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 the resentment? Sports day is only an hour or two, which can be accommodated with a bit of flexibility in a lot of jobs.

Ok your update changes things. From your OP I would have assumed it was a couple of hours, not all day.

So tell them no, they need to book AL. You know you’d have had different answers if you’d said this in the OP.

And you're jealous of them or something?

Presumably they have discussed it with your manager.

Chances are they will watch 3/4 races or events and spend the rest of the time perfectly able to complete other work.

Lots of people have jobs that don't tie them to a desk or even to set hours.

Are you jealous?

I am their manager and no, they did not discuss it with me.

This depends on the job and the sports day. My DS's secondary not only expect people to watch, but somehow manage to drag it out to a whole day. However every child does 1 or at most 2 events, so a lot of people do just watch their kid and work round it (I can't as I need a reliable, relatively fast internet connection).

Yes, I'm really busy so would rather stay home and take 2 hours off than take a whole day then have to catch up.

They get far more hours from me than I'm paid for, they know I'm not taking the piss and no one will bat an eyelid.

Can’t say I would care. My husband has occasionally come to school events and worked with laptop between their appearances. His job is very flexible like that, no one is micromanaged. It’s very useful and means he can save annual leave for holidays.

It depends on the worker and their work
some people take the piss
most however in my experience are great workers and them disappearing will not harm their work at all, and for them I would be happy to let them have the flexibility because I know I get it back again when times need it

They said they won’t be available at all from 8:30am-4pm. They just dropped this on me today.

Well that wasn't obvious. Given they were telling you not asking you it sounded like you were part of their team not managing them.

If you're the manager surely you have policies you follow in regards to situations like this?

This is called drip feeding!

Unless it's normal practice in your business then of course they should have discussed with you.

Right, you might want to see if you can edit your OP then. Because otherwise you'll continue to get responses from people who've not read that rather significant piece of information!

Well no, that's clearly not ok !

FFS, OP, why not start with that? Waste of time these threads, honestly.

Realistically, what long term impact does them being unable to take calls for one day have? Or even a few days throughout the year? Let people enjoy the years they have with their kids!

I bet you are a joy to work with…

Oh well yeah. If you're their manager it's up to you isn't it. There are arguments both ways but whatever the policy telling you on the day is out of order!

So you review the company policy on this and if this is not what is allowed then you refuse the request.

Is there a precedent? Have other people been allowed to do similar at other times. Have they planned their diary around this?

You’re a manager and you need to deal with this internally, taking advice if needed.

Starting pointless, context free threads is annoying and frankly makes me question if you should be in a position of responsibility.

If you are their manager - can't you say no that doesn't work you'll need to take it as annual leave.

It's a bit different if it's a few hours and time is made up earlier or later in day - and wfh means with no commute it's possible to attend.

Anyone who thinks this is ok and then wonders why customer service in retail/government services/local council services and financial institutions has gone downhill in the last few years needs wake up.

WFH seems to be being abused so blatantly by some people that they will ruin it for those who do actually do what they are being paid for. And it is everybody’s business how the UK is underperforming these days, it affects us all.

I didn’t need to book a day off for sports day. I could just plan my meetings for a different time and my job is very output based.

This epitomises the misuse and abuse of wfh. Some people will have to book leave whilst others can 'WFH'.
I know that there are always defensive responses when the abuse of wfh is mentioned but I know too many people who blatantly take the p ** to think otherwise.
I have met people at allotments, hairdresser appointments, children's parties and at school gates who are 'WFH'.

Are you their boss?

If I made a ridiculous request, I'm fairly sure my manager would just say no.
I can't imagine her turning to Mumsnet to gather opinions about me.