Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

[Anonymous]

There is no point at which I would do this. Everyone is doing the best they can.

[Anonymous]

As with so many other workplace misbehavior topics, the key is to focus on how it affects YOUR work. Person not available during work hours or not able to have reasonable calls/discussions b/c kids are constantly interrupting--problem. Person not getting work done that affects you--problem.

I do agree that child care has been difficult, and many organizations have been very accommodating. But some employees have decided that these accommodations are the new normal.

Some key phrases I use:
Work life balance is for everyone.
Discrimination by family status is illegal.

[Anonymous]

Having babies crying in the background in a meeting is a big no no.

[Anonymous]

I would say nothing unless it was impacting my ability to do my work.

If it was, then I would stick to the relevant work details - "Jane hasn't gotten me x, so I'm not going to be able to get y done by the deadline - how would you like me to proceed?" I would not opine on why Jane hadn't gotten me x.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no point at which I would do this. Everyone is doing the best they can.

Except no, many people are taking advantage.

OP, I wouldn't say anything unless they start trying to dump their responsibilities on you or failing to meet deadlines that affect you, then report them.

[Anonymous]

Wait, is the vaccine available for small kids now, I must have missed that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, is the vaccine available for small kids now, I must have missed that.

You all were screaming all last year that children aren’t affected by Covid, so what does it matter? You sent them to school anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having babies crying in the background in a meeting is a big no no.

That baby could still have a nanny or other parent caring for it, and still cry. If you found the magic off button for babies, you’ll be a zillionaire with that book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As with so many other workplace misbehavior topics, the key is to focus on how it affects YOUR work. Person not available during work hours or not able to have reasonable calls/discussions b/c kids are constantly interrupting--problem. Person not getting work done that affects you--problem.

I do agree that child care has been difficult, and many organizations have been very accommodating. But some employees have decided that these accommodations are the new normal.

Some key phrases I use:
Work life balance is for everyone.
Discrimination by family status is illegal.

It isn’t discrimination if their work isn’t getting done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having babies crying in the background in a meeting is a big no no.

That baby could still have a nanny or other parent caring for it, and still cry. If you found the magic off button for babies, you’ll be a zillionaire with that book.

This. I love all the indignant “It’s been 1.5 years, figure out childcare” when so many employers are renting free office space in people’s homes indefinitely and that’s viewed as totally fine because some people like telework.

You mad that people are working with their kids around? Ok, cool, here’s an invoice from those kids for use of their damn home for 18 months. Let’s pay for some college educations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I get you. I’ve been tempted to say something as well. One coworker has a five and a six-year-old and his entire summer childcare plan was teleworking.
Another lady and a different office watches her five-month-old granddaughter.
Day cares are open. There’s no reason for them to not have some form of child care at this point in time.

There is no way in hell my young kids would be in daycare right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I get you. I’ve been tempted to say something as well. One coworker has a five and a six-year-old and his entire summer childcare plan was teleworking.
Another lady and a different office watches her five-month-old granddaughter.
Day cares are open. There’s no reason for them to not have some form of child care at this point in time.

There is no way in hell my young kids would be in daycare right now.

Then you should get a nanny. For about 3-4 months many of us at my employer with young kids tried to make this work—taking care of kids while teleworking. It’s been over a year and a half. All of us now have childcare—whether if daycare, nanny, or family. OP I wouldn’t say anything (Because who knows the situation truly) but it would definitely frustrate me.

[Anonymous]

This hasn’t happened in my workplace (the person who doesn’t have childcare is still on top of it), but there was another mom on an outdoor sports team I was on that was bragging about ditching her daycare bill for two kids because her employer was giving her X numbers of hours per week to deal with her kids. This wasn’t at the start of the pandemic, this was in 2021. Oh, and she’s a public employee where I live.

It irritated me to no end. I am usually a pretty understanding person, but this was beyond the pale.

[Anonymous]

We all know its about saving money. I wouldn’t care as long as the person was getting their work done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no point at which I would do this. Everyone is doing the best they can.

I'm not sure this is universally the case.