standing meeting change that conflicts with drop-off

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you move kid drop off and do the phone call at home?

Drop-off is a 15 minute window during the call. If I had cell phone reception all the way home, I could do it, but the reception drops 10 minutes out, so there's a gap in connectivity. With all companies, unfortunately.

How old are your kids? Is there a school bus option?

[Anonymous]

I vote for the 'arriving later' mode. That's your way of alleviating a unilateral meeting change. I wouldn't dream (even an internal meeting) to change a recurring meeting by an hour that's not within working hours without consulting the participants. That's a helluva assumption to make that what works for me works for other adults.

But as an adult, you can let them know that you will take the call from home and start your commute after that. You were in the office by 8am, before, now it'll be 8:30. Not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

7am is an odd time, business hours are 9-5, not sure what kind of stupid company this is. fyi i would reprimand anyone that tried to do mandatory meetings outside of core hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you move kid drop off and do the phone call at home?

Drop-off is a 15 minute window during the call. If I had cell phone reception all the way home, I could do it, but the reception drops 10 minutes out, so there's a gap in connectivity. With all companies, unfortunately.

How old are your kids? Is there a school bus option?

She's only 5. DH isn't cool with the bus yet (and I agree).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the only way you can make it work is to take it at home and then drop the kids, then tell that to your manager. "Happy to take the call, but I'll have to do it at home before I drop the kids. That will put me into the office 30 minutes later (or whatever) than usual."

I get not wanting to talk about your personal life at work, but you could always add that you'd be happy to take it in office once DH returns from deployment the beginning of next year.

The problem is that they literally conflict. DD needs to be at school in the middle of the meeting (15 minute window).

This is a problem with a finite period of time. If this is school, summer break is coming, yes? If your husband is deployed, he will return at some point.
I want to chime in with the others to say you've got to rewire your brain's thinking on this. It is okay to ask for an alternate plan during this time period.
Some to try...
1. Do the meeting by phone (let the teacher's know you'll be in a meeting, so won't be chatting with them during the drop off.)
2. Ask school if you can post a message asking for parents willing to pick up a child. Depending on your schedule, you could offer to do pick up of their kid in exchange, or toss them some money. You don't need to be friends with them, just working out something with a fellow parent who is in your general area or who's route to school is in your area.
3. Ask if there can be reconsideration of the meeting time. Agree with others that there are bound to be others that might want a different time.

Again, it is COMPLETELY reasonable for you to ask for accommodations. This is not about you "letting your personal life impact colleagues."
If you had applied for a job, and when they were interviewing you, they stated that one of the responsibilities of this job was to participate in a in-person, in-office meeting at 7am, and you had accepted the job knowing that you had this conflict, THAT would be a problem. This is a completely different situation. It was not part of original job, it falls outside your normal work hours, etc.

Do NOT quit your job. I just listed 3 possible alternatives above, and I'm sure there are more. The option you should not consider is quitting your job!

1 doesn't work because I don't have cell phone reception for a 10 minute chunk of my drive home (I work from home full time - sorry! - so just going to school and back).
2 we've tried. I've even contacted his unit to see if anyone can help. We're willing to pay! But no one in our area attends that school.
3 Maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7am is an odd time, business hours are 9-5, not sure what kind of stupid company this is. fyi i would reprimand anyone that tried to do mandatory meetings outside of core hours.

Huge corporation. They're trying to make it easier on our European colleagues.

[Anonymous]

The FMLA was amended to allow leave for exigencies arising out of deployed spouses...it might cover this. But you’ve got to ask for the accommodation. It’s ridiculous to quit without explaining the issue.

[Anonymous]

Is there cell reception at your DD's school? If so I would just get there early and have her get out of the car at the start of carline and then park until the meeting is over.

Have you called the school to see about before care options?

[Anonymous]

You came and asked for advice and are not interested in taking it. Your maturity level is lacking. You don't quit a job because of an issue with a call time. Comes across as insanely childish. Speak up, make it work. Find a compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You came and asked for advice and are not interested in taking it. Your maturity level is lacking. You don't quit a job because of an issue with a call time. Comes across as insanely childish. Speak up, make it work. Find a compromise.

No one has offered advice that works! And I appreciate all of it, but it's a weird situation. If it was easy, if there were multiple solutions, I would have fixed it by now.

And yes - you do quit rather than making your personal life someone else's problem. My replacement won't have this issues.

[Anonymous]

If DD rode the bus would this solve the issue? I was so scared to have my DD ride the bus that I drove her forever and when I finally couldn't do it one day not only was it fine, but she loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you move kid drop off and do the phone call at home?

Drop-off is a 15 minute window during the call. If I had cell phone reception all the way home, I could do it, but the reception drops 10 minutes out, so there's a gap in connectivity. With all companies, unfortunately.

How old are your kids? Is there a school bus option?

She's only 5. DH isn't cool with the bus yet (and I agree).

She can’t take the bus one day a week? It seems like you’d rather quit than deal with this head on, which is whatever if it works for you - but with all due respect to your DH (and thank you for his service). If he’s not there it would seem like he should be cool with whatever gets you through the day with your child. If that’s the bus one day a week so you can make a meeting work, that’s a small concession I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there cell reception at your DD's school? If so I would just get there early and have her get out of the car at the start of carline and then park until the meeting is over.

Have you called the school to see about before care options?

No beforecare.

Yes, I can sit in their parking lot. I'm just worried about how that looks, and don't want the police called on me (I have OCD, and fear of police/arrest is a big thing with me). But maybe I can let them know and they'd be ok with it once a week.

[Anonymous]

PP's with the bus issue - I don't know. I feel like 5 is too young, but I was walking to school alone at 7, so maybe it's not.

That Mall of America thing has got me never wanting her out of my sight. Maybe next week I can entertain it more or talk DH into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there cell reception at your DD's school? If so I would just get there early and have her get out of the car at the start of carline and then park until the meeting is over.

Have you called the school to see about before care options?

This is a great idea, or get out of your neighborhood and to school early and let her watch a show with headphones or something.

People have given you plenty of good suggestions! Plus, seems like she could just take the bus. I think you’d rather be the martyr.