Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 13:03     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:sounds like she should be reprimanded and told to find backup childcare

If she is taking her vacation (which she is entitled to do), then it is really not appropriate to reprimand her. I am a lead of a small team, and it is my job to build in these sort of things into the schedule I make and communicate to those higher than me. I would be a pretty crappy team lead if there was no buffer in case someone got sick or had to take a few days off for an emergency. Sound like the OP needs to do a better job of planning -- poor management if you ask me.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 13:02     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:5 back up plans for childcare? You REALLY don't want to be stuck with those kids, do you? Are you jealous of your employee because she's an actual mom?


My #1 back up plan is my husband. His office follows federal government closings. He also outearns me by 5x.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 13:00     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:5 back up plans for childcare? You REALLY don't want to be stuck with those kids, do you? Are you jealous of your employee because she's an actual mom?


I don't work full time so I am not sure what your point is. I just have a lot of friends and former teachers seem to like our family. We also pay well.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:52     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If it is a state of emergency (we live in Boston now) we get a free day off. Otherwise we take vacation time.

I think it is great that you have all that back up care, but for whatever reason, she does not. I can't tell if you are her boss or not but if you aren't, it would seem pretty petty for you to go to your boss to complain.

If you are her boss and don't have a clear policy on snow and vacation/whatever time, I think it would be pretty hard to reprimand her for taken the time she's earned for snow days.


I am her direct boss. I would not be petty unless all her work falls on me since I delegate work to her.


Also wanted to add that we are a small company and don't have a set policy.


Make one. Most sensible? Close when OPM closes. Any other time, employees must use PTO.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:52     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
5 back up plans for childcare? You REALLY don't want to be stuck with those kids, do you? Are you jealous of your employee because she's an actual mom?
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:45     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If it is a state of emergency (we live in Boston now) we get a free day off. Otherwise we take vacation time.

I think it is great that you have all that back up care, but for whatever reason, she does not. I can't tell if you are her boss or not but if you aren't, it would seem pretty petty for you to go to your boss to complain.

If you are her boss and don't have a clear policy on snow and vacation/whatever time, I think it would be pretty hard to reprimand her for taken the time she's earned for snow days.


I am her direct boss. I would not be petty unless all her work falls on me since I delegate work to her.


Also wanted to add that we are a small company and don't have a set policy.


Clearly it's time to make one. Speak to your leadership and get it done. Hard to meet expectations when none are expressed ahead of time.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:44     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
I'm guessing she's your assistant, so she's making 40-60k a year, in that salary range she can't afford most of the backup care options in the DC area. So unless she has family or a SAHM in her neighborhood she can leave her kid with she's stuck. I think it would be the most feasible to work with her on a telework option for these days so she can get some work done when her kid is napping or watching a movie.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:43     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
OP, in here are nuggets of good advice, and your intentions are good ones. It's worth it to keep a good employee, even if they sometimes fall behind:

Set a policy.
Let her know she's behind and get her on track to catch up.
Look into getting back-up care for employees who need it.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:42     Subject: Re:Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, what exactly are you looking for in this thread? You are obviously unhappy with this employee.


I was actually going to talk to MY boss to see if we can pay for back up care for her. Not sure why I am being seen as the bad guy here. I am trying to find a solution. Prior to kids, I worked at larger companies that paid for X days of back up care via nanny service or Bright Horizons type places.

People are being defensive for no reason.


Maybe if you had started off your post that way, you would have been perceived as being a better boss. Instead, you came out with "well I have 5 back up care plans" blah blah blah which just makes you sound like a total bitch out of touch with reality that many people don't. Plus you seemed like you were looking to get her in trouble for this. Nowhere in your original post would I have ever guessed you were actually going to try to help this employee and be nice to her. If you can't see that from your original post....


I was just stating the facts. She is way behind on her work.


Yes, but can you see how there is a difference between how you sounded in your original post and your follow up with how you want to be able to help her? Very easy to say she's behind on her work without coming across like a jerk. But you're just further proving my opinion of the kind of boss you probably are.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:37     Subject: Re:Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, what exactly are you looking for in this thread? You are obviously unhappy with this employee.


I was actually going to talk to MY boss to see if we can pay for back up care for her. Not sure why I am being seen as the bad guy here. I am trying to find a solution. Prior to kids, I worked at larger companies that paid for X days of back up care via nanny service or Bright Horizons type places.

People are being defensive for no reason.


Maybe if you had started off your post that way, you would have been perceived as being a better boss. Instead, you came out with "well I have 5 back up care plans" blah blah blah which just makes you sound like a total bitch out of touch with reality that many people don't. Plus you seemed like you were looking to get her in trouble for this. Nowhere in your original post would I have ever guessed you were actually going to try to help this employee and be nice to her. If you can't see that from your original post....


I was just stating the facts. She is way behind on her work.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:36     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
What is her general salary range? I make around $130k with only a mortgage to pay for. So some of the pay-care options are doable for me (eg Y snow day camp), so I use those when they are open and I can safely get there. This last Thursday and Friday, it wouldn't even have been an option because they didnt open either.

But if I made significantly less, the pay options wouldn't be that feasible in our area. So good on you if you can offer to pay, even if it is only for x number of days per year.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:28     Subject: Re:Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:Prior to kids, I worked at larger companies that paid for X days of back up care via nanny service or Bright Horizons type places.


OP, I'd be interested to know whether your (small) company could get a reasonable deal on a contract for back up care. If you look into it, please let us know what you find.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:27     Subject: Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
for the most part, one of us takes time off. we are not allowed to telework if we don't have childcare. We don't have family in the area, limited daytime babysitters and the few teachers I have asked have politely declined. I am burning through leave as fast as I accumulate it. Sucks that we might not have a vacation because of snow days. Just no one to watch the kids - even if I do pay an arm and leg.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:27     Subject: Re:Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, what exactly are you looking for in this thread? You are obviously unhappy with this employee.


I was actually going to talk to MY boss to see if we can pay for back up care for her. Not sure why I am being seen as the bad guy here. I am trying to find a solution. Prior to kids, I worked at larger companies that paid for X days of back up care via nanny service or Bright Horizons type places.

People are being defensive for no reason.


Well, what do you want from her? To work if her kids are home? Are you going to demand she use your back up care? What if she doesn't want to (if her kids will freak out or for any other reason)?
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2014 12:26     Subject: Re:Has anyone's boss spoken to you about missing too many days due to kid's snow closings?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, what exactly are you looking for in this thread? You are obviously unhappy with this employee.


I was actually going to talk to MY boss to see if we can pay for back up care for her. Not sure why I am being seen as the bad guy here. I am trying to find a solution. Prior to kids, I worked at larger companies that paid for X days of back up care via nanny service or Bright Horizons type places.

People are being defensive for no reason.


Maybe if you had started off your post that way, you would have been perceived as being a better boss. Instead, you came out with "well I have 5 back up care plans" blah blah blah which just makes you sound like a total bitch out of touch with reality that many people don't. Plus you seemed like you were looking to get her in trouble for this. Nowhere in your original post would I have ever guessed you were actually going to try to help this employee and be nice to her. If you can't see that from your original post....