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?

Why do you even care? You need to get a grip!

It depends on the job. In most corporate jobs, you are not paid by the hour and there is an expectation that you will be available when the company wants. In almost any job I’ve ever had, I’ve routinely worked 1-2 hours above my contracted hours each day. These are well-paid, interesting jobs, not unionised, where you are in competition with others for bonus/promotion and the rewards can be quite large.

In return for those extra hours I’d be quite annoyed if I was expected to log annual leave in order to attend my children’s sports days.

Depends on the job.

I get flexibility, today I started late and took a huge siesta. Last week I did about a 70 hour week.

Many jobs come with lots of autonomy and flexibility

I don't think people are reading OPs posts.

The person is not popping out for an hour and finishing her work later. She has said she is not doing any of the planned client or team meetings - it's not like she can catch up and do them later in the evening.

She is also not popping out for an hour, but taking an entire day off while recording it as working day. Usually MN is enraged when someone WFH dares to put a load of laundry on during work hours, but now apparently not doing any work whatsoever is totally fine and chill?

And OP is not annual leave police who should mind her own business. She's the person's manager, it is her actual business.

Why can’t they work from there? They’re going to watch maybe 2 or 3 races that their children are in. They might have important projects that need finishing or be unable to get leave. It might be their only way of coming. We only get a few weeks leave compared with 13 for kids. Let people find ways to be there for their kids.

edit- just seen your updates. Are those meetings important and mandatory. Do they have other work to do? What is the company culture around things like this? If it’s a routine thing they’re allowed to do you might just have to put up with it.

If Op is the person's manager then it's deeply unprofessional to post about it on Mumsnet. And she shouldn't need to post about it on Mumsnet because she should know full well what her workplace policies are.

But the bit about being the persons manager was drip fed in later and was not at all part of the original question

just having it reiterated at work that WFH is not a replacement for childcare or acting as any other sort of carer.
if the time is being made up - and that’s ok in their line of work then fine, but actually working from that stands is not really what WFH is meant to be.
for those saying it sounds like jealousy from those who can’t work from home - perhaps if those parents were given a few hours off to attend without using holiday that would be fair but I’d bet not many employers would agree to that.

I voted YANBU based on your updates as in this situation it sounds like they are taking the piss. Most of my team of 30 have kids so they’ve all been in and out at sports days this week, as have I, and I don’t make any of them take annual leave but in return I would expect them to be responding to urgent emails, getting on urgent calls if necessary and working from home for some of the day if possible. If they want the whole day out uninterrupted then they should take annual leave (and not tell me the day before) so I can fully understand why you are annoyed.

yes that's a fair point that knowing what to do in this situation is part of your job as a manager.
We have a very flexible workplace, so leaving early to see your kid's school play is absolutely fine. Someone stating that they will record their day as work day but they plan to do no work whatsoever would be taking the piss though.

Not sure what business it is of yours, unless you are paying their salaries or they are your staff

If the latter, then obviously a conversation is to be had

This feels like its a 'you' issue then. If you arent happy about it then manage them.

Yes so why isn't she managing the situation instead of complaining on mumsnet.

It’s normal. If I took annual leave for every school thing I’d have no leave left to actually take the kids on holiday!

Apologies I hadn’t read the full thread! If they’re literally taking the day off and doing no work then no, not normal and should be taken as leave (I was thinking more of an hour of not working from someone who otherwise does a solid job, which I think is fine)

What is your problem is the main question?! It feels that is a “you” problem. Either you don’t have kids or your job doesn’t have any flexibility and you are jealous of people that they can do that or you have no money to get your kids on holidays. Cause in reality if you get annual leave any school event and especially if you have more than one kid you won’t have any leave to get the kids on holidays.

Me too.

I guess we can assume the 68% will be 'working' at sports day

Adding that yes if youre their manager you need to manage the situation and say no. I would not allow this. Maybe making up time if it was a couple of hours and they scheduled it in advance. Being flexible within reason is one thing, this is not working from 'home'. At the least its not good for their wellbeing to be half working, half focusing on the kids.

So reading the rest of your posts this is your team and tbh it depends on the role. I am in a customer facing role but also have a lot of non customer facing tasks so I could easily do this and my boss would be flexible as he also has kids so its give and take. If it inconveniences others or leaves them picking up essential tasks then no its not ok and you should tell them that.

Juggling work and parenting is hard so.imo give and take is vital but taking the piss just creates bad feeling

Athletics stands!?? Only sports days my DC were involved in that parents were invited to were at Primary School. If you wanted to sit it would be in the floor/grass (unless you brought a deck chair). Where are your DC at school?

This sounds like they are not available for work so are therefore in need of annual leave. If you are wfh you should be available for any meetings that are required. This sounds like they are not taking an hour out to be made up later. Lots of employers are very flexible with school based things, enabling parents to nip out for an hour to see a nativity. This is not what is happening here. I work part time in a role that cannot wfh and although I have been to most school events, I missed her Yr1 sports day because I had a training course that afternoon. I couldn't say I wasn't available as it is my job. I don't think you are being unreasonable objecting to this. Would he/she be working from home for a week in the summer whilst on a beach holiday? Unable to take meetings during a cruise on a glass bottom boat or a tour of the acropolis?

Well, if you are the manager - manage the situation. No point in posting here.