Job opportunity and 3 children

[Colourfulltrees]

I have been given a job opportunity it is full time - working 2 to 3 days in the office and the rest at home 8.30 to 5pm - it would take me 30 mins to get to the office. I have 3 children - 10 , 3 and 9 months.

I just dont no how I would get around going to the office and dropping my children off at school / nursery. I have looked at before and after school clubs however they are full. Also my husband cannot change his hours and he does 8 to 4.

Will I have to not take this opportunity? What do other mums/dads do?

Hire a part time helper or nanny.

The only other options are a childminder who does school drop off/collection or wider family support. Near me some nurseries not attached to the school also offer before and after school club with drop off and collect. Final option is to put the problem to your potential employers and see if you could do flexible hours - get to the office late, leave to pick up then finish off from home after your husband gets back.

Yes I did put it to the employer and he said that I have to commit to 2 to 3 days in the office and that was sort if it so now do I reject the job or keep hunting for childcare options or do I put that option to the employer or is this to rude to ask:
For 2 days 9.30 to 2.30 5 hours in office and then
3.30 to 6.30 work from home 3 hours
Equals 8 hours
And then 3 days at home.

But not sure of this is rude for me to ask.

You can’t work from home with young children, especially a baby that will become a toddler. The youngest needs to go to nursery and the older two can go to breakfast club (you drop them off) and after school club (your husband does pick up).

I wouldn’t accept this as an employer as it’s clear you’ll be looking after children while working from home. You can ask, but don’t be surprised if it’s a no.

Has your husband actually asked to change his hours? Or is he just telling you he can't?

Yes the youngest has a nursery place just thinking of the other 2 for school runs

With a baby and a toddler your only options are a nanny, a childminder or nursery to cover ALL your working hours that can’t be reliably covered by your husband.

You cannot expect your employer to pay you for working while you are looking after a baby and a toddler.

What are your plans to cover school holidays and school training days?

Husband is on trades so unable to change hours

I think i will reject rhe job shame but it is impossible to work and have three children at these ages especially when clubs are full and I have to go on a wait list.

Hey, it’s not rude to ask your potential
employer for flexibility - I’ve done it many times. Worth just knowing what you will do if they say know though!

It was very strange the job offer i applied for this job a long time ago and presumed someone had got the job. I got a phone call late Wednesday afternoon saying.csn u do a interview for this role the next morning sorry it short notice I thought I just do it doesn't matter if I dont get it. I did the interview and tbh I thought it didn't go well and the employer said rhey had more interviews to do the next day and then 2 hours later after the interview they said they would like to.offer you the job and I was quite shocked

If my husband did change his hours what could the hours be

Another thing is on their website it says about flexibility around childcare

My plans for school holidays are using our annual leave together and holiday clubs if I can get on then

Yes I agree with you just seem impossible as I have rang round and no breakfast club or aftershool space. Baby has a nursery place. For holidays we will use out leave and try get a holiday club. My friend works and all seems possible but she does have family that help a lot

I can only say what we have done, which is get childcare help for afterschool hours - there are agencies, or you can look for ex nursery or school staff. It’s £17 a hour in our area. Then we’ve both arranged flexibly to start a little later on some days to enable school and nursery drop off.

Well done on getting the job! We couldn’t get any places in before or after school club either, or with the childminders that collect from school

I’ve had tradespeople turn up at 930 and leave before 3! Depends on his distance travelling I guess but if he’s at all able to influence that then he would be able to do something if he chose to. And while some were going for materials/jobs and quotes elsewhere, several of those people were doing it for this reason.

Like others said, can you not get a hired help to do drop offs. They could then perhaps provide help in summer too? What does your husband say ? Has he got any solution? Could he reduce his hours if you are increasing yours? One day a week off perhaps? A day when you are office based?

Oh really how does that cover their hours? Sometimes he is local sometimes far away i was just trying to think of the hours he could do to help as I would need to ge there for 8.30 and finish at 5pm he is suppose to do 8 to 4

Thank you yes I have a look into it now. I thibk also I have a bit of guilt especially for little one on putting him in nursery it so hard isn't it. Thank you for your reply.

Can’t you just ask to do 9-5.30 on your office days? That’s what I do.

I would ask the employer if you can do 9.00 to 5.30 in the office. Seems like the more obvious solution and the one an employer is most likely to go for.

You should take the job because it has normal hours. You need breakfast club and after school club. Are you hoping for a full work from home job where you can ignore the work because you’re looking after the children? You’ll still need full time childcare if you have a work from home job.

Explain the issue to the employer and ask to do 9.39 to 6pm on the office days and then get a childminder to do the school and nursery pick up on those days (if you can find one).