AIBU to think parents should not “work from home” on Sports Day

[OxfordMum2020]

Some parents are going to WFH from the athletics stands on sports day? Is this normal?

Surely you either take the day off as annual leave/unpaid leave or you don’t attend Sports Day?

OP, why do you mind either way?

Well presumably these parents are able to do their job from the stands as effectively as they can from home. I can think of several jobs where this would be possible.

Does it really change your life what others do? I couldn’t do that as I don’t WFH but others can and do. I’m assuming their bosses will take them to task if they don’t get their work done either during the sports or later in the day.
I hate unnecessary presenteeism.

Sports day is normally an hour or so, surely they can just make up the time.

Why does it matter what others do and what their employers allow? Some jobs can be done in any location.

What does it have to do with you? You don’t know what their working patterns are.
I would always WFH on sports day/assemblies/plays and I know I make the hours up elsewhere.

I wouldn't have a problem with this. Clearly they won't be getting much work done but the fact is they're working parents. They're trying probably 90% of the time to schedule their whole lives round obtaining a pay check to keep their family going and set an example that you work for what you have to their kids. Then schools host shit like sports day at this time of year, usually with crap notice and a chance of being rained off and parents who are trying their best feel guilty about missing it. Leave is often stretched anyway because of the holiday coming up. So no, I've no issue with working parents wfh on sports day. I don't think you should either.

If I had the sort of job where I had 2 hours free at the same time as a school event, I would clear my calendar and just respond to messages then do my proper work later.

Depends what you’re doing and your role. I could (and have) told my boss that I’ll be out for a few hours but will keep an eye on Teams in case my (amazing and very competent) team have a question. But given I do far more than my contracted hours most weeks it’s not a big deal. My team also would be aware and unfussed, they would get similar if requested because (to quote the CFO ‘we’re all grown up professionals who do an excellent job’).

Sounds like jealousy of others who have chosen jobs with flexibility.

What’s it got to do with you?

I think it's ok to wfh block a couple of hours and work earlier or later to make up time. My work would have no problem with that - I would tell them though.

I don't think it's ok to work there (apart from keeping an eye on teams for anything urgent)...either you're watching or you're not.

What business is it of yours?

I WFH but I take AL for sports day, just because I don't want to make the hours up and would rather enjoy it than work at the same time. It's not nice for the kid if the parent is there but not there, but of course it depends on your situation and how much you need the money or whatever.

This!

We should be encouraging this sort of flexibility in the work place, not trying to make things more rigid.

I have been known to just take the time off though, for piece of mind and the sense of “single tasking” as I get stressed by multi tasking.

Depends entirely on the job. If you need to be contactable, no. If you don't need to be, and you will work earlier/later to make it up, yes. Why do you care?

Why is it any of your business? Unless you are their manager.

Wouldn't care unless I was a client unable to get hold of them

This. I choose my work based on many factors. Including the ability to attend school events.

Bemused as to why this is a 'surely'.

If I was a client I'd be like 'I'm glad to give my money to a business that allows employees to attend sports day'. Unless I was waiting for them with my legs akimbo in the stirrups or something I suppose.

Who cares really. There’s not enough annual leave in the year to cover everything, and these events are important to kids. Life’s too short to be bitter about this

One of my team said they won’t be able to do any client or team meetings for the whole day 8:30-4pm as they will be WFH at the athletics stands at their children’s sports day.

My DS’s sports day was about 6 hours. He was in three events.

Well that would neiher encourage or discourage me from using a company. I'm interested in their ability to help me if I'm paying for it

I permanently WFH and just time my lunch break over sports day then work a bit earlier or later if it goes on too long. My boss doesn’t care provided my work is done and the customers are happy