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Original poster

Boss WFH with no childcare

17 replies

Areyootakingthepish · 26/04/2023 20:11

This is really grating on me. Especially when I am paying a fortune for my own children’s childcare. They don’t do any work - how can they with two toddlers running around?!

is there anything I can do? I want to leave as a result and think it’s my only option.

OP posts:

dishyrishi · 26/04/2023 20:58

Joe do you know for sure?

Unless they've told you there could be any number of different ways she's set up, familybhelping/partner caring/nanny/friend

validnumber · 26/04/2023 21:01

Do they own the company?
How does it impact you?

FiddleLeaf · 26/04/2023 21:02

How does it impact you?

RoseslnTheHospital · 26/04/2023 21:08

Is it all the time or just on occasion? Are you sure there isn't a nanny or an au pair there too?

If they're the boss and it's a small company then you're going to struggle to make any changes. If it's causing you a lot of hassle and you don't like the company culture then leaving does look to be the only option.

storminamooncup · 27/04/2023 07:27

You need to make the point in a subtle and sympathetic sounding way

"Hi boss, let me know what time and dates is easiest for you to discuss xyz with me without any distractions"

I had a virtual meeting with a prospective client from a well known financial company where her kid was climbing all over her and she wasn't paying any attention to what I was saying. She said she would be 'back in 2 mins' whilst she dealt with the child. She never came back. I couldn't say or do anything as she wasn't a colleague but it royally pissed me off. I don't like my time being wasted, and this was when lockdown was lifted.

Original poster

Areyootakingthepish · 27/04/2023 07:36

The children are clambering all over her on calls, you can hear them in the background and they’re just not generally concentrating or getting any work done .

it affects me as I don’t have any guidance or anyone signing off on my work so nothing gets done.

OP posts:

Quveas · 27/04/2023 07:52

One of our directors was dismissed for this - one day a week looking after her grandchild. But it was against policy, well communicated, and she was responsible for enforcing it - it was the latter part that got her dismissed, as most people would have been on a final warning.

Personally, if you are large enough to have HR, I would set up a single use email address and send in an anonymous complaint. If they are going to do anything about it they will. If they don't, you have your answer - nothing will change and you make your decision based on that.

SkyandSurf · 27/04/2023 08:06

Is there anyone higher you can complain to?

Original poster

Areyootakingthepish · 27/04/2023 08:39

@Quveas thats interesting. I think we do have an anonymous complaint system. It’s just so disruptive and means nothing gets done.

OP posts:

unfor · 27/04/2023 08:40

No advice, but just to say that would really bother me too. It is infuriating that you are paying for childcare and she is taking the piss in this way.

NCGrandParent · 27/04/2023 08:52

@Areyootakingthepish workplaces with explicit HR policies will have a policy on childcare and work. In my place you can't have sole responsibility for children under 8 while working from home. The policy was lifted during home schooling and reinstated when schools went back.

First I would check your policies before you make a complaint.

If there are none then take your children out of childcare and do the same?

Original poster

Areyootakingthepish · 27/04/2023 09:32

I think we defs have a policy on it, @NCGrandParent i couldn’t do that it isn’t fair on the kids. You can’t look after children properly and work.

I want to complain to someone higher up but they seem to be aware of lots of other issues around her but don’t want to see to go near it or do anything about it.

OP posts:

SkyandSurf · 27/04/2023 10:08

If you have an HR department, maybe raise it and ask what the policy of WFH with children is. Explain that you're finding it hard to get responses from your boss due to her childcare issue and ask for their guidance on how to raise this with her.

tfresh · 27/04/2023 11:23

One of the problems with remote work coming in for so many people, so suddenly is a lot of companies don't have policy around things like this.

People who were remote prior to the pandemic will often have been asked to prove they have childcare in place.

I'm sure this is happening all over the place, and it's really naughty. I don't think its fair on the employer, or the child. You're best reporting it to their line manager imo.

Original poster

Areyootakingthepish · 27/04/2023 12:38

I could easily prove my childcare with my invoices but if you’ve got family doing it, how would you prove it? Unless it was through their tax credit/NI claims. But I think employers should ask for proof.

she claims to have childcare but the story changes regularly, part of a regular pattern of telling lots of fibs.

HR aren’t particularly helpful with issues we’ve had before. Pregnancy discrimination etc

OP posts:

TheNachtzehrer · 27/04/2023 12:41

If it's genuinely a work problem i.e. you struggle to do your work because she is so distracted/absent, raise it with someone above her. Perhaps her boss.

But if your company is shit at managing people, that's not really fixable and you will have to decide if you can put up with it or if you leave.

Quveas · 27/04/2023 13:21

NCGrandParent · 27/04/2023 08:52

First I would check your policies before you make a complaint.

If there are none then take your children out of childcare and do the same?

Our workplace did the same, except our policy is below the age of 12 or any child or adult who is vulnerable to the extent that they require active supervision, whether or not in the room with the employee - and nobody must be in the same room when the employee is working (for security / confidentiality) reasons.

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