So I'm an NHS employee and like I imagine many others are in a bit of a tricky position given the school closures this week. My children's primary school has never been renowned for great communication... so yesterday we received an email first thing that acknowledged other schools are closing this week due to weather but they were going to remain open. Then an email sent at 5:45pm last night stating that having reviewed the weather and guidance from the local council they would now be shut today and tomorrow, which includes the breakfast club that my kids attend from 7:45 so that I'm able to go to work.
I provide input into wards (but not ward staff like nursing if that makes sense) so I can't work remotely other than attending teams calls if they're booked in. I have no local family at all (nearest is 150 miles away), DH working away already this week and the only childcare in our village is that provided by the school (so is also closed). I told my line manager straight away that I will need to be at home to provide childcare today and she is saying that I need to take today as A/L because I was "given notice" of the school closing, but this feels really unreasonable as I don't think telling parents the evening before does give any realistic time to seek alternative childcare (and which I have no option for anyway!) I know the other parents at the school who work for the same NHS body have been told it definitely comes under special (carers) leave, but was wondering before I challenge my line manager's decision whether others in the NHS are being told to take it either as A/L or carers leave?
Of course the irony is I would much rather be in work today where there is air con as opposed to stuck in our boiling house with two very overheated and overtired young children, but hey ho! 🤣