To request flexible furlough

[Archie1989]

Happy new year!

Me and DH have a two year old son. He was just over one when everything kicked off with Covid. We both now work from home, and managed with no help, no furlough etc during the last nursery closures. I would work at every opportunity in shifts with my husband to do our work and parent our son. I had a pay cut, like most, but we were both very lucky to keep our jobs and be in jobs with some level of flexibility so I could work at any time. So I would get up and start work at 6.30am, plough through until 10am, then work through my sons nap time etc. It was exhausting.

We are in Scotland and nursery has closed again until at least 18th January. I don’t know how we will do it again as my son doesn’t sleep during the day much....I am also exhausted as he wakes every two hours at night (this was the case before too, but caffeine got me through). During the last lockdown I struggled to keep up with work, I could see colleagues getting frustrated and the odd comment about me being able to join conference calls. I used up so much annual leave just trying to get my timesheet productive and took unpaid leave where I needed to.

Our son’s grandparents haven’t seen us all for nearly a year, so I don’t want to use all my leave on work again....I want to save it to spend time with loved ones.

I am tempted to ask about flexible furlough this time. If it’s possible do what I can. I don’t know why, but I am scared to ask. Scared how it will be perceived and scared it will raise my head against the parapet for redundancy.

Any advice, comments welcome. I know I’m lucky to have my health and job. My mental health is struggling a bit.

I've asked for the same thing. I work in a nursery but can't go as my 5 year old can't go to primary school as it's closed. I think we will be low on numbers too as I've seen messages from parents to say they are keeping their child off for the next 2 weeks.

I dont think furlough was intended for when someone just fancied a break.. .

@whammyyammy it’s not for that purpose. It’s because it’s impossible to work and look after a toddler at the same time. It isn’t because I just fancy a break. There have been parents i know working until 2-3am to try and meet their hours without losing their jobs, and then trying to meet the needs of their children too.

When you do the claim now you have to agree that it is having a detrimental impact on your business. That started a couple of months ago

504 million was paid back by November by companies as HMRC said they would check vat returns as evidence of impact on a business and that they did not expect public listed companies claiming furlough to issue dividends. Less clear for smaller companies.

You can ask, I have friends who were furloughed due to childcare.

Childcare IS a reason for furlough, don't know why people are saying it isn't.

People seem to forget that as well as protecting business & trying to save jobs furlough was also designed to keep people at home because you know, contagious spread.
Lots of people on MNs think furlough workers are the new benefit scroungers 🙄

I dont think furlough was intended for when someone just fancied a break..

🥱

Will your colleagues have the capacity to pick up your workload? If so then I would be worried about redundancy at the end. If not then how will the business manage? I think a childminder sounds like a good option too. Or you both taking some unpaid leave for childcare reasons. My view is furlough for childcare reasons is valid if the business is having to furlough staff for economic reasons but not if they are busy.

Jeez. OP I whole heartedly sympathise with you. Until March 2020 any person posting on this site suggesting wfh with children was lambasted soundly about how impossible it was, and how you would have to have full time childcare or you were cheating your employer.
Now this apparently is cheating the govt and the tax payer. How people are supposed to cope in this situation I don't know but the govt have put the furlough scheme in surely to help.

How much work can you do in the time you are not furloughed?

I wasn't on furlough but my employer was excellent at letting me spread my hours over the week & it didn't matter if I was working at midnight on Saturday for example. I'm p/t though so easier to do this.

Unfortunately furlough is more expensive for employers this time as there is no help with employers NI or pension contributions, so furlough is a less attractive option for employers.

@finkking thankfully I do have the option to work my hours whenever I like. The problem is that in my role I oversee people day to day, sharing screens and showing them how to do things. My colleagues wouldn’t be able to pick up the slack, so programmes will just have to be extended. The programme managers are not great at resource planning though, so we’re all overloaded to just get the work done when we can.

The stop - start way of working on the last lockdown really had an impact on my productivity. I would literally get in a few hours wherever I could. I’d struggle to find time to get lunch, shower, see daylight! The other problem is that while my company talks about being understanding and wellbeing, we still have to be over 95% productive and stick within the tight project budgets. I feel like I can’t win!

I dont think furlough was intended for when someone just fancied a break

Wow, your reading comprehension skills are absolutely shit.

I recommend an adult education course. Are there any in your area?

@Whammyyammy

I dont think furlough was intended for when someone just fancied a break.. .

Don't be a twat.

[quote Archie1989]@Christmasbellsareringing thank you!! :) my sentiments exactly. My son is ebf too. I will always respond to his needs[/quote]
No need to thank me! I have huge respect
Sorry to derail your thread, just annoys me that this western culture places so much pressure on us to force unnatural, damaging sleep structures on young children.

Hope you get the furlough sorted, OP! Best of luck

@Whammyyammy

I dont think furlough was intended for when someone just fancied a break.. .

Good thing OP isn't asking for a break then. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

OP, I really hope you get furlough. Please ignore all the twits on here saying you can’t get it just because you fancy a wee break.

We are in a similar position as you: but with a 5 year old. With a 2 year old it would have been virtually impossible