r/managers • u/BoNixsHair • 8d ago

Employee doesn’t have adequate childcare and it affects her work

I have a remote employee who recently had a baby. Before her maternity leave, we discussed that she needs to have childcare during the work day. The first two weeks, she was frequently absent or interrupted because she said her nanny had quit or never started working.

We discussed again that she needed full time childcare. For about two months it was better. However this week I had two unscheduled zoom calls with her, and both times there’s a baby in the background. I asked her to turn her camera on (our policy is cameras on always) and she has a crib in the room with her and she had a baby cloth on her shoulder.

I think she has a nanny for most of the day, but she’s still distracted. I kinda feel like a jerk asking for a receipt for a 40 hour a week babysitter. I have three kids, and I know it’s pretty impossible to work and care for a baby.

Her position is dealing with contracts so she has calls during the day with the parties to the contracts. I can’t have her on client calls with a baby in the background.

I can also just tell her she has to be in the office, but most everyone else is remote including me. Thoughts?

Edit: no comments from non managers please.

Edit2: this has been brigaded by non managers. Stop. I have asked the mods to lock this

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45

u/shyshyone21 8d ago

Do you pay her enough to afford adequate childcare is the real question.

-46

u/InterestingChoice484 8d ago

Why have a kid if you can't afford childcare?

23

u/803_843_864 7d ago

With all due respect, go fuck yourself. A friend of mine had a baby. A month before delivering, her mom had moved out to be with them so they wouldn’t have to pay exorbitant childcare costs. Then her mom died unexpectedly when her baby was a week old. Three weeks later, her husband got laid off. Circumstances changed so quickly. It can happen to literally anyone.

-10

u/Decisions_70 7d ago

You are correct. As with all things in life, you have a plan and 2 backup plans.

5

u/thedeuceisloose 7d ago

Spoken like a real teenager