else done this? Just managed without childcare when work was super quiet?

It will completely depend on your job.

Yes, sort of. Depends how young the kids are. I wouldn’t do it with younger ones but if their 8 and 10, for example, I think you’d be OK. Can you access work on your phone if you’re out and about?

Yes I can pretty much do most things on my phone. I always respond quickly to emails. I will do work before the kids are up and after they are in bed and check in every hour throughout the day to make sure nothing gets missed.

Well, that sounds fine. How old are they?

If the shit was to hit the fan, would they be able to entertain themselves safely?

But you know your kids, you know your job. A few years ago when mine were 8&10 my mum had a stroke so DH worked at home for a week with them (full on 9 hour days). They were a bit bored but ultimately fine.

8 and 10

Sounds ok actually. Is there a club you can put them in at short notice if needed?

Yes I think they would be fine. I can keep an eye on them and they are ok left for short periods. I am aiming to get as much work done when they are asleep.

Clubs need to be booked well in advance so I don't have this option.

8 & 10? Absolutely fine if they don’t have additional needs that would add to the challenge.

And I’m someone who generally thinks WFH whilst looking after kids is a swizz.

I think it sounds fine. Personally, I would research some kind of drop in or emergency childcare just to be on the safe side, even if you don’t use it.

Can you also line up some swaps with a pal?

You can presumably park them in front of a movie or get the Lego out or something that will keep them occupied for a couple of hours if needed.

Sounds fine. I have two primary aged kids. Even though my work is quite full on, I do the odd day of WFH with them over summer. They mostly watch TV, play games, draw and eat too many snacks. Doesn't do them any harm.

I would but I would make sure that it was never mentioned at work and that nothing changed about my availability (or even my Teams background!) that might indicate they were at home with me - in a lot of places it’s a direct violation of policy and therefore gross misconduct if the employer chose to go there. I certainly wouldn’t leave the house with them when I was supposed to be working

So I care for my Dad 24/7 as he has dementia. I work about one day a week self employed and flexible when it's done.

I work when my husband is home so that I have literally no caring duties. Because of the volume of work this is easily doable and has very little impact on our lives.

It’s all great in theory but it makes for a pretty boring summer for them just staying in the house day after day.

can you not meet half way and book 1/2 days a week or clubs or make sure they’re doing activities and getting out.

What would your employer think about this? In theory, you cannot work and look after children at the same time.

Can you do your work via your phone out and about, or will your kids need to be stuck home all day?

I will be taking them out. I am not going to sit with them in the house all day for when there is no work or very little work.

I can work from my phone. I will pick the days where there is no work/little work to take the kids out.

I’m going against the grain here. I can see why it would be tempting given work may be quiet, but from your employer’s point of view you are at work and as such shouldn’t be galavanting out and about with your children or looking after them. Doing so could lead to disciplinary action if they were to find out so I’d think hard about doing so.

Do you know well in advance what days will have little or no work?

I’m most intrigued as to what it is you do! 🤣

Do you have enough AL to book a day off a week and do something exciting, then the other days where you're at home more are ok? Or are you genuinely working for 2-3 hours and leaving the house and just not working for the rest of the day?

Some days there is no work at all. I might as well take the kids and make the most of the summer while it is so quiet. I can get any work done before I take them out or after bed. Nothing will get neglected.

Will this mean you are in breach of your contract? That would be the deciding factor for me. Even if it’s not a breach of contract I would never mention it to anyone at work or to my friends. You never know what might happen if someone were to spill the beans.

If you are being paid for a set number of contracted hours and have young children, then you will need to arrange cc.
This is another example of the misuse of wfh