KIT Days

I’d speak to HR and see what they say x

Yeah speak to HR as this doesn't sound right

What is the reason you can’t do them remotely? Is it because you don’t have access to the right computer systems at the moment or something? I’d ascertain why they’re saying no and go from there.

So if the policy is 2 days in the office per month, why are they saying you need to do 5? Could do the 2 office, 3 at home and then if your breastfeeding you can bring your baby in, if that's manageable to feed them when they need it. So for example If they are looked after by a grandparent you could ask then to pop in and work have to provide an appropriate space to do this.

@Elizabeth She said I need update my laptop & have a catch up but all updates are done remotely by IT Tech so I’m confused by her reasoning. The icing on the cake is she won’t be in the office as she’s on annual leave🤯

@Hayley That’s my thought exactly, it just seems so unfair. My husband said he would work in a cafe with baby so I can still feed him but it’s in Leeds so it’ll be rather busy. I’m trying to find ways around it so we don’t have drive up into Leeds and have a baby out in the cold🙃

Maybe see if there’s a compromise. Do one day a month in November in the office and one day in December, and the rest remote? See what HR say too. I imagine your boss is just being tricky and wants to make sure you’re actually doing work on your remote days - so perhaps chatting with her to agree what work you’ll be completing on your KIT days will smooth things over (and make her see you don’t need to be in the office to complete that work!)

Speak to HR, and look at your mat policy. I’ve been told I can do in office or at home (if it’s training) x

Maybe she is concerned that it will be less working and more looking after your child but doesn't want to say that. I'm allowed one WFH day a week but my child has to be cared for by someone else (he goes to nursery anyway). Definitely speak to HR about it.

They don’t have to allow you to do any KIT days the same way you don’t have to do any, they have to be agreed by both parties so if you don’t like the terms don’t do them at all. The purpose of them is to keep in touch so I can see why they’d prefer you went into the office rather than do them from home although doesn’t make much sense that your manager won’t be there. I sympathise as my baby is also a bottle refuser but if you need the money/ really want to do them and they won’t budge I’d get someone to care for baby near to your place of work and bring them in for feeds as needed x

I'm on my maternity at the moment and I've been doing some KIT days myself. I can work from home as my job doesn't require me to be in the office. You should definitely talk to HR as something similar happened with my SIL. Her manager was stubborn and was not even allowing her to breastfeed the baby in her 10 min break every hour policy. She worked out with HR and they are doing pretty well now. HR will talk to your manager as it's not justified you go in the office. If you need to just do the upgrades, then go in the office 1 day for the upgrades in your laptop, otherwise you can work from home

Unfortunately they can dictate what they want for KIT days as they don’t have to allow you to do them and same you don’t have to do them if you don’t want. It’s called Keeping in touch so makes sense to go in? It does also sound like she thinks you just want to be paid and work from home but how can you really work with an EBF baby? A lot of work places have a policy that is you WFH you cannot also care for your child too so I’d double check that.