To think there should be more protection for working parents during covid

[Agirlnamedsam]

I’m still awaiting my line manager and husbands line manager confirming changes to our working hours. But i think my manager isn’t sounding too keen on what I’m suggesting (working different hours than normal), this is the same as I worked in the last lockdown but I had a different manager. I know my husband had a conversation with his work who were quite insistent that he comes into the workplace some days (he isn’t a key worker).

I honestly don’t know what we will do if our employers don’t agree to our changes in hours: we have a 5 year old and he needs supervised (and support with remote learning): our usual help with childcare isn’t available as both sets of grandparents shielding. We have a childcare swap one day with a friend, but can’t do this more than one day and don’t want to go into multiple swaps as that increases the risk of the virus spreading. I doubt our employers will let us take leave (either annual, or unpaid), so I don’t know how on earth we will manage: I’m worried one of us will end up out of a job as we can’t work our normal hours

Aibu to think there should be some legal protection for parents at this time

You are totally correct - like it or not for a huge proportion of the population school is childcare & family arrangements and employment choices are arranged around this.
When this is suddenly ripped away from you, along with many potential fallback options there is not a lot you can do but be at home with your children 24/7- as is pretty much the intent of lockdowns anyway.

Employers have to facilitate this by being flexible with employees who are parents - though it does require that everybody be grownup and reasonable and not take the piss. The government need to impress this upon employers.
I do recognise that it is not the employers fault, but neither is it the employees (or even the governments either).

YANBU. My DS's dad is a key worker so I'm hoping we get a school place but I'm not one. I can't work from home in my role so if we are refused then I'll have to ask for some kind of flexibility regarding hours. I can't do anything else.

It is really difficult. I have just had a difficult phone call with my employer who is usually so understanding. Are child care swaps allowed then too?

I think this time round employers might not be as understanding - BUT - with the vaccine roll out hopefully it won't last as long.

Heart goes out to anyone with children during this terrible time. I've been working throughout and a lot of the women with children have been allowed to WFH - it's made my job harder but nowhere near as hard as it is for them.

Wow - just realised I said women have been allowed to WFH - just shows you - it is the women who end up getting the long end of the stick.

employers are being tougher this time round

its not sounding good for many parents i work with/know

Are you wfh or do you need to go out?

@TillysMum02

employers are being tougher this time round

its not sounding good for many parents i work with/know

Last year as a key worker I had to work while on maternity with a newborn baby because some parents felt like they could only work from home but then weren’t even doing that. This time around my employer is being super strict and saying quite firmly that bein able to work from home is the bare minimum of our job duties and if you can’t you get your notice. They changed all contracts last year.

Employers can furlough those who are unable to work in lockdown due to childcare needs although nurseries are staying open. See HMGov rules , employers can claim back a large proportion of your wages from gov if they need to furlough you. It doesn't mean they will furlough you but worth asking if you can't attend work due to this sudden National lockdown causing childcare issue . Other threads have the links you need

I am So sorry you are going through this. Keyworkers can still get school places , although essentially what happens to children at home of the teachers who have to cover ?

It's only just been announced, keep
Looking online. Really feel for you and your family, it's hard to be thrown into turmoil for sudden school changes

I feel for you all. My DC are a bit older - 10 & 16. I am lucky enough to be able to leave them but I doubt my 10y old will do much school work with no supervision... we will have 15hours compressed into Saturday / Sunday.
I know, my employer will expect me to turn up tomorrow, come rain or shine. I can't afford to loose my job over this. Same applies for DH.

Single parent here and trying to phrase an email about how I want to be furloughed. Full time in a demanding job, I can work from home (although my boss wants me in the office everyday) and they made so many people redundant during the last lockdown I'm doing the work of 6 people. I've reached the point where I'm running on empty while DC are at school and this isn't possible. They will hate that and I expect them to refuse to furlough me. If that happens I will have to point out my output will be vastly reduced during this time.

We have been thrown to the wolves.

Last year as a key worker I had to work while on maternity with a newborn baby because some parents felt like they could only work from home but then weren’t even doing that

Please tell me you own this business and felt it your only option. Your employer should not have demanded you work. In fact, isn't there legalities around this?

We have been thrown to the wolves.

Absolutely

Dh is a keyworker and I can work from home but my job is demanding, md is refusing to furlough. School are saying they want each days work done by 3 - I think I’m done.

I can WFH, but it’s very difficult with a young child: he needs constant attention. DH will need to go out to work quite a lot of the week: not a key worker though.

No idea if childcare swaps are legal or not. But it’s the only way I’ll get some work done

Yanbu. My child's nursery just informed me they aren't opening at all.

All my boss has heard is boris saying the nurseries stay open. Company policy is home workers must have childcare. Government aren't forcing nurseries to close, therefore I've now to find replacement childcare with no time at all.....

It's a mess. Friends are still planning on having their cleaners come to the house but the schools are closed.... wrong priorities.

Keyworkers can still get school places , although essentially what happens to children at home of the teachers who have to cover ?

They are entitled to go to school/childcare as usual. People dont seem to understand this. Nursery staff will need to send their children to school and continue to go to work, in order to keep early years open which is what the government wants.

I suspect the government will refuse to provide early years funding to settings that don't open.

YANBU.
We have been utterly forgotten about in this whole thing from day one.
Parents but especially mothers are being asked to furlough themselves (on 60%!) or give up work or in my case (I am self employed - I run my own business) shut up shop with NO way of making any money and no way of paying a mortgage. And no time to even sort out childcare.
It’s ridiculous.