Manager was pretty cool about it but yeah, hard to stay focused at 100% when you've got family stress, kids getting sick, school pickups, etc. He suggested I 'manage my time better' which feels like a kick in the teeth. It's not like I'm slacking off, I'm just spread thin. Anyone else get dinged for performance because of dad stuff and how did you handle it?
At least your manager was cool about it. That matters way more than you might think. The fact that they understand family stress is a real thing puts you in a better spot than a lot of dads.
This hits different when you're in the trenches. I had a performance review conversation like this and realized I needed to get better at leaving work stress at work so it doesn't bleed into actual work time.
The stress and distraction are real. I had the same conversation with my boss and we worked out some flexibility. Your job will be there, your kids won't stay little.
They probably get it more than you think. Most managers have kids or know what that juggling act is like. The key is showing you're still delivering even if the focus isn't perfect.
That comment alone from your manager probably means he's got your back. A lot of bosses would use that against you. Sounds like you might be overthinking it a bit?
Sign in to join the conversation.
Honest manager is worth its weight in gold. Mine just pretends not to notice and it makes everything worse. At least you know he understands family comes first sometimes.