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Original poster

No childcare on work day

103 replies

ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 14:58

Any advice at all would be appreciated. Aside from my usual week days, I’ve been on a rota to work alternate Saturdays covering an office since going back to work after having my first DD. MIL has been our childcare for these Saturdays. She has now told my DP she won’t be having our daughter on these Saturdays anymore. She’s planning on moving 5 hours away this year, so I’ve known this has been coming but as I’m due on mat leave in September for DD2, I haven’t given too much thought to it.

I’ve told my bosses of my situation and that I have no childcare alternatives. They’ve simply said they don’t know what to suggest and said maybe I should look into a childminder on those Saturdays. I know alot of people that use childminders but I’m not comfortable with it seeing as she will only be there one day every other weekend. DD won’t be familiar with a childminder and isn’t the type of toddler than can be left with anyone as she gets very upset. Saturday is the only day of the week DP is required to work in the shop he works out of and he earns £350-£500 on a Saturday so there’s no way we’re losing that income.

Basically, what I’m asking is do I have any leg to stand on? What do i do!!

OP posts:
Theroadt · 12/05/2025 17:15

Predumably those colleagues without kids or with kids but arranged childcare will have to fill your gap - is that what you are expecting? Sounds a bit entitled to me

Theroadt · 12/05/2025 17:16

MumChp · 12/05/2025 15:11

Childminder/babysitter/nanny
or no job. Like the rest of us tbh.

This.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 12/05/2025 17:22

You can try putting in a flexible working request to ask to be left off the rota on Saturdays. They're unlikely to agree to this, unless they can cover the shifts without being unfair to other staff.

Failing that, you can either sort childcare or quit and look for another job.

I'm not sure what you mean exactly when you ask if you have a leg to stand on. Your employers are not legally required to take you off shift simply because you don't want to use a childminder.

BoredZelda · 12/05/2025 17:23

Why all the pissy responses. I’d have thought trying to find childcare on a Saturday is pretty hard to do. I’d also have thought we’d want employers to be a bit flexible with their workforce if they can.

But nah, “we all suffered so you have to”

Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 17:23

BoredZelda · 12/05/2025 17:23

Why all the pissy responses. I’d have thought trying to find childcare on a Saturday is pretty hard to do. I’d also have thought we’d want employers to be a bit flexible with their workforce if they can.

But nah, “we all suffered so you have to”

If the OP is, let’s say an estate agent, you take the job knowing Saturdays are central to success

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 12/05/2025 17:32

BoredZelda · 12/05/2025 17:23

Why all the pissy responses. I’d have thought trying to find childcare on a Saturday is pretty hard to do. I’d also have thought we’d want employers to be a bit flexible with their workforce if they can.

But nah, “we all suffered so you have to”

It isn't pissy to point out the reality that some jobs require Saturday working, and that you either have to suck it up or look for a weekday job instead.

lizzyBennet08 · 12/05/2025 17:35

No of course you don’t have a leg to stand on. You need to be able to
do your contracted hours or not.
id look for a childminder if you wish to keep your job.

Adver · 12/05/2025 17:43

Starting your mat leave earlier than you intended might leave you with only a handful of Saturdays to sort. Could you manage between a mix of you and your partner taking holiday, your parents helping, your MIL doing the odd couple of Saturdays more to get you through. It is quite a different situation to if you weren't going off in September.

MigGril · 12/05/2025 17:52

Op where does she go during the week? Is she at nursery?

My friend would often use one of the nursery workers as a baby sitter, as she did this to earn extra. You could ask if any of the staff do this as she would be familiar with them already.

Livpool · 12/05/2025 17:54

I mean surely you just have to suck up getting a childminder or friend - you can’t ask work to help just so you don’t have to pay for childcare

Readytohealnow · 12/05/2025 17:58

GET her used to the CM. Plenty of other children manage. Why should your colleagues suffer because your child is fussy and you pander to it.

Whaleandsnail6 · 12/05/2025 18:02

I think you have 4 options...

Submit a flexible working request to not have to work Saturday anymore
Or
If that is not granted, have your husband submit a flexible work request to not work Saturday if you can afford his drop in wages
Or
Find a childminder through an agency or something, who can do a regular Saturday for you. Your daughter would get used to it.
Or
Quit your job and find something that doesn't require Saturday working

Ceska · 12/05/2025 18:05

Basically, what I’m asking is do I have any leg to stand on? What do i do!!

No.
Get a childminder.

Original poster
ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:16

skinnyoptionsonly · 12/05/2025 15:21

Wow no one wants to put their child in child care but the rest of us have to / have had to. It’s sucks but it’s necessary.

your child will pick up your feelings about a childminder m if you don’t make it a positive thing.

in your shoes, I’ll be looking for a student studying early years looking for extra hours at the weekend, Then they could also be on hand for babysitting as and when you need it.
Otherwise, the same logic applies to getting a babysitter surely child won’t like it

I’m not saying the stuff is easy. I was probably the same as you. But in my experience, suck it up

She is in childcare during the week.

OP posts:
Original poster
ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:17

Adver · 12/05/2025 17:43

Starting your mat leave earlier than you intended might leave you with only a handful of Saturdays to sort. Could you manage between a mix of you and your partner taking holiday, your parents helping, your MIL doing the odd couple of Saturdays more to get you through. It is quite a different situation to if you weren't going off in September.

My family are shift workers and/or work weekends. I’ll look into starting mat leave early, thank you. Sadly they don’t allow holidays on the weekends

OP posts:
Original poster
ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:19

Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 17:23

If the OP is, let’s say an estate agent, you take the job knowing Saturdays are central to success

Show quote history

guessed the industry but i’m not a sales negotiator, more background work and thisnis covering for another office so they don’t have to work every other, as i do

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 12/05/2025 18:20

She is in childcare during the week.

And now you need to find childcare for some Saturdays.?

Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 18:23

ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:19

guessed the industry but i’m not a sales negotiator, more background work and thisnis covering for another office so they don’t have to work every other, as i do

Show quote history

But if you check your contract, it will very explicitly stipulate requirement of every other Saturday
which you knew from the very outset
and it would appear you have made no plans in the event your freebie childcare dissolved

Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 18:23

ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:16

She is in childcare during the week.

Show quote history

and you’re ok with that

Original poster
ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:24

Thank you for the helpful responses. The pissy ones like ‘nanny or no job like the rest of us’ - i do work and i do pay for childcare during the week. I’m not opposed to sending her to childcare, but do you think finding Saturday childminders in a small area this close to the summer holidays is an easy task? I’ve got a genuine problem I was looking for advice on, I don’t need to be patronised like an idiot. Thank you for alot of the helpful advice though. I’ve spoken to my bosses and we’re going to work to try and solve the problem. They aren’t a ‘suck it up or you’re fired’ kind of firm

OP posts:
Blackdow · 12/05/2025 18:26

ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:24

Thank you for the helpful responses. The pissy ones like ‘nanny or no job like the rest of us’ - i do work and i do pay for childcare during the week. I’m not opposed to sending her to childcare, but do you think finding Saturday childminders in a small area this close to the summer holidays is an easy task? I’ve got a genuine problem I was looking for advice on, I don’t need to be patronised like an idiot. Thank you for alot of the helpful advice though. I’ve spoken to my bosses and we’re going to work to try and solve the problem. They aren’t a ‘suck it up or you’re fired’ kind of firm

Why haven’t you done an official flexible working request? They can only turn it down on specific grounds for business need. This might be covered, they do have a business need but everyone is entitled to make a flexible working request so don’t “talk to your bosses.” Put in an official request and then they have to respond within the legal timeframe.

scotstars · 12/05/2025 18:28

You are rota'd to work that day so you need to work with your employers. I'd get a calendar and put a message out to family - surely if you can get few family members or friends to help out as a 1 off you could cover most Saturdays between now and mat leave. Can you start mat leave a few weeks early? Can you partner take a couple of days annual leave? You do have options and if none of these work then look into childminders/babysitters. Lots of people have to leave clingy toddlers and go to work you are not alone

Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 19:07

ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 18:24

Thank you for the helpful responses. The pissy ones like ‘nanny or no job like the rest of us’ - i do work and i do pay for childcare during the week. I’m not opposed to sending her to childcare, but do you think finding Saturday childminders in a small area this close to the summer holidays is an easy task? I’ve got a genuine problem I was looking for advice on, I don’t need to be patronised like an idiot. Thank you for alot of the helpful advice though. I’ve spoken to my bosses and we’re going to work to try and solve the problem. They aren’t a ‘suck it up or you’re fired’ kind of firm

Well they’ve done quick turn around in… 3 hours from when

I’ve told my bosses of my situation and that I have no childcare alternatives. They’ve simply said they don’t know what to suggest and said maybe I should look into a childminder on those Saturdays.

Original poster
ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 19:09

Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 19:07

Well they’ve done quick turn around in… 3 hours from when

I’ve told my bosses of my situation and that I have no childcare alternatives. They’ve simply said they don’t know what to suggest and said maybe I should look into a childminder on those Saturdays.

Show quote history

Lol you’re mean. I called them again because it’s on my mind worrying me. They’ve now said they potentially have an option for cover in a month or two. You can go back to commenting unhelpfully on people’s posts now x

OP posts:
Bubblewrapper · 12/05/2025 19:24

ssunflowers · 12/05/2025 19:09

Lol you’re mean. I called them again because it’s on my mind worrying me. They’ve now said they potentially have an option for cover in a month or two. You can go back to commenting unhelpfully on people’s posts now x

Show quote history

Mean?

pointing out that you started a thread about how your bosses had basically told you to suck it up

and then suddenly they are dream bosses that are going to work with you a couple of hours later

o.k