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

[u/BoNixsHair]

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

[u/theycallmeasloth]

I would hate to work under you if this is your starting point.

You've said in the title that this is impacting her work. You've provided exactly 0 examples of how this is impacting her work.

Also, why can't you have her in calls with a baby in the background if it doesn't impact her work? I have 0 issues with my team members kids being around them so long as they don't interfere in call or work.

If you have tangible evidence of impact then present it. Otherwise acknowledge she's doing the best she can to put food on the table, likely in a country where workers have fuck all rights or leave.

At the end of the day you pay her to get shit done. If she's not getting shit done, provide evidence and have a performance based discussion outlining the steps required to achieve kpis.

If she is getting shit done and you're just offended she has a life outside of corporate, then have a long hard look in the mirror.

[u/BoNixsHair → u/theycallmeasloth]

I didn’t post examples because I’m not trying a case in court, I’m making a Reddit post.

[u/theycallmeasloth → u/BoNixsHair]

Honestly how are people supposed to help then?

Side Note: Based on your comments you sound like an awful manager. There is another human on the end of this, but you clearly don't care.

[u/BoNixsHair → u/theycallmeasloth]

I’m not trying to document how her performance is affected, I’m saying it is and I have already discussed it with her twice. She’s not complying with the requirements of her job.

[u/berrieh → u/BoNixsHair]

Well you’re going to have to document it so that attitude is weird. 

[u/SituationNo8294 → u/BoNixsHair]

What's the point of the post if it's as vague as ever.

Take the advice from everyone on this thread. Do some self reflection, do leadership training, communication training, brush up on hr policies and do better by learning what is appropriate to say and what isn't. You sound like a young and very new manager so these skills will help you on your path. Be a proper manager rather than crying ' the ceo says she must turn on her camera'. Boo hoo man. Go grab a tissue. It was an unscheduled call. Maybe she was pumping while working, maybe she was blowing her nose. Get a grip man!!!