Flexible Working - with Kiddies at home?!?

Cybes100

Hi,

I've posted this on another board too, byut they've pointed me over here!!

I'm currently lucky enough to be able to work a 3 day week, and have my daughter in childcare for those 3 days.
My sister is pregnant, and due next month. She is under the impression that when she returns to work next year, that she can request flexible working - so to be able to work from home, but have her little one at home with her at the same time, and hence save on childcare costs.
Is this correct? Will she be allowed to work from home, and have her children at home too? Does she have to declare that she will have her child at home with her?

She is office based, and someone else already works from home - so I presume that she'll be able to as well.

I know it would be very difficult to work from home with a toddler around - but i didn't think it was allowed - or you had to declare it - and surely no business would agree - and it wouldn't be fair on the little one really would it?

She seems to be banking on them letting her (because her emplyer currently lets someone else - but they care for 2 older people - not children, so slightly different).

Any advice for me to give her please?

heretolearn_2

she'll be lucky.:rotfl:

she can make a request as a parent, but her employer is under no obligation to agree to anything - her only right is to return to her previous job in exactly the same way, same hours/days, and of course in the office.

They may consider letting her reduce to part-time. They may consider her working from home. But I find it extremely unlikely any employer will agree to her combining it with her childcare as there is no way she can work normally while also looking after the toddler; even parents who work from home are expected to arrange separate childcare for those hours.

So her impression that she can request these things is correct. But if she is under the impression that she is entitled to these things, she is wrong.

skintandscared_2

She can make a request for flexible working arrangements, and the company have an obligation to consider her request, but they are under no obligation to say yes. If she is allowed to work from home they will expect her to have childcare in place so she is able to actually WORK from home, not fit them in around her child when she's got a moment. Why would they?! She will still need to be available during the hours that the business need her - not just when it suits her!

EconomicsGirl

Just to say agree with previous posters - I know there's no way I could work with children at home, presume this is her first.

Cybes100

yes, this is her first!!

I have a 3 year old, so know how impossible, and unfair on the little one, this would be.

I think my question though is, does she have to tell them she'll have her little one at home, or can she just request to work at home without telling them about the fact the little one will be there too?

As they let someone else work from home, I think they'll probably agree to her doing the same.

SarEl

Flexible working is designed to allow parents to exercise parental responsibilities around their work, not instead of their work. If her performance slips due to trying to do both at the same time she will probably loose the flexible working and possibly even her job. I should also point out two further issues. There is a health and safety risk - she is supposed to be working from home, and a child of this age should not be around a working environment - hone-based office or not. She is just as responsible for health and safety "in the workplace" at home as she is in the office. It is also potentially, if she is actually working, child neglect - a child should not be left to their own devices for long periods of time whilst mother is working. I return to my first sentence - the purpose of flexibel working is to enable parents to exercise their parental responsibilities and maintain their empolyment - but not both at the same time! The crucial word is "responsibilities". If she follows her proposed course of action she is demonstrating no responsibility at all.

Cybes100

Thanks SarEl - that's a great way of putting it - and I totally agree.

Now i have to figure out a way of explaining it to her without having a 'fall-out'!!!

EconomicsGirl

When I worked from home I wasn't asked to say if my children were in childcare but it was kind of assumed and common sense that they would be. Hopefully once she's had her child it will dawn on her that she can't be looking after her child properly and doing her job properly at the same time. I did have a collegue who had young primary school aged children at home with home when he was working from home but to be honest I think that is difficult as well. He said he caught up in the evenings.

Some men work from home whilst their wife and children are there which is different as the wife would be looking after the children but even that isn't ideal for working as children tend to chat to you anyway so its one or the other I'ld say. Maybe suggest part-time to her.

bex2012

When I worked from home, I had to sign an agreement stating that there would be no-one in my care during my working hours, including children and spouses (I had to take time off when my OH had to have an op, I couldnt just look after him inbetween phone calls). My sister had to sign a similar agreement, when she works at home now, her husband (who does shifts) has to look after the baby. There was also a H & S risk assessment carried out. Working from home is not the doss a lot of people think it is. I actually worked harder, and for longer hours on my home working days, than what I did when I was in the office - people would phone me at all hours 'because I was at home, and it was easier for me'..... Home working is a huge privilege that a company grants you, and I know my company wouldnt have taken it lightly had they found out I was abusing it.

Sambucus_Nigra

Cybes100 wrote: »

Thanks SarEl - that's a great way of putting it - and I totally agree.

Now i have to figure out a way of explaining it to her without having a 'fall-out'!!!

The way I see it is, if you are working at home, then who is looking after the child? If nobody, then you are looking after the child, not working at home. You can't do both.

skintandscared_2

Cybes100 wrote: »

yes, this is her first!!

I have a 3 year old, so know how impossible, and unfair on the little one, this would be.

I think my question though is, does she have to tell them she'll have her little one at home, or can she just request to work at home without telling them about the fact the little one will be there too?

As they let someone else work from home, I think they'll probably agree to her doing the same.

Put it this way, if she's due to return from maternity leave and requests to ONLY work from home, I have a feeling they might anticipate what she's trying to do and ensure that she isn't trying to fit both work and childcare in herself. I think she might be in for a bit of a shock when the baby comes and she realises how much of her day is gone!! If this arrangement did happen, it wouldn't take long for work to realise that their stuff just wasn't getting done. What job does she do?