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Original poster

Told to go back into office but schools closed

58 replies

user1475002412 · 17/06/2020 16:53

I work in an admin role for NHS in a level 3 service ie non essential healthcare setting. I have been working from home (re-deployed as no work in current role as service is closed and will be until August).

Today I had a call from my manager telling me I have to go back into the physical office on Monday doing my old job. My problem is I have a primary aged son and his school is shut until September at the earliest.

The school will not take him as apparently there is no demand. And anyway from July they said they are shut for the summer holidays even for any key workers they may have had.

I don’t know what to do. I am a single parent and can’t leave my son who is 9 home alone everyday to go into work. But my manager is not interested & just expects me to be in work on Monday. Of course she is working from home still.

Any ideas? Should I try and get HR involved? I was thinking of putting all this in an email and copying in my managers manager which will make me very unpopular...

Sick with worry. Not sure what work there is to do as no patients means no need for admin. I was quite happily doing me re deployed role from home and there was plenty of work to do. Apparently me doing this is no longer an option as my manager said she wants me back doing my old job!

OP posts:

TerrapinStation · 17/06/2020 18:18

Are the grandparents available for childcare?

Roo2012 · 17/06/2020 18:22

@Higherthana5 amazing how different things are, I'm in Somerset.
I've suggested my kids go and sit in the garden at Granny and Grandad's house since they would usually help with holiday childcare. Just hope it isn't wet or cold.

zigaziga · 17/06/2020 18:23

I would ask grandparents, assuming they aren’t shielding or particularly high risk. That or check if any childminders are taking on any new children.

We are semi back to normal now, it’s not like in April. People are allowed to resume childcare.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education

bigchris · 17/06/2020 18:27

I'd ask grandparents too

Heatherjayne1972 · 17/06/2020 18:32

I’m in the same boat as you op - it’s a nightmare

Where are these holiday clubs that are open??
Round here breakfast holiday and afterschool clubs are definitely closed until September at the earliest
Our school aren’t taking any extra pupils and the hours are 9-4 anyway With no exceptions
Great ! Except I work 8-2 with no exceptions
Grandparents aren’t able to help
I’m a single parent

I Have no answers op But you’re not alone

pennylane83 · 17/06/2020 19:48

What do you normally do in school holidays? Because I guess from July the schools being open / shut point is moot

Except for the fact that when the schools are normally shut over the summer there are numerous summer clubs operating whether it be sports, dance, drama etc to look after your children whilst you work or, of course, grandparents chipping in. However, given the current pandemic we are still in, not a single one of these things will be operating over the summer months. Not entirely sure where employers expect working parents to magic summer holiday childcare from in the current situation!!!

zigaziga · 17/06/2020 19:58

However, given the current pandemic we are still in, not a single one of these things will be operating over the summer months. Except that many people in the thread have said that their summer camps are on... and assuming grandparents aren’t shielding they can take on childcare now. At my DC’s school I’ve noticed new faces belonging to new nannies and childminders that I hadn’t seen before the schools closed doing the school run, so people are back finding people to care for their children again.

Yes obviously it’s incredibly tough but we’re allowed to find childcare now.

pennylane83 · 17/06/2020 19:58

We are semi back to normal now, it’s not like in April. People are allowed to resume childcare

Hmm, well, the village where I live the holiday club last year had around 40-50 pupils per day so a clear demand from working parents. This year it won't be operating. There are 2 childminders in the village. Don't really think they alone will be able to solve this predicament! Plus, if its not safe to have more than 15 kids sat together in a classroom than it really wont be safe to have 8 or so random kids squished into someones living room.

Macon · 17/06/2020 19:59

OP, please ignore this if you think it's a silly suggestion.

When my DC were primary aged, which is a long time ago now, I was very good friends with their classmates' mums. We were a mixture of SAHM, p/t working mums, and f/t working mums. The SAHMs and p/t working mums covered loads and loads of childcare for our friends who had full-time jobs.

I was a SAHM. If one of my friends back then had been in the situation you are in now, I would have been more than happy to have any of her children who were the same age/s as mine while she was at work - especially if she was a widow, too. Any of us would have done this. We'd probably have devised some kind of rota between us (I know this sounds very PTA - but I am absolutely not that type: I was just very, very good friends with these people). It all balanced out in the end, as other parents took my DC off my hands sometimes as well.

Do you have any friends whom you could call on? Any group of friends with whom you could swap children/share childcare?

The real problem is that your workplace ought to recognise that you can't physically be at work - but this makes me so very incensed that I'm not going to go there. I have my own lockdown issues (no job or income since March), and I know so many of us are struggling in our different ways. I really do feel for you, though. This ought not to be your problem.

This is another reason why I would have bent over backwards a thousand times over to help you out if this had happened when my DC were at primary school.

As I say, though, ignore me if it's a shit suggestion.

Higherthana5 · 17/06/2020 19:59

I noticed your manager called you and did not put the request/order in writing, I wonder if this is because they wanted to put you on the spot?

Can you remember everything they said?
I would make a few notes if you can remember.

Do you think they know you have no childcare and are putting obstacles in the way?

BTW There is a parental entitlements team in our trust, they have been extremely helpful, when I was applying for unpaid parental leave (every parent can have up to 4 weeks per year, per child but only a max of 18 weeks in total from birth until the child is 18)

Have a look on the intranet and you should find them.

pennylane83 · 17/06/2020 20:02

However, given the current pandemic we are still in, not a single one of these things will be operating over the summer months.

Except that many people in the thread have said that their summer camps are on...

Well lucky them. Not the same situation in all parts of the country though.

zigaziga · 17/06/2020 20:25

Well lucky them. Not the same situation in all parts of the country though
But the OP hasn’t said if hers are opening or not!

If all avenues of childcare (school, other schools via the LA, grandparents, friends, childminders, summer clubs) have been explored and are not an option then of course the OP cannot go back to work can she? But people are suggesting options which are now, in some cases, back available to us.

loulouljh · 17/06/2020 20:29

This is exactly the problem being created by thus ridiculous Government. Not thinking through the wider consequences of school going back. I hope you find a good solution,

ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords · 17/06/2020 21:28

@pennylane83

However, given the current pandemic we are still in, not a single one of these things will be operating over the summer months.

Except that many people in the thread have said that their summer camps are on...

Well lucky them. Not the same situation in all parts of the country though.

There are usually summer camps held at several local private schools, staffed largely by university students home for the holidays, but their websites all say they are unable to run because the government has said they can't open.

Puddlejuice · 17/06/2020 21:54

I'd be developing some symptoms over the weekend that would need a 2 week isolation period to buy you some time I think. Whilst not a great thing to do your choices are so limited.

Bakeachocolatecaketoday · 18/06/2020 06:54

The problem you have is a disconnect with people getting back to work and the ridiculous 2m rule which is preventing kids going back to school. The sooner that is scrapped the better.

StealthPolarBear · 18/06/2020 07:12

Symptoms would only mean 7 days self isolating.
Op can form a bubble with grandparents if that's any good op?
But that is particularly harsh of your employer, especially not allowed to take annual leave!

Higherthana5 · 18/06/2020 07:49

OP could self isolate for 7 days, and ask for special leave/annual leave for the following 7 days as her DS will have to isolate for 14 days, and cannot be at home alone.

If this still stands All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill

Get hold of Parental Entitlements today OP.

ChasingRainbows19 · 18/06/2020 08:25

I work for the NHS on a ward and we are actively being encouraged to take annual leave while we can. Who knows what will happen in winter ( trying not to think about it!)

There was talk about leave being cancelled back in March but apart from really heavy Covid areas around peak time. I'm not sure that happened, it didn't in my area.
Makes no sense to not let you take leave, you are entitled to it.

I would speak to HR/unions if management aren't helpful.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/06/2020 08:27

Are you able to do the role from home?

Kittywampus · 18/06/2020 08:44

Are you in a union? If so speak to them.

Schoolchoicesucks · 18/06/2020 08:51

I'm surprised by the "use holiday clubs" brigade too. For those in areas where they are running, are they running NOW? In term time?

All of my usual holiday clubs have said they are unable to take bookings as they don't know whether they can run from school buildings, or whether they will be able to run financially assuming they will have to limit numbers. And that is just for the actual school holidays. Nothing is available for now.

Aragog · 18/06/2020 08:55

My sister had to return this week too. She was furloughed and then told last week she must return to work. My nephew isn't eligible to go back to school as she isn't a KW and, like many other schools, his school can't fit any more children in once they've taken in the priority classes. My BIL is already back at work and can't work from home. My sister could but her firm refused to allow anyone bar the two bosses to do so

My parents, who are under 70 and not shielding, are going to look after him. Rules or no rules. It's that or she hands in her notice, forgoing any redundancy pay due.

mymadworld · 18/06/2020 08:58

None of the holiday clubs around us are taking bookings yet, grandparents aren't an option for many people and and I'm a childminder but no spaces for all my regulars let alone new people - I'm working on reduced numbers as I wouldn't feel comfortable going out anywhere with more than 5 children and there's no way I'm having more than that if we're stuck at home all day for 6 weeks!

adagio · 18/06/2020 09:09

In wales, we have no holiday clubs and no childminders or nurseries either (apart from for key workers). Also no bookings for wrap around from September, and no indication what will happen from September (rumours are 1/2 day a week per primary age child until at least January). No bubbles or mixing of households allowed - so you can’t club up with other mums or use grandparents.
It’s a nightmare 🙁

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