to think about reporting my employee who leaves her 6 year old daughter on her own whilst she comes to work?

[fifi20]

I dont really know what to do. She talks about it quite openly to me that at half term (last week), she was at work, as was her husband, and her daughter was at home on her own. She had people going to check up on her, but she was still left alone I believe. Of course I have no proof, but it just worries me. Is it against the law? And as an employer as she is coming to work for me and leaving her daughter at home, is it my responsibility to tell her to take time off? She hasnt asked me for flexible working arrangements, or for any holiday, but she is from a different culture (India), only been in the UK for 4 months, and I am worried that she doesnt 1) understand UK law 2) that I should be helping her in a different way??

poor little girl

my ds1 has just turned 7 and I believe he is capable of looking after himself for a few hours. He knows how to keep himself safe and what is dangerous and what isn't. Lots of his friends are allowed to go into town too. I personally couldnt leave him though!

it is not normal to do so in india either.

You're being very good boss to care about it! You said she's form India - does she have family here? Usually their community is very close and her daughter might be not alone most time of the day.
Just to add I'm also from different culture and I do understand it's ok to leave as young as 6yo home alone in some countries. And I understand these parents doing it when they and child feel 100% comfortable with the situation. It's wrong to leave child home alone - whatever the age - if it makes them scared/unhappy.

pingping, the social workers and any courts involved would have looked at the facts of that individual case. There is no such law, only guidance. However, it's hard to imagine any justification for leaving a 4 and 8 year old alone all day.

pingping-there is no law stating age that a child can be left on their own.

Think you should sit her down and get the facts from her, and explain why you are asking her before you do anything else.

I can no more imagine leaving my nearly 5 yr old on her own than fly in the air. Crazy behaviour. I know that circumstances may dictate having to make arrangements that are not ideal but that is worrying. Good luck

I had a chat with the social services about a family I had some concerns with (mother used to leave her children home alone and go out drinking, coming back home 2-3 am and her kids would not let her in, so she was screaming the neighbourhood down)

Social Services said that if a child younger than 11 was left home alone they would get involved as it was a clearcut case of negligence. The quickest way to deal with it, and to ensure social services would be involved, was to call the police when the kids had been left.

So, I think based on that, this is pretty serious.

What if the little girl tries to make something to eat on the cooker? What if there is a fire? What if she seriously hurt herself?

I agree I would be hesitant to employ somebody with such poor judgement.

OMG - so many what if's running through my mind at the thought of a 6 year old being left on their own!

How do you make sure they stay in the house? or can get out if there is a fire? how often is the child checked up on?

I think you should have sent her home, and told her to come back when she had childcare sorted tbh!

I would also have reported her.....

Wouuld you not feel responsible if something happened to her child while she was working for you?

Thanks for all your advice. I have since checked some of the links and I can see that there is no law but there is NSPCC guidance. I think my next step is to talk to our HR department and understand what options I can offer her on flexible working, so I can go to her with a positive solution when I address the question, rather than presenting her just with concerns and questions. I will let you all know how I get on - and thanks again for all the advice - once again mumsnet has helped out! My daughter is only 2, but the thought of leaving her on her own in 4 years time is beyond me!

You need to tell her that in this country it is against the law and not acceptable, as it may differ where she lived before. Suggest after school clubs, suggest talking to her school about pairing up wuth another family or after school clubs, suggest neighbours. If she doesn;t take action, then you could make a frirst point of contact with the child's school child protection officer, so they can approach her from another angle.

Perhaps make her aware of flexible working hours and what she could do.

Sounds like a difficult situation and a lack of knowledge, but she needs to change the situation fairly quickly.

Sorry not against the law, but strongly unavisable. Advice can be given to this effect.

how long is she being left for?

the law is a tricky one

there is no age that children can be left alone - just that you have to make sure that they are safe and cant come into harm

there is no way that a 6yr can look after herslef

maybe have a chat with the mum and ask her about childcare and then tell her that her child cant be left alone

There is no law in this country as regards to leaving children on their own - parents have to use their own judgement, but can be prosecuted for neglect if the childs in danger. I think it's illegal to leave a child alone under the age of 12 in Scotland. When my children were young, I asked Social Services about this, and was told they don't think a child under 16 should be left alone. This was about 7 years ago, so their views may have changed.
I think there should be a law in place, as a lot of parents don't know what to do.