Millions of employers are relying on workers to show up for work despite Y2K disruptions but have not considered that if Y2K shuts down DAYCARE facilities these workers may very well not show up to "implement those manual workarounds and contingency plans" It might be a good idea to check into what your daycare will do if power,water,phones and other basic services are interrupted. If they would shut down you may need to plan for other child care arrangements or warn your employer you may not be at work. Also, would you be comfortable leaving your older child at hoome alone if you could not call and check on him every so often??

-- Ann Fisher (zyax55b@prodigy.com), November 22, 1998

Answers

During the last big ice storm up here in the Northeast, not only was the daycare closed, there was no electricity, and no heat in the house that didn't involve open flames. I told my boss that there was no way in h*** that I was going to leave my family until some semblance of order was restored. He didn't like it, and I got docked for the time away, but I definitely wasn't the only one who made that decision.

I hope that employers out there are thinking about contingency plans for an extended absence of manpower. Most won't, but I like to hope.

-- Arewyn (nordic@northnet.net), November 23, 1998.

While I no longer have small children, I will NOT be at work after the new year if things are chaotic. I live an hour's drive away from where I work and there is no way I am going to put myself in potential danger or the possibility of being stranded in the city instead of on my farm.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), November 23, 1998.