No childcare and work expectations

[DogBowlSpaghetti]

I know there has been some discussion about working and looking after young children being unsustainable. I am having a particularly crap day. How are you all getting on?

I hope today’s update means this is soon resolved. Although my son will need some settling in sessions before returning for full or even half days.

I told my boss I wasn’t managing, after no response a week later I rang. There was no real solution other than they “understood”. I am not eligible for furlough because of the sector I work in. I asked for unpaid leave and was refused, I am not a keyworker.

I’m working evenings, weekends etc when DH is home. My boss has agreed to flexible working. I log in every day (I’m PT).

I’ve missed several calls because I’ve not seen the emails with the invites or because I’ve not been able to physically login.

I have a decent home office set up when my son is sleeping or I have childcare, but when he’s awake the only place I can work where he can’t reach the keyboard is by putting my laptop on the side in the kitchen. So I stand there and check my emails etc.

Anyway, I’m trying but have now got such a backlog I feel like I’m wading through thick mud.

I keep getting asked for updates on matters. Mostly, my update is I haven’t got to it.

I’m not sure how else to get the message across that I’m not coping? But I’ve just sat in tears during the only part of the day I can work because I just feel so overwhelmed!

Totally get where you are coming from wfh full time with 3 dc 13 10 and 5. It's a nightmare! In 1 breath my boss is saying just do what you can we know its difficult then in the next it's why aren't you doing enough x y z and why did you miss x y z it's been on teams/emails. Feeling stupid for asking questions when If i had been looking at teams/emails regularly constantly I'd know these things. I'm failing at my job and also failing as a mum as they're being screen babysat next to no school work and I'm relying on the older 1 to watch over the youngest.

Its hell. I probably do about 20% of my normal workload. Emails go unanswered for weeks.

Can't your DH take some time off? Doesn't sound fair you're burdened with all the childcare.
My own DH only started pulling his weight during lockdown when I got badly ill ("thankfully" quite early on), but since then we've shared childcare and chores 50/50

He could, but he is the breadwinner and it doesn’t make sense financially.
He helps as much as he can and does schedule days off to help me but he is field based.

After the day I've had today I'm seriously considering resigning. Call from my line manager today my figures aren't good enough it looks like I'm only doing 1/2 my scheduled hours need to improve productivity earn the money i get paid they will go down the performance management route if they need too etc etc ....... I know this has come from above and is not my line manager talking hes just the middle man passing it on....I didn't ask for any of this I would never of taken a job working from home full time with children at home as I know full well I cant do it. Previous to lockdown and in my normal work environment I always worked harder than most, doing other peoples roles aswell as my own, extra hours that I wasn't paid for, fixing others mistakes or doing tasks others simply couldn't be bothered to do and those above were well aware of this. They know I have a good work ethic yet now I'm struggling they dont want to know.

If you are in a union then I would contact them and ask for support.