Wfh with a child. Is it fair?

[violetsparkle]

Employee wants to pick up their kid from nursery and then do 2 hours more work. Is this fair? There's no policy against it so is it just what's acceptable now? I don't know if I should approve it. I don't want to really but we're desperate for the staff so I'm not sure if I have a choice. Just want to give employee a heads up that HR might not approve it so they can consider alternatives.

I think there is a big difference between working from home for a couple of hours with a toddler compared to an 7+ year old.

I did it in lock down and honestly it’s not safe for the child (my child ate a dishwasher tablet and we ended up in a and e- all fine) and it’s not fair on the employer who is paying you to work.

I think it may be ok in a pinch eg if child is sick and you have deadlines etc but not as a regular or planned thing.

Agree with above - not fair on the employer and not fair on the child.

No. Not fair to the employer, the parent, or the child.

Nursery age children need supervision. You can’t supervise a child while working. So they are either not working, or they are neglecting their child.

I do this with a nearly 7 year old and it works fine. I do my hours, meet my deadlines etc. I don't take the piss, and do more than a lot of my colleagues who do the standard 9 to 5 in the office. It depends on the employee I think, if they are hardworking reliable and honest then it can definitely work,and actually people feel more motivated and happy at work so it has benefits to both employee and manager.

I don't think it is fair on the child or the employer. Many companies have policies about not doing childcare in parallel with working (from what I have read on MN).
A one off maybe, as a regular thing, no.

Can they do the work in the evening once the child is in bed? It would be a hard no from me but you say you’re desperate for the staff so it might be worth trying to make it work. Could you do a 4 week trial and see if it impacts their performance in that time?

I would ask them what childcare arrangements they have in place whilst they are working (eg they might wait until part er home and do 2 hours then).

If it was reasonable I would agree it on a 6 month temporary basis to see how it works for the business.
If you are struggling to get/keep staff you need to think outside the box to do so, this may well be part of it.

My 11yo recently admitted she really doesn't like me working in school holidays. Thats a child who doesn't need supervision or that much interaction.

2 hrs after they have gone to bed might be ok (if the type of work allows it ). I don't think anyone could work with a preschooler awake and no other adults present.

Nursery aged child would be a definite no from me. Having 2 myself it's struggling when I am juggling the odd few hours while they are ill.

Also, if you allow 2 hours and it 'works' will the next request be a half day/full day/no nursery at all??!?

As a one off now and then when childcare has fallen through maybe. As a regular thing it's a piss take.

I have do e this once when DD was sent home sick from nursery. It was utter hell. You can't watch a toddler properly and work.

Not nursery aged. Any way to reduce hours to PT?

They haven't asked for PT but we're certainly open to it

On Fridays DH wfh and DS is at preschool (9-3.)

He does have an hour or so at home when DH is working. It isn’t ideal, but he just watches TV.

I’d say that’s the minimum I’d be happy with.

I do think people WFH can be an unintentional pain.

Yes that could work. HR standard is 1 month trial but perhaps I'd suggest 2.

Yes I might chat to HR and say it would be helpful if they spelt it out in their policies then I have their back up!

I was thinking an older child it would potentially work

Employee wants to pick up their kid from nursery and then do 2 hours more work. Is this fair? There's no policy against it so is it just what's acceptable now? I don't know if I should approve it.

So, you’re the boss and they are your employee, is that right?

If you have no policy on this, shouldn’t getting that in place be a priority??

I sometimes WFH with my 8, 10 and 12 year olds. I don't think it's "fair" on them to do it more than two or three times in the six-weeks holidays, so certainly isn't fair to do to a preschooler regularly.

I'm not their boss boss but I have to agree to it before the boss boss will sign it off with HR. It's not my job to make the policies.

I feel like they'd be getting paid to look after their child really but I can measure their productivity easily so maybe if they are still productive as the rest of the team after a trial it would be ok? I know what it's like trying to juggle childcare around work. But like people say they are paid to work.

Agreed, preschool kids need constant supervision and support. They also want attention just because....they've been separated from mum all day and want mum!

Even a 5 year old has a level of independence that preschoolers just don't have.
Able to change tv programmes, able to get themselves a drink, go to the toilet independently get toys out etc etc.

You'd get very little productive work out the employee in those 2 hours. It would be a hard no from me.

I would ask if they have another person eg relative, local teenager etc in place to look after their child while they work, whether they can work immediately after pick up or whether after bedtime depends on the nature of your business - it may help for example if you trade with USA and have a lot of 'after hours' emails due to time zones. . Otherwise it's not fair on your other staff who will presumably be able to be more efficient because they don't have a tired whiny toddler that needs attention and feeding.

I'm confused why you think this is a HR responsibility and they may say no. You're the manager and it's your decision. HR are there to support you and advise on employment law, not manage your staff for you. No btw, a parent can't work effectively and look after a child under 7 at the same time.