WFH with kids - do you do it?

[vanillawaffle]

Do you go and pick up your kid from school and then come back and work for a couple of hours? Does that work out OK for you? Do your bosses mind? I'm wondering if it would work when my little one is 5

But who would mind your kid ?

Nope.

DH did when the youngest has just turned 9. She walked home from school herself.

Could have possibly done it a year younger.

At 5/6/7 they need input after school.

Yes, bosses would mind. I could use my lunch break to pick the kids up (flexible lunch times) but wouldn’t be allowed to / or able to work while looking after the children too. But my work is very time dependent. I can’t just stop when I feel like it or do work later.

I think 5 is too young to understand mummy is working and can’t be interrupted. Also too young to look after themselves for any length of time.

Everyone at work does it... Some more than others for sure, but yes kids in the background are a common thing

Have done but not in new role as it’s too demanding

Really?

Not at primary school age, now my kids are in secondary I will wfh during the school holidays with them around but they are self sufficient and I only see them on breaks, if they pop into the room. At primary age I arranged my working hours so I could have an early finish or used childcare/ wrap around care. During the holidays it was childminder or holiday club till they were 11. Even now I won’t leave the 12 year old alone for a full day

I use wraparound club at the school. If I had to go and collect them it’s minimum 20 minutes away, maybe more if they’re slow coming out. Then when they’re home having to get them snacks and answer questions. When the oldest is about 9 or 10 going to see if they want to start walking back themselves.

I have a lot of meetings and it would be a pain to have to keep the time free - my children aren't able to totally reliably not interrupt me.

I know people who do it and, by and large, either they just don't really do their work or they stick their child on a screen. I don't think either is optimal.

I think where it can work is if you negotiate a working pattern where you do longer hours some days and shorter days to do the school run other days

It’s common at my work. I think it depends on what you need to get done. My job has total flex in that I could log off at 3pm if I chose and log on at 5am or the evening to make up for it.

I don’t do it because when I get the kids I am there for them. Mine wouldn’t entertain themselves and need some interaction after school.

It is in my contract to not have children under 10 in your care whilst working. My child in year six walked herself home and let herself in. My children know there are times they can and can't disturb me.

Tried it with a toddler to save on childcare costs, it was hell. Thankfully it was during a very quiet period at work and I had a very relaxed manager who didn't check in often. If she had I'd have been fucked. I could usually whizz through most of my work while dd napped but when the phone rang and she was wailing in the background it was beyond stressful. Not good for any of us. We quickly changed the arrangement.

It might work with an older child for a few hours after school. They can entertain themselves and understand if you're on the phone. Or for one off occasions such as dc being unwell etc. But it's definitely not practical long term with little ones.

Not at five years old that isn't fair on them or work. You need childcare until they are c.9+.

What is the plan for the non school days? This is why lots of companies are rolling back on the WFH.

Tbh I’m glad to see this. I am so grateful for the flexibility my job allows but some people don’t half take the piss.

Recently saw a post on LinkedIn that said home working saved them a fortune in childcare - it winds me up. I have two, 2.5 and 5 and aside from the odd emergency like illness or a snow day I don’t ever plan to work with them at home - it’s just not possible! It’s not fair on your employer nor your kids.

My children are at home but not in my care- it would be near on impossible with kids under 8, having to look after them and work.

It used to be culturally so unacceptable at work to be looking after your children at the same time. Since the pandemic it has changed and I really wish it hadn't. It is so bad for the kids, and bad for us.

Mine are brought home from school and arrive from 4.20 to 5.30 depending on the day, clubs etc. But I have someone with them til 6 because I just can't get my day done if I have to miss effectively 10 hours a week of work in the late afternoon. It's not just the working time which can be caught up later, it's meetings.

But some days it doesn't work out and I feel really guilty having to put them on screens. they love it though.

Mine go to afterschool club in my long day (4pm finish). There is one week of the year that they go to a holiday camp that they finish at 3pm. I have permission to collect them and work with them here for one day a year.

We did things in Covid we’d not dream of doing now. To be able to work, you need childcare for primary kids IMO (and mine are the older end now). They just have so much to say to you after a day at school!

5 is too young. Think more 9-10 for being able to manage themselves afterschool while you work. Maybe an 8 year old with the right temperament and a short time until the work day is over.

Lots of colleagues I know do it. No idea how but you can tell by Teams that from 3pm they’re not active.

I know a couple of parents who have said they have them at home in front of tv/screen as they’re not paying for after school clubs but then some parents do do that and just collect kids at 5pmish.

We aren't supposed to do it and i never do, but other people in the company flout the rule and tbh seeing someone continually being distracted in meetings because their kid needs help going to the toilet or whining for a snack or whatever just makes them look so unprofessional and it's really annoying.

No, not unless they’re able to occupy themselves adequately and not need me or interrupt me! So from about 8-9 onwards?

Using WFH as a way to save on childcare costs is a bit sloppy.

That’s why in some cases wfh is frowned upon because bosses know that from x time parents won’t be there and some make up the time later and some don’t.

great thank you all! Afterschool club it is!

Yeah normal for where I work. It was actually written into our benefits and flexibility policy. But I can't say it's the same everywhere else.

There are after-school clubs etc. But best thing is to have a chat with your manager and see how they feel.