To feel that it's unfair that keyworkers cant be furloughed

[glitterwobbles]

Just want to rant mainly at the government. My husband and I are both keyworkers. I have currently moved out of home as have been exposed to covid 19 and didn't fancy taking it home to my family.
Because of this my husband has not been able to work and is on a zero hours contract so no work no pay.
Apparently key workers can not have furlough pay. All we are asking for is 3 weeks pay as I hope to go home at the weekend.
I know its pathetic but I feel let down by the rules. I have continued to work while many around me have gone off with stress. I have not had a day off sick since 2012. My husband is on a zero hours contract as the flexibility has allowed us to manage childcare needs.
I dont want a medal and realise life is hard for lots of us right now but feel financially punished for being keyworkers.

I agree I want to be furloughed but cant. If I take time off its sap or no pay

Why couldn’t your husband work? I thought childcare facilities and schools remained open to key worker children?

Schools are open to key workers children.

Key workers can be furloughed, several of my colleagues are key workers and furloughed. We can only provide a limited service at the moment due to restrictions within our profession so full staff not currently required.

What do you do? Where have you moved to?

The furlough scheme is for people whose employers do not have work for them. The definition of a key worker is someone whose work is of high importance ("key") to society. By definition, if your work is key it's there to be done, so you can't be furloughed.

Your issue is not furlough, but lack of child care. Your husband has chosen (granted that there was little actual choice) not to work, rather than being told that there is no work for him.

There are lots of people who fall between the support rules. They cant cater for every eventuality. Lots of self employed have been badly hit and have had to go on universal credit. Is that not an option for your OH?

I suppose it depends on what the op and dh do. If op is a shift worker (medical or otherwise) and has moved out then depending on what her dh does he can’t work - eg if shift work because there may be no childcare available.

Childcare facilities are open for children of keyworkers. Why can’t your husband work?

I agree keyworkers can be furloughed.

Maybe the OPs husnand works nights, needs after school care? School is open only from 9-3

Are your husband or dc vulnerable ?

Furlough is designed for employers who have no work for their employees and might otherwise have to consider redundancy. You don't fall into that category.

But furlough is specifically to help keep businesses afloat that would otherwise sink due to lockdown. It's a payment for people who would otherwise be laid off, probably permanently, and have to claim benefits. It's for companies that literally have no work. It was never intended to be a payment for people who chose (for whatever reason) to not go to work.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was put in place to help those people who were at risk of losing their jobs through redundancy. If your work is still ongoing then no, you can't just request it. I'm working crazy hours and yes, it may seem unfair but those on furlough are worried they may not have jobs or an income to go back to. The schools are operating for key workers so at least you have that option. Many people are working at home FT with no access to childcare options. Most feel thankful to have a job.

So you want a break as your mentioning not having any sick time off? Furlough isn’t so you can have a break - although I think a lot of people think it it’s - it’s if you children are off school or the business you work for is about to tank.

If you have zero symptoms and not shielding anyone there are no reasons why you can’t be at home.

You can tell at lot of these posters aren’t the ones working full on in difficult risky situations.

I understand OP. It’s really unfair.

Can your husband not work ? Or is there no work for him ( hospitality?) Can your child go to school as you're a key worker ? It's a difficult one

I thought the furlough scheme was for those whose work is currently not available because the business is suspended due to covid.
And sick leave for when an employee too sick to work.

We can not use school as my husband works nights. I am currently living in nurses accomodation and counting g the hours until I can go home as its bloody noisy. Someone singing loudly someone else discussing there night shift right outside my door.
I know that we choose this but mainly as i didn't want to take a coronavirus home and possibly spread it to my husbands work place. If course losing 3 weeks pay is nothing compared to my families health.

I'm a key worker and I've been furloughed, but due to pregnancy. They cannot guarantee that work is safe.

My husband and his team are keyworkers and has been told none of his stafff can be furloughed , local government that go out to the elderly and vulnerable .
He is working 2 days from home and 3 days in the office . Only because the laptop given is so old and shit he goes in 3 days just tO get stuff done Can you Wfh?
I'd think about sending your child to school so he can work and perhaps take some pressure off you

What does your husband do? He can be furloughed if he's a key worker and you don't have childcare, although the organisation can't claim the money back if it's government funded so they might refuse in this instance. Could he take annual leave?

The furlough scheme is designed primarily to prevent companies from making staff redundant during closures. You are both keyworkers, so you are not in this position. It is intended to stop short-term job losses and make it possible for businesses to get up and running quickly when they're allowed to, and when they have orders/contracts to fulfill.

If you're both keyworkers, your school-age children should be eligible for a place at school. If you have younger children, and opted for your husband to work on a ZHC to save on childcare, which is perfectly reasonable, I'm afraid that that is what you are being "financially punished" for. ZHC's are always risky and you must have realised this when you decided to go down that route.

I can't believe that I'm sounding like I'm sticking up for the Tories (I despise them with every fibre of my being lol), but they can't come up with schemes that cover every single possible arrangement of family finances that might be affected by the various permutations of how Covid can affect people's finances. People's lives are too complex!

It's grim, I know, and you've been unlucky, but you took a risk and it hasn't paid off. Have you checked if you are now eligible for universal credit because your income has dropped? I know you might not get a lot, but if things are really tight, every little helps.

When do you think you'll be able to return home? I think incubation is only a couple of weeks, so hopefully it won't be for much.