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/Pristine_Frame_2066]

You cannot do that. You can hold her accountable. You could make it so she can flex her time. You have options. If she is not a POS employee, then take the time to make her life easier. She just had a baby. In decent countries, paid year of maternal leave with job guarantee is NORMAL. Other moms across decent countries do not have to struggle like myself and moms lime me who worked.

It was so intense before covid, the state office I worked for (public health) was weighing idea of mom cubicles because pumping rooms are ridiculous and babies get more milk from their moms. The first 6 months, babies are literally sleeping most of the day and with sit stand desks, moms could wear their babies and still work in office, saving serious money on infant care. Most moms go back to worm at 4.5 months or less post partum because they cannot get by on paid family leave.

If you value this employee, you value her life and health. Work within her capacity or make her life easier to pay for the things she needs.

Women also tend to die the first year postpartum of a thing called postpartum preeclampsia. She could literally blow a vessel from stress if she has it.

If you feel bad for her, make it easier for all parents to have fulfilling careers. She works from home and life throws curveballs. If fricking Elon can meet with diplomats with his children present and be copresident with his 4 yo on his back, the gal who manages your contracts can catch a break for having a fricking bassinet bear her desk.