Return To Work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Both of my kids have been in school since September, so I have become comfortable with sending them in masked all day. The schools conduct regular testing and there is an agreement with the families about quarantining or specific after travel or if a child has symptoms. Camp is an entirely different set up that school. With camp, you have a different set of kids each week and people are generally exposed to more with summer travel. While I am fine with masks all day at school, wearing a mask outside all day in July or August is a different ask. Camps will just bring more exposure to my kids. While kids are less likely to get COVID, not only can they still get it, but they can be carriers. With work, some friends have shared that their employers have set the expectation that they will be going back 5 days a week after Labor Day. This allows families to manage their summers with a plan that they are each comfortable with and time to understand where we are with her immunity. It looks like my employer will be asking us to go back in May or June. My questions is if people in professional roles with young children are getting special exceptions for more telecommuting flexibility over the summer to figure this all out. According to my family physician, they are seeing an increase in severe pediatric COVID cases. While we have partial herd immunity, we aren't there yet.

No. DH and I both have to go back to offices when they call us in. There is no flexibility and I wouldn’t expect there to be any honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Both of my kids have been in school since September, so I have become comfortable with sending them in masked all day. The schools conduct regular testing and there is an agreement with the families about quarantining or specific after travel or if a child has symptoms. Camp is an entirely different set up that school. With camp, you have a different set of kids each week and people are generally exposed to more with summer travel. While I am fine with masks all day at school, wearing a mask outside all day in July or August is a different ask. Camps will just bring more exposure to my kids. While kids are less likely to get COVID, not only can they still get it, but they can be carriers. With work, some friends have shared that their employers have set the expectation that they will be going back 5 days a week after Labor Day. This allows families to manage their summers with a plan that they are each comfortable with and time to understand where we are with her immunity. It looks like my employer will be asking us to go back in May or June. My questions is if people in professional roles with young children are getting special exceptions for more telecommuting flexibility over the summer to figure this all out. According to my family physician, they are seeing an increase in severe pediatric COVID cases. While we have partial herd immunity, we aren't there yet.

No, our employers aren’t making special exceptions to workers with children!! That would be terrifically unfair, OP. Plus you really don’t have a leg to stand on if your kids have been in school all year!
We have a great nanny who is already vaccinated. DH goes back to the office in May and I go back when they call me in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like I will be retuning to the office full time starting in May or June. I was hoping to go back onsite after Labor Day when my DD is back in school rather then trying to figure this all out over the summer. The idea of send her to camp all day with a mask on from 8:00AM-6:00PM sounds barbaric and I'm not a fan of having a nanny or teenager in my house all day. We used camp for child care doing the summers pre-covid. Do I just need to step up and go back onsite and keep my mouth shut? How are other people handling this with their employers?

Then quit job and stop bellyaching!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Both of my kids have been in school since September, so I have become comfortable with sending them in masked all day. The schools conduct regular testing and there is an agreement with the families about quarantining or specific after travel or if a child has symptoms. Camp is an entirely different set up that school. With camp, you have a different set of kids each week and people are generally exposed to more with summer travel. While I am fine with masks all day at school, wearing a mask outside all day in July or August is a different ask. Camps will just bring more exposure to my kids. While kids are less likely to get COVID, not only can they still get it, but they can be carriers. With work, some friends have shared that their employers have set the expectation that they will be going back 5 days a week after Labor Day. This allows families to manage their summers with a plan that they are each comfortable with and time to understand where we are with her immunity. It looks like my employer will be asking us to go back in May or June. My questions is if people in professional roles with young children are getting special exceptions for more telecommuting flexibility over the summer to figure this all out. According to my family physician, they are seeing an increase in severe pediatric COVID cases. While we have partial herd immunity, we aren't there yet.

No, our employers aren’t making special exceptions to workers with children!! That would be terrifically unfair, OP. Plus you really don’t have a leg to stand on if your kids have been in school all year!
We have a great nanny who is already vaccinated. DH goes back to the office in May and I go back when they call me in.

I'm trying to make sure I understand this correctly. OP wants a special exception for having children, which is especially needed because it is "a big ask" for a child to wear a mask in the summer. Thankfully no my employer is not providing anything like this. Everyone who works on a site will get plenty of advance but will need to go back when called. I'm trying to imagine the environment and morale in the office if only childless workers had to return.

[Anonymous]

wearing a mask all day is barbaric? I've been doing it since June, as have all essential workers. Kids dont mind. Once you leave your basement, you'll realize it's not so bad.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has been helping with these decisions about going back to work for my company, and having small children myself, it is unreasonable to expect that because you have children you get special accommodations. As a company, we are required to set the same standards of work for all employees. We are considering childcare issues in our company, but will offer those same accommodations to all employees once decide - we are a family oriented company though.

The only option you have is to ask for more flexibility and see what your boss says. They may grant it to you, but I wouldn't go at it based on your kids. You're better suited to prove that you have been doing job (WELL) from home and can continue to do so on a certain schedule. If you claim you need to stay home because of your kids, all an employer hears is your watching your kids - not working.

[Anonymous]

OP, you never said what industry you're in. It could vary pretty wildly in situations like this. My job affords me maximum flexibility, while my H's job is the complete opposite. Only you know what you're dealing with. Your best bet is asking colleagues with small children their experience.

Failing to get accommodations from work, you're looking at hiring a nanny for the summer. I understand not wanting your kids to be in masks all day in the muggy DC summer, but what's the alternative? You'll have to get over your aversion to nanny at your home or quit your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like I will be retuning to the office full time starting in May or June. I was hoping to go back onsite after Labor Day when my DD is back in school rather then trying to figure this all out over the summer. The idea of send her to camp all day with a mask on from 8:00AM-6:00PM sounds barbaric and I'm not a fan of having a nanny or teenager in my house all day. We used camp for child care doing the summers pre-covid. Do I just need to step up and go back onsite and keep my mouth shut? How are other people handling this with their employers?

OP, we are sending our son to camp and he is excited to go. He has not complained about using a mask at school (in person for 4 days). None of his friends have complained about wearing a mask at school to the best of my knowledge. All the kids seem to be excited about being in school again. I have not heard anyone say wearing masks is barbaric, just a part of the requirement to be in person.

You could look for a Nanny or a College student who is vaccinated to watch your child this summer.

I get that different people have different comfort levels but it sounds like you need to find a solution that will be comfortable for your family and job.