How do you fit in 35 hours of work if you do all school runs?

[Hillrunning]

I manage someone who doesn't appear to be doing anywhere near her 35 hours a week and have been advised to get her to confirm when she is completing thoes hours.

She does all school drop off and pick ups Tuesday to Friday and very often on Mondays too. She has also stated that her children have sports/activities 3 nights a week.

I just can't see how she has 35 hours spare to work with unless doing them at very unsociable hours. While she has a partner it's made very clear that he does not support and work out of the home 9 to 5.

It would be very useful to hear from others of thier patterns if they have similar demands please.

I reckon from yr2/3 so 7 or 8 till 11 so 3-4 years ?

Meeting her objectives (the employment deal), then fine. Expecting to be paid for all her contracted hours but using some of them to cover her childcare responsibilities, absolutely not fine. Covid’s biggest hangover symptom is this entitlement.

Well I could be home from school by 9 and comfortable logged on (can drop off from 8:45) so if I worked until 3:15 then it’s less than an hour after the pick up to make up the 7 hour day.

I suppose because it's clear that her previous manager didn't have the management skills to have thoes performance conversations with he and so she has been coasting for so long that I don't think she really sees it. I also feel angry at her. I feel lots of emotions actually!

You are absolutely right. During covid she was allowed (informally) to supervise the children and it just never stopped.

I do 8:30 until 2:30, take my lunch break to do pick up, then log back on until 5:30.

If the kids get a lift or walk to school with friends then I start at 8:00, and sometimes work a little later to bank hours to cover clubs / appointments, etc.

Pre-teens so they can do homework / sort themselves out when home.

It’s difficult we had a team member who was doing the school run at 2:30. She realised her 4 year old couldn’t just be sitting in front of the TV while she WFH the rest of the afternoon - she was honest with us. She asked for a couple of weeks so she could sort of ASC and not book meetings in after 2:30 for a couple of weeks.

We worked with her and carried the load. Now she has all childcare sorted and is a different person! Her work output has increased and is much more present. Comes into the office 2/3 days a week. We have said we can revisit after New year of she wants to shorten her hours etc so she can find a balance.

She was struggling as a single parent with a useless ex partner - she tried to do the hours in the evening but it was affecting her well being. We offered support rather than demanded. The difference in her well being has also changed as well as her quality of work she knows she can switch off at 4:30 not thinking about work rather than just trying to squeeze everything in.

I do all the school runs, but those school runs are to breakfast club and from teatime club at least three days a week. There is no way I could do it around the basic school day.

Had no choice other than breakfast club before commute to make work in time. Those who wfh need to also incorporate measures to ensure they fulfill the hours paid for?

Yes, all well and good in theory if you have the perfect angelic children 100% of the time. But I really doubt having more than one child in the house under 8. That they won’t be fighting, arguing, competing for mums undivided attention in whatever way works, wanting a drink, a snack, wanting a meal, a drink, to go to the park, have a neighbours child calling for them, trying to do something unsafe or that isn’t allowed in your etc etc. It’s different with children of Secondary School age but even they often want lifts, want to ask you something so with the best will in the world your attention still isn’t 100% on work after school.

Some of these comments make me so sad for working women.

It's no wonder many don't go back. I'm very lucky to have a very supportive workplace who value work/family balance.
I go above and beyond during my working hours (do around 8.15 - 3.40 when in the office), will always log back in at home if work needs urgently done
I do the work probably 3x quicker than the other person in my department so I more than make up for it and my line managers and leadership can see and support this.

My daughter is 3 soon and will often (once a day every two weeks) be with me all day while I work from home and it works completely fine for both sides.

Because my work are so flexible and understanding I'm far more likely to go above and beyond because they show that they value and respect me

Introduce timesheets if it’s not already standard practice?

Quizzing someone on the details of their arrangements feels like it won’t solve any issues?

That’s what paid child care is for.

I work 9-5 and use my lunch break for school pick up

PinkSheets, you are doing your job! This woman is not only not doing her job but in all likelihood not even putting in a week's work. Nothing unsupportive about not paying someone to literally not do the work nor put in the hours.

The mind boggles.

I can’t believe a line manager would put this post up- if she finds out (which she probably will as it’s trending), there’s going to be bigger issues.

In answer to your question though- I do 28 hours (9-3) then fit in an extra couple later on and usually work my contracted day off if needed to catch up.

I perform a lot better then people that are there full time/ objectives met/ satisfied clients so have a proven track record. Ultimately the work gets done whatever so employers are happy.

By the sounds of it she’s using the activities as an afterschool club and probably working while they are doing them. So I think with this in mind performance is related to something other than hours worked. Also agree with others asking her to define won’t help as she could make anything up.

out of interest do the meetings have to be before 10 and after 2? Is she being set up to fail- e.g people are deliberately trying to catch her out? Or is there a genuine reason for meetings being scheduled for then?

@WonderingAboutThus I understand that in this instance the employee isn't giving the correct output.
My statement was more a general one for some of the comments in here that have been more of a widespread comment rather that on individual

i think it’s easier to focus on her not meeting her objectives and skipping meetings rather than her actual hours

my school runs are 5 minutes because we’re next door to school but when we were further away we paid for wraparound. She needs to pay for wraparound IMO, I’d be surprised if there isn’t any

I don’t think I’ve ever missed a meeting due to a school run or kids activity though granted I do schedule a lot of meetings myself so have some control over when they are

Early birds club and after school clubs Mon- Thurs for mine (8:15 - 16:45) and then pick up early on Friday at 16:00. Luckily my commute is short but even so it’s not that difficult to fit in 35 hours if you have a decent work ethic!! My DC started this pattern in Reception and has always been find with it as it’s shorter than her nursery hours were.

If parents choose not to use wrap around care (for financial or personal reasons) then I would encourage them to talk to work about pro-rating their hours to be realistic about what they can offer. Anything else is not fair to the members of the team who actually work their contracted hours.

I work 37.5h. I usually do an hour of work in the early morning and then 9-3. My husband does the pickup at least one evening and I work late on that day, similarly he will usually do a drop-off one day so I start at 7am. I also do a couple of hours either late in the evening when he is back or while the older kids are home watching TV etc. I don't watch the clock but some weeks easily do more than 37.5 but I would rather be working 9-5 outside of home really!

Another example of women struggling to work and care for their children without societal support and, presumably women, offering suggestions how to catch her for apparently failing to adhere to a work schedule. The push back should be on employers and gov't. Women should be supported and encouraged. Why isn't op looking for ways to help? Why aren't the suggestions about helping a women who is likely running ragged?

I agree to an extent with really little kids. And I suppose it does depend on the job. When DD gets in from school, I stop work for 5 minutes to get her a snack, then get back to it. She might stick her head around the door to ask me something, (Can she get out the kinetic sand? Yes, just don't bring it onto the carpet. Can she have a yoghurt? No, you've just had a snack, get an apple if you're hungry. Can she watch Paw Patrol? Yes, you know how to operate Netflix.) but that's it. If she's feeling a bit needy, she'll bring her Magnatiles or Lego into the room I'm working in and sit on the floor doing that quietly. It doesn't impact my productivity in any way.

Why do yiou "Bums in seats back to the office" twats get so hung up on this shit?

If she is doing the work you give her and attending meetings who gives a fuck how she fits it in?

"Get women back in the workplace. Oh no, lot like that" 🙄

Most people live close to primary school so can be possible.

Our school started at 8:50 so I would be back by 9am to log on. Then pick up would only take 30 mins which I would take out of my lunch hour so lunch 2:45 - 3:45. Then I would work until 5. DC were fine watching tv etc (I only started wfh when they were both over 8). So it was easy to work 7 hours and could work up to 6 if I was a bit late logging on in the morning or wanted to attend an assembly etc

Because she's not working the hours she's claiming she is. If she worked part time it wouldn't be an issue