I was fired from my job because my kids were noisy during calls on lockdown

[Tahuyaman]

Having anyone in your home can spread the virus. What part of that escapes you? Shelter in place means that you stay home and so does everyone else, unless it's to get essential supplies or get medical treatment.

You can’t be serious. I’m flabbergasted.

This virus has turned formerly rational people into babbling morons. It’s disturbing.

[Trish]

What mother in their right mind is going to expose their children to someone outside of their home when there is a virus without a vaccine. Maybe if she had access to testing but we know that's not an option no matter how many times someone lies and says that anyone who wants a test can get a test.

The bottom line is we are dealing with a situation the country has never experienced before in our lifetime. Companies should be putting in place emergency operating standards that allow employees maximum flexibilities.

[Tahuyaman]

It is truly disturbing to see these people being taken seriously.

[Lummy]

What mother in their right mind is going to expose their children to someone outside of their home when there is a virus without a vaccine. Maybe if she had access to testing but we know that's not an option no matter how many times someone lies and says that anyone who wants a test can get a test.

Oh stop it. Odds are extremely small that a child will get it and far smaller still that the child would die from it if he did get it. They are finding that children are highly resistant to covid19, and there are very few cases of it.

I'd say that the nut job in your scenario is the mother waiting for the vaccine, which is the great con of the decade and she can't figure that out.

[Tahuyaman]

In some places the virus spread more among people who isolated themselves.

[Dr. Who]

Oh stop it. Odds are extremely small that a child will get it and far smaller still that the child would die from it if he did get it. They are finding that children are highly resistant to covid19, and there are very few cases of it.

I'd say that the nut job in your scenario is the mother waiting for the vaccine, which is the great con of the decade and she can't figure that out.

And if the mother ends up getting it, then what? She may or may not get really ill - you don't know, but she has young kids who need their mother, one child only 1 year old. Being careless with your own life is one thing but being careless with the future of your children and their father is another.

[Retirednsmilin308]

This is why, for many people, it's necessary to have a home office with a door that can be closed and even locked. I've been in a number of such meetings where there are children making noise or someone banging dishes around or even someone else also on the phone in the background. It's rather distracting. However, for this employer to fire the woman for circumstances beyond her control is unconscionable. She's being penalized for having small children and no one else who can care for them while she is on conference calls. I expect this will fall under the category of sexism, for the purposes of the lawsuit.

What about baby raccoons in your home office, like we had.

[Retirednsmilin308]

What mother in their right mind is going to expose their children to someone outside of their home when there is a virus without a vaccine. Maybe if she had access to testing but we know that's not an option no matter how many times someone lies and says that anyone who wants a test can get a test.

The bottom line is we are dealing with a situation the country has never experienced before in our lifetime. Companies should be putting in place emergency operating standards that allow employees maximum flexibilities.

I would have to agree. Both the mom and the company need to compromise.
Of the two, I would pick the company compromising, as a mother should never have to compromise on anything dealing with her children.

...maybe three warnings before the axe?

These COVID-19 times are different, and therefore need different solutions.

You pretty much need TWO INCOMES to survive now.

Axing one of those household incomes now is a disaster.
You can't exactly go "beat the street" to find another job, so to speak.

If i was a CEO, I would ship all of my work at home mothers a couple DVDs that are designed to amuse and keep the kids attention for at least 15-20 minutes. Just enough time to finish our business call.

I would also include a document they needed to sign saying they do not hold us liable for anything happening during their business call.

[Trish]

I would have to agree. Both the mom and the company need to compromise.
Of the two, I would pick the company compromising, as a mother should never have to compromise on anything dealing with her children.

...maybe three warnings before the axe?

These COVID-19 times are different, and therefore need different solutions.

You pretty much need TWO INCOMES to survive now.

Axing one of those household incomes now is a disaster.
You can't exactly go "beat the street" to find another job, so to speak.

If i was a CEO, I would ship all of my work at home mothers a couple DVDs that are designed to amuse and keep the kids attention for at least 15-20 minutes. Just enough time to finish our business call.

I would also include a document they needed to sign saying they do not hold us liable for anything happening during their business call.

My emergency standard operating plan would include:
Tests
Repository of Hourly Day Care Providers/Baby Sitters in the employee's area
Develop a shared work plan between workers with and without children/elderly care responsibilities
Set specific internal/external available meeting times
Allow any 40/80 hour work schedules for those with workloads that do not require 1:1 interaction

If you do right by your employees they will go to the ends of the earth for you.

[Chris]

My emergency standard operating plan would include:
Tests
Repository of Hourly Day Care Providers/Baby Sitters in the employee's area
Develop a shared work plan between workers with and without children/elderly care responsibilities
Set specific internal/external available meeting times
Allow any 40/80 hour work schedules for those with workloads that do not require 1:1 interaction

If you do right by your employees they will go to the ends of the earth for you.

Right, you should be free to choose that, and others free to choose not, and everyone free to reaps the rewards or suffer the consequences.