Going back to work ... when to tell manager that I need to leave promptly at 5?

[SuzeMcG]

Hi, I am starting a new job in July and DD 14 months will be going to a nursery near where we live. I worked in this company before she was born and as I was a contractor, worked 9-5. At the final interview on Friday, I was told that there will be late nights at busy times.

I understand that working late is sometimes necessary and am going to offer to work from home after DD goes to bed if I have to (though I hope this won't happen too often!) but I do have to leave by 5.15 at the latest in order to collect DD by 6.

DH works in the city and will never be able to collect her though can drop her off a couple of mornings a week. I need to confirm that the manager is ok with me leaving at 5.15 or it is just not going to work. Should I talk to her again and confirm this before starting? I haven't signed the contract yet.

Talk to her now and offer suggestions as to how you can be flexible when the need arises. Saves a lot of anxiety later. Hopefully she is understanding and will appreciate that you are trying to avoid problems now. hth a bit.

I agrre, talk to her now before starting. Its unfair to agree to terms in the interview and then change your mind once starting the role.

"working late is sometimes necessary" as you said, so its not going to be everyday, ask somebody else to pick your DD.

I don't have anyone else to collect my DD. Anyway, thanks, will clear it up before I start.

My DH works in the City and works long hours. But he will always pick my LO up by 6pm if I give him enough notice. I have made it clear with my team that I can work late if I have enough notice. I am lucky with DH though and have only had to call on him a couple of times a month. Talk it over with your DH first, I say.

I should have said "I can work late IN THE OFFICE if I have enough notice". More often than not it is sufficient for me to work late back at home after I put LO to bed.

i have the same problem! Perhaps tell your company that you will need to leave at 5.15, but will be willing to work from home. You can also say that once your dd has settled into nursery, you will look into alternative ways of gettting her home when you need to work late, but need some time for this, as your dd needs to settle in etc. I have now organised for my dd's keyworker to take dd home on nights when neither I or dh can do this. This allows me the chance to work later on some evenings. I waited about 6 months though for my dd to be settled.
to be honest this is the diffiuclt part of working, i only work 3 days a week, and i feel stressed every sunday night, looking at my diary and wondering who will take her in, who will fetch. today i have a meeting that starts at 5.00 and i have just sent my apologies as i just cannot go, worked late last night, so picking up dd today ...
good luck, its taking it one day at a time for me ... but might be worth asking for some leeway for hte first couple of months and you can see what "working late" really means for hte comopany

Thanks for the replies.

I phoned my manager and explained, she was absolutely fine about it and said that someone else picks up her kids and logs back in from home if she has to, so there is a precedent. I am a tech writer and late nights at project end are unavoidable.

DH won't be able to collect her, unless I am ill ... he would be part of the next round of layoffs if he started leaving at 5 (unfortunately).

Good idea about the keyworker, Kugerparkrules, will keep that in mind.