I broke down at work today

[icantcope2021]

I work as a key worker in a team of six. During lockdown 1 we all worked from our place of work as we cannot work from home. The other members of the team all have primary school aged children who all attended school during the lockdown.
In May I was diagnosed with cancer, I was then off sick until late October. Covid levels in my area have been very low so I wasn't too worried about catching it.
In December cases rose and I spoke to my manager about my anxieties about working as two members of the team had tested positive. I asked if I could be furloughed due to health reasons (I am not on the shielding list) and she told me she would look into it in the new year.
Today I have found out two of my colleagues have been furloughed due to childcare issues and it broke me because it means now I can't be furloughed. I feel so anxious and scared about working. AIBU?

I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this. What did your manager say when you were so upset today?

Sorry to hear this.

Has anything been discussed since this happened.
Have you anything in writing? Can you email your manager and ask for a written response?

You're not being unreasonable. Can you get any support from your GP or medical team? My workplace has people furloughed for medical reasons.

@WineIsMyMainVice

I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this. What did your manager say when you were so upset today?

She just explained that she had to prioritise the staff with childcare issues first.

@QuestionableMouse

You're not being unreasonable. Can you get any support from your GP or medical team? My workplace has people furloughed for medical reasons.

My GP would sign me off but I have used all my CSP and living off SSP would be a struggle but this might be my only option.

Why do the have childcare issues? If you are a keyworker schools are open so that shouldn't have been an issue- I would speak to her again because you are at risk as a cancer patient

Worth considering that a cancer diagnosis counts as a disability under the relevant disability discrimination prevention laws - just in case it comes to that

Are you CEV? The advice is not to attend work in person.

I can’t see how they can prioritize childcare over illness! As above, if you’re keyworkers, nurseries are open and schools take keyworker children.

Is this because your colleagues’ kids schools will only give a place if 2 parents are keyworkers?
This is pretty fast going- the announcement about school closures was only at 8pm last night.

Having children is not a protected characteristic. Having cancer or other disabilities is.

Did you have chemo for the cancer? Only asking because a colleague of mine had cancer and chemo and was told because it was less then a year old he is in the extremely vulnerable category and therefore should stay at home. If you finished in October technically you are not in the all clear category and you should get priority over childcare issues.

I can’t see how childcare would trump health? Surely also their children can attend school as key worker children?

@Couchbettato

Having children is not a protected characteristic. Having cancer or other disabilities is.

This - the Equality Act only protects people from discrimination due to being on maternity leave and/or being married. It doesn't give people extra rights for just having kids. Cancer, however, gives you extra rights.

You should get prioritised. If your manager has furloughed someone she shouldn't have, that's her problem to sort out.

@CharlotteRose90

Did you have chemo for the cancer? Only asking because a colleague of mine had cancer and chemo and was told because it was less then a year old he is in the extremely vulnerable category and therefore should stay at home. If you finished in October technically you are not in the all clear category and you should get priority over childcare issues.

No I didn't need chemo

Its absolutely rotten, closing schools is such a headache.

I bet half the issue is one keyworker, (no school place), the other parent working out the house or feel they can't WFH and Homeschool at the same time.

Sacrifice the lower income in a bid to protect the higher earner. I know MN has an alternative message both incomes are important childcare is joint. Reality if one partner earns double the other, the second jobs gets sacrificed.

I'd have another word with employer and consider GP sick line.

I cannot believe childcare reasons have been put above someone who has cancer?

I am disgusted actually (and I have 3 kids and lockdown #1 was horrendous, this one will be even worse)

Please go back to you manager, or even seek outside advice (not sure if ACAS could help?)

@AndcalloffChristmas

I can’t see how childcare would trump health? Surely also their children can attend school as key worker children?

Thats what I don't understand, during lockdown 1 they all went to school and now they can't. Im not sure if they are using their children as an excuse to have time off as one of my colleagues was moaning before Christmas about how she could do with a few weeks off!

I'm amazed that they've said childcare issues are the priority. Can you speak with your doctor and ask if you should be working or shielding? Perhaps as your diagnosis is more recent you've been missed off the list. I know people who didn't feel they were vulnerable who got themselves taken off the list, so surely you can also get yourself added on if you feel you've been missed. It could also be reassuring for you if your doctor states that you're not vulnerable and explains why.

Why on earth would anyone vote YABU on this??

OP, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I think you need to press the issue as your need to be furloughed is greater than that of those with childcare issues. I'm astonished childcare would be classed as a more pressing reason than cancer.

I’m sorry you haven’t been furloughed.

But I think your manager’s hands were probably tied as schools are shut until mid Feb. Your colleagues (unless they were keyworkers) would have had no choice. Your request for furlough was a preference not a necessity.

Maybe they threatened to resign? It’s almost impossible to wfh effectively while home schooling kids.

They can’t leave young kids home alone to come into work.

I would query with your doctor as I believe you should be on vulnerable list. I think it’s disgusting that they’ve put people with children about you if I’m honest. I’m on the list for a different reason and I was one of the first employees in my place to be off.

I think you not dying takes priority over your colleagues childcare issues!!!! Get signed off for anxiety (I'm sure it's true that you're anxious). If they won't look after your best interests, then you need to do it.

She just explained that she had to prioritise the staff with childcare issues first.

So she's discriminating against you because of your reproductive status?

I am disgusted for you op. There is some great advice on here and I hope you get it sorted