Anonymous
Post 07/26/2021 08:33     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2021 08:27     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

We all know its about saving money. I wouldn’t care as long as the person was getting their work done.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2021 08:16     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 07:33     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 07:11     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 06:58     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 05:48     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 04:00     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 03:47     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 03:29     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

Wait, is the vaccine available for small kids now, I must have missed that.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2021 02:19     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 01:35     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/26/2021 00:34     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

Having babies crying in the background in a meeting is a big no no.
Anonymous
Post 07/25/2021 23:57     Subject: Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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
Post 07/25/2021 23:51     Subject: Re:Coworkers with kids at home while WFH

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