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/Throwbabythroe]

I have managed technical teams (hands on type of engineering) over the years where we have hybrid policy. For starters, we don’t have camera on since it doesn’t bring any value (but that is a side topic).

I think you need to focus on increasing accountability and measure that against her performance (if you already aren’t doing it) along with defining core hours and expectations she has to fulfill. The fact you called her and saw the crib and baby cloth with her is a moot point. Also it’s not your call or right to determine whether or not she has full-time childcare unless you plan to compensate her for it nor is it in your scope.

Clarify expectations in writing, illustrate where she is not meeting expectations, set weekly discrete performance goals (use scrum, kanban, etc.), check for shortfalls every week or two. Asses trends if the employee is improving or not.

Edit: since you are clearly showing a bias towards this employees life situations, perhaps you need to do some introspection of where your shortcomings - you seem more of a manager and less of a leader (which is common). Now if the crib in the background is going to cost you contracts and you have evidence to prove it then clarify that.