To not want to work from home

[Anychance123]

I don’t know if I’m being ridiculous or sensible so I wanted to know what you all think. In my job I can work from home, the problem is I have a 1 year old so I have to drop him off at my mils tomorrow before I come back home to work. It’s impossible to work with him there as I’m talking to customers all day. My mil has a part time job where she works with the public and has direct contact with them, she had a cold over the weekend but apparently feels ok now. I just want to self isolate and stay safe but am I being over the top? I know my work need me and we won’t go anywhere else apart from dropping him off and picking him up. Thank you

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

I know if I called up a company (eg: mobile phone network or electricity supplier) and I heard a child in the background at the moment it wouldn’t bother me. Especially if they apologised and said they were working from home. I would actually be happier knowing the company was taking their employees health seriously and allowing them to work from home.
Undoubtedly you will get the usual people who will moan about it, but they are the awkward type of customer who you can do no right for, complains about everything etc. It will be their problem not yours. These are exceptional times and people should just be glad they are still having the opportunity to still call companies and get a response. If no one worked from home then it would be running skeleton staff in office and they would have very long wait times or have no calls answered at all.

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

That’s great @Anychance123, such a sensible response and better for everyone :)

[Anychance123]

Thank you for all your replies. My employers were great about it all and offered to split my shift. A few hours early morning and make the rest up after bedtime. I couldn’t have asked for more really and I think after today all customers will expect children in the background. A few snacks and cbeebies worked wonders.

[BarbaraofSeville]

It depends on the attitude of your employer. In your circumstances, staying at home with your DS and not having contact with MIL is best practice and my employer has said they will be sympathetic and accommodating to people like you with childcare issues but we're public sector and obviously following government advice to the letter.

Can your duties be changed so you don't have to be on the phone to customers during opening hours? Eg answering emails when DS is jn bed or doing live chat so background noise isn't an issue?

[VadenuRewetje]

in normal circumstances of course it would be unreasonable to try to wfh with a 1yo at home but these are not normal times.

your highest priority is to keep your child at home. being looked after by your MiL is not sensible. your child needs to stay at least 2 m away from your MiL and any other person except you (and DH if he is allowed home though he should quarantine before coming home if he has been exposed).

if you can manage any wfh with your child at home then that is great. if you can't then so be it.

[OhamIreally]

@MeadowHay that's really horrible. On a call last week with senior colleagues one very senior guy said he considered we were in unprecedented times and if a child had to be consoled with a cuddle while we were on the phone to a customer then so be it and we all have to pull together.
I was really impressed with him and that's the kind of employer who will retain good staff not your nitpicking Scrooge.
I suggest you name and shame them to the Daily Fail.

[Anychance123]

@Meadowhay what a horrible position they have put you in. We are all in this bizarre nightmare situation which is so new to all of us, things can’t possibly stay the same with no impact.

[MeadowHay]

DH is a keyworker and our nursery has confirmed she can continue to attend as normal. He is front line NHS staff.

[unhappyclap]

@MeadowHay this seems so harsh! They should be more flexible, this is new to all of us. They will know that you are not allowed to take your child to nursery if you are not a keyworker, so they are essentially pushing you in to flouting the rules which is wrong.

[nellodee]

Customers everywhere will just have to understand if they are interrupted by screaming babies. This is a different world for the next few months.

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

@meadowhay are you a key worker?

[MeadowHay]

My employer has categorically told us in writing that we are not to WFH unless we are able to do so "fully productively" with the agreement of our line manager, followed by a list of targets/outputs that are measured to explain that we would need to continue to meet all of these whilst WFH. I am in a sort of similar situation and my DD will therefore have to go to nursery otherwise I am at real risk of losing my job. We have been told in writing that we face disciplinary action if we are deemed to be working anything other than fully productively from home or if we take unpaid leave that is deemed to be affecting our ability to complete all our normal job duties.

[NemophilistRebel]

I hate working from home.
It’s too quiet and my chairs aren’t comfy

But I do it now because we should if we can

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

Let us know how you get on @Anychance123, this is completely new to all of us so no judgements on whatever works for you re WFH.

[Anychance123]

@unhappyclap well my main role is being on the phone. I can’t imagine my employee would like a toddler in the background but self isolating with him and working at the same time is bound to be tricky. I just hope they will be sympathetic.

[Anychance123]

@Thepigeonsarecoming you’re right. I haven’t seen my elderly father for nearly 2 weeks and I usually visit him often.

I think I will call them tomorrow and explain the situation. I will certainly give it a go, I thought I was mad trying it as the phone lines do get busy but it’s worth trying. I’m sure Duggie on repeat and plenty of snacks will help.

[unhappyclap]

is there another task you can do instead of making calls? I am in a similar position and I have said it will not be professional for me to have my son running around like a headless chicken in the background, so i will not be doing conference/telephone calls with external stakeholders, unless he is sleeping. I will be on my emails all day though and will do what I can throughout the day.

These are extraordinary times, with a toddler, I don't think the same output should be expected from you.

Saying all that I definitely don't think you should take your child to your MIL, stay home with your child and avoid social contact as it is not essential and she has been ill

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

@Anychance123 give it a try for a day tomorrow having him home with you, it might not be as bad as you think. If it doesn’t work inform your employer of this and take time off. Please don’t send him to grandparents though, this is against all government advice and why people haven’t seen their own mother today on mother’s day

[Anychance123]

@Oopsinamechangedagain2020 would you work from home with a 1 year old or try and talk to my employer about taking time off?

I just needed other opinions really but I’m definitely not taking him to mils anymore.

[MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately]

Give it a go with your DS at home. It won't be easy but I'm sure clients will be understanding. If it doesn't work, your employer is just going to have to suck it up.

[Anychance123]

@Divebar no I’m not single but my Dh is armed forces and working away. I suppose the alternative would be unpaid, not ideal or probably an option but I could manage for a few weeks. I would never give up work or risk my job. Might just be tricky having him here and I want to do the responsible thing.

[Oopsinamechangedagain2020]

If a relative of yours gets ill enough to go to hospital they will be tested for COVID-19. If they have it you will not be allowed to visit them even if they are on their deathbed.

Keep your child home.

[Anychance123]

She’s 60. I hadn’t really thought having him here would be an option with working at the same time. I can’t really put a customer on hold for a nappy change, if he falls over or needs a bottle etc. Then again I suppose these are extraordinary times and they can wait. From a business point of view I think if I can work from home I have to. It’s just all so crazy isn’t it I don’t know where I stand or what to do.

[Divebar]

Are you a single parent ? What are the alternatives to WFH? Going to work or giving up work?

[Thiswayorthatway]

How old is your MIL?