WFH and taking advantage? (Children)

[Anonymous]

I have children who are older (college up). Am I the only one who gets annoyed when I'm on a call with a wfh person and the baby or toddler is ok their lap fussing or crying? And you're trying to have a work meeting?

May be unpopular opinion but I think wfh people should still have sitters or daycare or help. But then they whine about the cost. I get it. But Hou had to pay for this prior to covid! And now you save on not having to commute but yet you're too broke for childcare?

I think childcare should be mandatory for wfh up until maybe the age that kids are legally allowed to stay home alone. Age 10? Not sure.

I'm sure I'll get hate. But curious of other people's thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really care. You seem like the type who would tattle on a kid going to a school but living outside the district.

[Anonymous]

I probably would bc I came from education and saw a lot of people working thr system.

[Anonymous]

I agree 100 percent with the OP. It’s not possible or fair either to your children or your employer. One or the other is getting the shaft - probably both.

WFH is a scam.

[Anonymous]

If you are doing child care you are not working for your employer.

[Anonymous]

My employer requires childcare for kids. I think it's perfectly reasonable, and pay for it.

There is the occasional instance where a kid will be home sick (fever, vomiting etc) and I'll take leave, but I have ONE meeting with one or more people who are super busy and I know it will take months to reschedule...in those circumstances, I try to get the kid to sleep or quietly watching TV so I can call in. I do explain the situation if there's an interruption, but sometimes canceling is the worse option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My employer requires childcare for kids. I think it's perfectly reasonable, and pay for it.

There is the occasional instance where a kid will be home sick (fever, vomiting etc) and I'll take leave, but I have ONE meeting with one or more people who are super busy and I know it will take months to reschedule...in those circumstances, I try to get the kid to sleep or quietly watching TV so I can call in. I do explain the situation if there's an interruption, but sometimes canceling is the worse option.

OP here
I think this is perfectly reasonable and you sound like you handle jt professionally.

[Anonymous]

Agree, OP. I WFH full time before covid. I could not watch my child and do a good job at the same time. DH and I arranged our schedules so we didn't need full time child care.

During covid my youngest was in 2nd grade so independent enough to be home while I worked.

[Anonymous]

I WFH sometimes and believe me, I never WANT my toddler to be home from daycare.

Agree the norm should be to have childcare coverage during working hours.

When there are multiple young children in daycare just please be aware that sick days are frequent, especially if one kid is an infant getting illnesses for the first time. So the employee in question may not have much choice, and you may actually be getting more work out of them if the choice is WFH day vs. sick day with no work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I WFH sometimes and believe me, I never WANT my toddler to be home from daycare.

Agree the norm should be to have childcare coverage during working hours.

When there are multiple young children in daycare just please be aware that sick days are frequent, especially if one kid is an infant getting illnesses for the first time. So the employee in question may not have much choice, and you may actually be getting more work out of them if the choice is WFH day vs. sick day with no work.

Yea but before covid and the advent of WFH these days were far fewer. Clearly lots of mothers are taking advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I WFH sometimes and believe me, I never WANT my toddler to be home from daycare.

Agree the norm should be to have childcare coverage during working hours.

When there are multiple young children in daycare just please be aware that sick days are frequent, especially if one kid is an infant getting illnesses for the first time. So the employee in question may not have much choice, and you may actually be getting more work out of them if the choice is WFH day vs. sick day with no work.

Yea but before covid and the advent of WFH these days were far fewer. Clearly lots of mothers are taking advantage.

Maybe. But I would tread carefully here. If you have a direct report who you think is abusing a policy or not getting their work done, address it specifically with them. But otherwise... HR debacle waiting to happen. Why don't you think dads are taking advantage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have children who are older (college up). Am I the only one who gets annoyed when I'm on a call with a wfh person and the baby or toddler is ok their lap fussing or crying? And you're trying to have a work meeting?

May be unpopular opinion but I think wfh people should still have sitters or daycare or help. But then they whine about the cost. I get it. But Hou had to pay for this prior to covid! And now you save on not having to commute but yet you're too broke for childcare?

I think childcare should be mandatory for wfh up until maybe the age that kids are legally allowed to stay home alone. Age 10? Not sure.

I'm sure I'll get hate. But curious of other people's thoughts.

This doesn’t happen, it’s made up RTO propaganda. Anyone with kids would have camera off and mute, or keep them out of view. Have to head to “bathroom” often to attend the kid.

You aren’t this persons manager, so if it really is happening, they have likely cleared it with them and are productive and skilled than a boomer with college age kids even with kids at home.

[Anonymous]

I can't say I like it when coworker's kids decide to jump in and join the call/video, but I don't really mind that much because I remember those days too when my kids were not totally controllable. It's no big deal OP. Be a good person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I WFH sometimes and believe me, I never WANT my toddler to be home from daycare.

Agree the norm should be to have childcare coverage during working hours.

When there are multiple young children in daycare just please be aware that sick days are frequent, especially if one kid is an infant getting illnesses for the first time. So the employee in question may not have much choice, and you may actually be getting more work out of them if the choice is WFH day vs. sick day with no work.

I’d rather they take a sick day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I WFH sometimes and believe me, I never WANT my toddler to be home from daycare.

Agree the norm should be to have childcare coverage during working hours.

When there are multiple young children in daycare just please be aware that sick days are frequent, especially if one kid is an infant getting illnesses for the first time. So the employee in question may not have much choice, and you may actually be getting more work out of them if the choice is WFH day vs. sick day with no work.

I’d rather they take a sick day.

Yeah, you say that until you have a time sensitive project with an inflexible deadline that they're supposed to be on.

OP you sound like a jerk. And I'm someone who doesn't generally like kids or have patience for kids.