Parents of small children - how are you managing RTO?

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe how many moms think oh well I had it tough so other moms should too. I had a very toxic job at one point— I would Never want someone else to have that job. I want things to IMPROVE.

[Anonymous]

I’ll just say it sucks. We worked it out, but it is stressful, expensive and I see my kids way less. Absolutely cutting into quality of life for the whole family even though only my work changed.

This is exactly why I took classes, got certified and spent a year looking for a job with remote. So republicans want us to pick ourselves up and do better and so I did. But now I am lazy. they want to take it away because I am criminal.

[Anonymous]

The unstated reality is that many jobs will eventually return to a full-time, in-office model. The private sector is also pushing for employees to return, and an increasing number of companies are beginning to implement those plans.

If you’ve secured a fully remote position because your company has opted not to invest in office space, you may be fortunate enough to continue working remotely. However, if you're in a hybrid role and office space is already available, don’t assume that a full return to office (RTO) won’t affect you.

The safest way to ensure remote work flexibility is to pursue contract work, become an independent contractor, or take on flex staffing roles, as these typically offer greater control over where you work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

Oh FFS! You can't be so obtuseas to not understand the concept of a commute.

Why oh why do 35 year olds not understand that there was a life before Covid. We had commutes then, too, sweetie pie. Sometimes over an hour. We figured it out, you will too.

I’ve been fully remote since before covid… since 2013.
Don’t be bitter and bring everyone down with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe how many moms think oh well I had it tough so other moms should too. I had a very toxic job at one point— I would Never want someone else to have that job. I want things to IMPROVE.

Amen! We should be going forward, not backward. The complete lack of flexibility makes things more difficult than they should be. I don't understand why posters here can't empathize and want things to be better for all of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

Oh FFS! You can't be so obtuseas to not understand the concept of a commute.

Why oh why do 35 year olds not understand that there was a life before Covid. We had commutes then, too, sweetie pie. Sometimes over an hour. We figured it out, you will too.

I’ve been fully remote since before covid… since 2013.
Don’t be bitter and bring everyone down with you.

+1. To the posters above with the "sweeties" and "we walked uphill 2 miles"... Why oh why do you not remember a time before feminism? Why oh why have you not evolved? The pandemic was tragic, but it also taught us that the playing field can be leveled by bringing more balance to our lives while achieving capitalistic objectives (realistically, we live in a capitalistic society that values productivity, and that will not change any time soon). What is happening now with RTO and the many petty undertakings of this administration is several steps backward into the dark past. Wake up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are people living that have 2 hour commutes each way? When my kids were in school, we lived near Olney and I left home at 6:15. Dropped off kids at morning care in Bethesda around 7, in office by 7:30-7:45. Left work at 4:30 and picked up at 5:15 or so. Sports practices were generally around 5:30pm or so because the coaches were working parents with in-office jobs. I did that schedule 5 days a week for years.

Would you like a medal for your accomplishments???

NP. She’s not asking for a medal. This is what almost all working Gen X mothers did when our kids were young. It was the status quo that we maintained for years.

[Anonymous]

+1000

This is like saying that since I didn’t get paid maternity leave, no one else should either, even though I had kids before my office started offering it. I'm really glad the younger women in my office won’t have to struggle with the tough choice of coming back early or going three months without pay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are people living that have 2 hour commutes each way? When my kids were in school, we lived near Olney and I left home at 6:15. Dropped off kids at morning care in Bethesda around 7, in office by 7:30-7:45. Left work at 4:30 and picked up at 5:15 or so. Sports practices were generally around 5:30pm or so because the coaches were working parents with in-office jobs. I did that schedule 5 days a week for years.

Frederick. No, I don't have a McMansion. We live here to be down the street from my spouse's job, after a few years of living closer to mine. I got tired of commuting and searched for a fully remote job a couple years ago, joke's on me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe how many moms think oh well I had it tough so other moms should too. I had a very toxic job at one point— I would Never want someone else to have that job. I want things to IMPROVE.

I don’t want everyone else to have it tough. I just know that if everyone can do their jobs remotely, in 3 years your job will be in Poland or India.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe how many moms think oh well I had it tough so other moms should too. I had a very toxic job at one point— I would Never want someone else to have that job. I want things to IMPROVE.

+1, this makes me so sad. Don’t we all want to move toward a more balanced approach to having it all as working mothers? If not for our fellow women, for our kids? I can’t understand this mentality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll just say it sucks. We worked it out, but it is stressful, expensive and I see my kids way less. Absolutely cutting into quality of life for the whole family even though only my work changed.

This is exactly why I took classes, got certified and spent a year looking for a job with remote. So republicans want us to pick ourselves up and do better and so I did. But now I am lazy. they want to take it away because I am criminal.

This! We did it pre-covid, and with 50% RTO after covid. I specifically sought out a fully remote job because the long commute was rough and i expected the requirement to increase. I would not have taken my current job full time in office. But now I have to be punished, apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

Oh FFS! You can't be so obtuseas to not understand the concept of a commute.

Why oh why do 35 year olds not understand that there was a life before Covid. We had commutes then, too, sweetie pie. Sometimes over an hour. We figured it out, you will too.

Hon, I'm 47 and have WFH for 10 years. I'm just not a heartless witch who can't empathize with people scrambling to figure out senseless RTO overnight. And I'm also in touch enough to know that childcare options have changed drastically since covid.

An in office 47 year old expert will spend time leading teams and mentoring juniors, which is additional value for career perspective. That’s how I got my promotions after covid when half of my industry refuse to go back. 😆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should manage childcare for RTO the same way you manage it for WFH. You are not supposed to be dropping off and picking up on the clock. Nor are you supposed to be caring for your kids at home. You were supposed to have a childcare plan this whole time. WFH is not your childcare plan. Why are you just now trying to figure it out.

This. I’m really aghast that so many people were cheating the system!

[Anonymous]

you pay for childcare like everyone else before covid