Child Care while Remote?

Question

I have worked here for 13 years, and it started at a small company with about 7 people. In that time it has grown - now to about 100 people. One day our CEO says to us that he has 'partnered' with an investment company, and essentially takes a huge check and checks out leaving us all wondering what the hell is going to happen to us.

Naturally, the investment company wants to move us to a more corporate environment. They have just given us an employee manual which we are all attempting to sort out and understand.

The question is related to child care. Currently, several employees use a remote option (including our Directors) to handle child care because daycares are simply closed and they don't have any other option. No family member who can watch the kid while they work or whatever. It happens a lot - usually around holidays, spring breaks, teacher work days, etc. And, that means it likely happens to a lot of people at the same time.

If we tell them they can't use remote as an option to handle child care - what are they supposed to do? If we make them use their PTO, they'll use it up pretty quickly, and some may not have enough to cover every instance where child care is otherwise not available. I don't have know what to tell my employees, but I know I can't afford to have someone actually 'out' each time that happens; they can't afford to take it unpaid; can this jeopardize their job? I don't know what other companies do in that situation because I haven't been at one so, I have no clue what to do for that. Given the way my first conversation with HR went about relationships, I have hesitated to ask this one because I don't want to out anyone doing this until I can find them an alternative solution.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

can this jeopardize their job?

If they aren't able to find alternative daycare, and aren't willing to take vacation days/personal days/unpaid time off to deal with it, certainly it could jeopardize their job.

I don't know what other companies do in that situation because I haven't been at one so, I have no clue what to do for that. Given the way my first conversation with HR went about relationships, I have hesitated to ask this one because I don't want to out anyone doing this until I can find them an alternative solution.

Unless there is something specifically in the employee manual prohibiting it, you could permit your team members to do as they have done in the past, until you/they are told to change.

In this case, that's the approach I would take. Don't ask, don't tell.

And that's exactly what I have done in the past when my company was acquired. I assumed the old rules still applied unless I was specifically told that they did not.

Where I worked most recently, the office park had a daycare center adjacent to the parking lot. Most of the businesses arranged a discounted fee for just these types of cases. Seemed to be a handy arrangement.