A lot of parents in the comments here.
I do believe that there are some concessions that parents should receive, but there is a noticeable imbalance in the flexibility given to parents and non-parents.
I think that paid parental leave is something that parents should receive over non-parents without question. You are being given that time to recover and raise your infant. In my country, it is even paid by the government to the employer so that they can pay the employee.
The thing that irks me is when parents get priority for leave requests etc because of their kids. My wife and I have missed out on family holidays because our employers have told us that parents get priority for leave during school holidays. Ignoring the fact that our families are travelling in school holidays because there are children in our family.
I have been told by employers that I cannot start an hour early today (in a job that has no client facing role) in order to leave early for an appointment. Yet there are people sending the “out of office for an hour to pick up the kids” message every other day.
Best take in the thread. This is what people are missing. They’re focused on things like children being sick and that it’s no picnic. But if my coworker jets at 3 to ref his child’s soccer game which he volunteers to do because he likes and wants to, and others are not able to take time like that, is that the same flexibility?
The leaving to pick up kids, “don’t worry, I’ll be back online after”, and they vaporize…all too common as well. It’s a daily thing where I work.
It’s unfortunate when they make it zero sum. But before we talk about all the flexibility parents have, keep in mind the flexibility they don’t have. They can’t decide what time their kids’ school gets out or takes holidays. We’d love to have that, among other reasons so that we could accommodate your preferences.
A lot of parents in the comments here. I do believe that there are some concessions that parents should receive, but there is a noticeable imbalance in the flexibility given to parents and non-parents.
I think that paid parental leave is something that parents should receive over non-parents without question. You are being given that time to recover and raise your infant. In my country, it is even paid by the government to the employer so that they can pay the employee.
The thing that irks me is when parents get priority for leave requests etc because of their kids. My wife and I have missed out on family holidays because our employers have told us that parents get priority for leave during school holidays. Ignoring the fact that our families are travelling in school holidays because there are children in our family.
I have been told by employers that I cannot start an hour early today (in a job that has no client facing role) in order to leave early for an appointment. Yet there are people sending the “out of office for an hour to pick up the kids” message every other day.
You should bring that up. This doesn’t sound right.
It doesn’t even need to be about flexibility for parents – the way they deal with someone having an appointment is not acceptable.
Best take in the thread. This is what people are missing. They’re focused on things like children being sick and that it’s no picnic. But if my coworker jets at 3 to ref his child’s soccer game which he volunteers to do because he likes and wants to, and others are not able to take time like that, is that the same flexibility?
The leaving to pick up kids, “don’t worry, I’ll be back online after”, and they vaporize…all too common as well. It’s a daily thing where I work.
Essentially, it is often abused.
It’s unfortunate when they make it zero sum. But before we talk about all the flexibility parents have, keep in mind the flexibility they don’t have. They can’t decide what time their kids’ school gets out or takes holidays. We’d love to have that, among other reasons so that we could accommodate your preferences.