AIBU WFH and keep kids home 1 day per week

[SmileWinIt]

I have an 8 month old, 2.5 year old and 4.5 year old. At the moment I work from home full time (after 6 months maternity leave - we're in the US). Here's my confession...I keep my children home one day per week. I do not even pay for nursery that day. I just find it such a wonderful break to have one day to not have to rush them out of the house and miss them. A day to be a mum. My employer doesn't know and would never find out. To compensate I log on at night, and on Saturday mornings (while my husband takes care of them). AIBU?

Good for you. You’re making your job fit in with your family, not vice versus. Continue doing what you’re doing to bring in the money whilst enjoying your little ones at the same time. 👍🏻💕

Thank you so much, you made me feel better!

Sounds great OP! Do it whilst you can!

I look after my nephew two afternoons a week when I'm WFH. Can be a bit tricky if I have a conference call 😂

Honestly? I think you're taking the piss. If your employer will genuinely never find out then you'll probably get away with it, but it's impossible to work effectively at home and look after multiple preschoolers effectively.

No wonder there's such a perception tthat working at home isn't proper working, and that everyone who does it has plenty of time to fit in chores and other activities.

It would only be taking the piss if OP didn't do the work but she says she works at night and on a Saturday to make it up. At least that's how I read it.

If you’re catching up with the work at other times and you don’t need to be available for calls/ meetings etc then it sounds okay. I have colleagues at work completing professional courses (paid for and put through by work) who get a day or half day study leave and I know many of them instead use the day to do other things. They make up the studying at other times so I don’t see it as an issue really.

Sorry OP, it’s a no from me. Whatever about using your WFH day to maybe collect your children an hour early, minding 3 small children all day is completely and utterly taking the piss. Just because your employer hasn’t brought it up doesn’t mean they don’t know. We are doing a complete review of all WFH arrangements currently because of behaviour like this. I don’t think you have the right to unilaterally adjust your working arrangements ( making up time on a Saturday etc) without discussion with your employer.

I’m sure loads of people will tell you that it’s a fantastic solution and good for you for ‘sticking it to the man’ but to me, as an employer, it’s stealing. Sorry.

Can’t you compromise. Arrange with your employer for example that you’ll work 6.30/7 to 2.30/3 on your WFH day and collect the children early that day? Win / win.

So yes, YABVVVVVVU

Its a no from me. If you are worried about your employer finding out then I assume you think they would not be happy so you must know it is wrong. You can either WFH or look after 3 young children - you can't do both.

My employer can see when I'm logged in and working. This would be flagged up during audits.
I'm ok to have appointments during a wfh day but they have to be agreed first if they're going to take more than an hour. I'm still working, and being paid, even if I am at home

Make a formal arrangement that you do x hours per week, not x hours per day. Or arrange a condensed week so that you dork 5 days in 4. Or use the money you're saving on childcare to allow you to reduce your hours.
There are so many options that would allow you to spend time with your kids without lying to your employer, so why would you lie? It's not setting the best example, it it?