To think that my works idea of flexible furlough is bs?

[Pieface123]

Now I'm not too sure what other work places are doing with bringing people back to work, but heres how it's looking from my end.
Work in a hotel, have been furloughed since March.
Recieved an email today asking us to agree to flexible furlough. Straight after I had a conversation with the boss about how I would need time to organise childcare, he replied saying they weren't looking at bringing anyone back just yet.

"Following the UK Government’s recent announcement in relation to employees and the introduction of flexible furlough, we are writing further to your original agreement to be placed on furlough from 1st July 2020.

The new extension of furlough is called a Flexible Furlough Arrangement and will take effect from 1st July 2020. This new arrangement requires you to work any number but not more of your usual working hours per week on any day of the week needed, with the remaining number of hours continuing as furlough leave. The date on which this flexible furlough will come to an end will be dependent on a number of external factors, however, will not continue past 31st October 2020.
"

Forgive me if I am wrong, but how on earth can I arrange childcare when they dont complete the rotas for the week Friday-Thursday until thursday evenings? This is essentially turning my job into a zero hour contract style of working no?
Previously I had 3 set shifts each week and was asked about others due to needing childcare.

AIBU to think they cant do this? This isn't the rota i agreed to when I signed the contract- verbal agreement but it has never been deviated from.
Or YABU everyone has had a shit time and it is what it is

Op if there's no childcare whatsoever where you are you are fucked for any job really aren't you?

The government aren't going to leave you on furlough indefinitely and pay you to not work.

The reality of the situation is that single parents or those with partners who won't help to share childcare requirements, are going to be screwed by this, so mainly women. But it's what's going to happen, employers will need flexible people who can change shifts at short notice until they know how trade is going to pan out. Sadly those remaining on furlough due to childcare issues are likely to be those being made redundant, because redundancies are coming.

The point isn't that theres no childcare, the point is I'm struggling to find a childminder willing to be flexible. So for example childminder 1 will work Monday tuesday and Wednesday but my job could ask me to wprk Thursday friday .
Which means I would have then wasted hundreds of pounds paying childminder 1 in advance when they are not needed or viable at all.

My issue is I cant see how I can get a childminder to be essentially "on call" for the next month when they might not be needed for a single hour.

And again....have you actually asked your employer if they are expecting you to be 'on call' for anything other than your usual shifts?

You will be paid, it's not the same as zero hours. I'm well past childcare but I'm paid 3 days a week but due to lockdown it's often 1 - 1.5 of work but scattered throughout so if I needed care I would book the 3 days in paid for.

We are introducing the same system into our factory - if we only have work for someone for 2 days instead of their normal 5 then the furlough scheme will make up the difference in pay. It doesn't mean they will be expected to work Mon/Tue one week and Wed/Thurs the next although it would be nice if they could accommodate our customer's needs especially if they are still being paid for not working.

Why don't you contact your employer and ask for confirmation?

You need to speak to your employer and tell them you can work Mon, Tue, Weds (Sat and Sun if appropriate) ... you're being flexible and co-operative then.

Then book childminder 1 and even if you're not in work, use her services.

You need to a) have a discussion with your employer and b) organise childcare. You are still being paid at 80% for your hours. What have you done with the money saved from childcare over the last few weeks?

@Pieface123 did you end the contract with the cm?
Did they offer a retainer or reduced sessions at all?

@Pieface123, I feel for you. I was in the same situation for years when mine were young and without either set shifts or a very flexible workplace I couldn't have worked at all. I had no family help or magic wand either. What's happening now is essentially a nightmare for working mums without help. I think you have to directly ask your work what happens if you can't do the shifts asked due to lack of childcare. Just be direct and ask them. You need this explained. Youught even find they have a few workers in this situation who can swap shifts with each other when needed?
I think your backs against the wall here and it's a bloody shame. This virus has made women go back 50 years, people who have childcare or health issues are being forced into a corner and people like me on furlough with a dh still working have turned into 1950s housewives who cook dinner every night and hang out the washing every day. And what's worse I'm actually loving it.

Unless you are a single parent, this isn’t solely a women’s problem. The father might have to make a flexible working request, work from home or take holidays to cover childcare.

Have you actually asked your employer about fixed shifts? Otherwise the rest of the debate is ridiculous.

Ask, find out what they actually expect and take it from there.