I started at the company I work for in August last year. I'm a mum of 2 and the job was ideal, I could work from home everyday, n it was super flexi hours. They had an office in London (one of those wework rent a space for a day ones) but said I didn't need to go in, only if I wanted to, maybe 1x a month! I explained my situation and how due to childcare and the hours my kids could be looked after, London was not doable very often for me at all (it's 2 hrs each way on trains) and they said no problem, just when I can or if a company event/training is happening but that's not often. Fast forward to now, I'm 5 months pregnant with my 3rd baby, I've passed my probation, but we have a new office space in London that the company rent monthly now. A new director started a month ago and he's now demanding us all in at least once a week, ideally 2-3 times. My manager now keeps pestering me now about going in 1 day a week to keep this director happy. To do this I need to ask a huge favour of my retired parents every week to get to my house super early and leave super late, to look after my kids, something they don't really want to do (the hours, not looking after them!) as I need to leave the house at 6.40am, and I don't get home until 7pm. My partner finishes work around 6.30pm n leaves at7.30am. My parents live an hours drive away. Not only that, I am exhausted this pregnancy and finding it really tough mentally and physically this time round, still being sick too, everydays a struggle atm! So travelling into London and the underground even once a week is so tiring for me and tbh, I get more done at home anyway, it just feels so pointless. Would you stand your ground here, and say it's not what I signed up for, childcare is a struggle and just refuse? I don't want to lose my job over it (so anxious currently so over thinking everything of course) but my manager says this director seems pretty serious about everyone needing to be in the office more. Help!
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Yerroblemom1923 · 05/03/2023 07:05
What @Fuctifin0 says! Get back to work. I think in your scenario I may have put off having a third child until I had plans in place for potentially returning to the office.....Your job already sounds super flexible and you'll struggle to find another 100% wfh job that doesn't insist you have childcare in place.
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Yerroblemom1923 · 05/03/2023 06:53
People were always going to have to go back to work at some point, I think it's naive to think you can wfh and not pay for childcare forever. Bosses are cracking down on this kind of thing.
SheilaFentiman · 05/03/2023 07:42
Could your parents stay every other (king)weekend and one week you do a Friday and the next a Monday?
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twix23 · 05/03/2023 08:20
We don't have a spare room unfortunately
SheilaFentiman · 05/03/2023 07:42
Could your parents stay every other (king)weekend and one week you do a Friday and the next a Monday?
twix23 · 05/03/2023 08:20
We don't have a spare room unfortunately
SheilaFentiman · 05/03/2023 07:42
Could your parents stay every other (king)weekend and one week you do a Friday and the next a Monday?
Ducksinthebath · 05/03/2023 08:22
What’s the plan for the third child then? I’d you’re moving is this really a long term job, or is there scope to shorten the commute?
twix23 · 05/03/2023 08:20
We don't have a spare room unfortunately
SheilaFentiman · 05/03/2023 07:42
Could your parents stay every other (king)weekend and one week you do a Friday and the next a Monday?
fajitaaaa · 05/03/2023 07:38
I explained my situation and how due to childcare and the hours my kids could be looked after, London was not doable very often for me at all what's the childcare?
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