Returning to Work in Canada

Without giving too much detail… I work in customer service for a large company. I’m planning to go back in April after taking mat leave. I let my employer know of my return date, and my preference for a start time. The company lets you give your preference to start at X time. While your first choice is not always guaranteed, it’s based on the needs of the company at the time, and other factors like how long you’ve been working there, attendance… etc. They emailed me today saying I’ll be starting at X time. The start time has me working from mid afternoon until late evening/night. This is not going to work for me because I have to get my child from daycare by 5:30 pm. We don’t have any family or anyone to help us out with caring for our child. My husband works 12 hour and unpredictable days. I sent an email to my employer asking for accommodations, but am I just SOL? Do I have to find another job? I really wanted to stay there and grow and now I’m in this shitty situation and freaking out a little. Has anyone been in this situation… what do you do when working weird/non daycare hours? Any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.

Show your support

Accommodations for family status are part of the human rights code in each province and federally. You and your employer are required to work together to find a suitable alternative though not necessarily only your preferred solution. Your employer could deny accommodations citing undue hardship in which case you should speak to a lawyer.

I am in this situation and I wish I had a solution for you. I currently work from 1:30pm to 10pm and have to pick up baby from daycare before 5pm. Husband also works long hours, 6 days a week. So far is somewhat working because I work from home but from 5pm until baby goes to sleep everything is chaos, between trying to take care of him while keeping up with work.

@Andressa ugh it’s so hard. I also wfh but I’m on the phone constantly, and I’m not allowed to have noise in the background. And I can’t leave to go pick up 😩

@Samantha thank you, I hope I can work it out with them

Almost the same 😓 i take my break when is pick up time and just hope for the best after we are home.

I've had to sign out early a few times due to lack of childcare after a certain hour I've asked to switch hours for three days in March and they said they couldn't accommodate me just because I don't have childcare

Family status is a protected ground and you employer has a duty to accommodate up to the point of undue hardship. As you mentioned it is a “large company” they will be hard pressed to say that making a flexible schedule for you creates undue hardship. If they don’t budge contact a lawyer, if you’re in ON contact the ministry of labour or if in BC the human rights tribunal.

Were you on days before the parental leave and they put you on afternoons when you came back?

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌