To think accountancy isn't a "keyworker" job?

[hannabull]

One of the parents at school is a self employed accountant who works from home, but sending kids into school. The other parent works out of the home (not a key worker) how is this allowed? Claims to be an essential worker (doesn't work for the nhs or anything, just accounts for small businesses)

Today I believe the guidance changed again and if you do not have one laptop per child at home or not enough wifi then you get a school place. We should never have closed schools at all.

What's up with all the bun fights last few days. I was more pleasant when I started dieting and was hangry than half an mn is now!

@PolkadotGiraffe

I'm being less courteous because of the nature of your own responses and the insults and insinuations you've thrown around.

It seems from your final comment that perhaps we are talking at cross purposes: "critical workers" is defined (deliberately) to capture all of those whose roles are vital to keeping society functioning in the short term. Not just those who are vital to the Covid response, which is a subset of the essential roles.

That phrase is taken from the actual guidance issued by the government.

“ Critical workers
Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU transition response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined in the following sections. Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school or college if required.”

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

So which part of it did you struggle to understand? The part after "and"? Or the list below the part you quote which is deliberately wide in scope to recognise that many crucial roles are in sectors people might not think of instantly? The expectation was that people would be able to use their own judgement on whether their job is essential during this time, rather than have some crude strict rule by sector that did not reflect the importance of individual jobs. Regulation/ law/ guidance based on principles has been shown repeatedly to be more operable and effective compared to fairly arbirtrary rules that inevitably leave both gaps and loopholes.

The issues here seems to be with Covid evangelists misinterpreting the rules deliberately, people misunderstanding the deliberate nuances, people making judgements without sufficient information about the nature of the work of people they barely know (e.g. in the OP, someone whose child happens to go to the same school as theirs ), or people who are defensive about people pointing out the obvious points above (understandably people are tired and worried and on edge, but the level of judgement and self-righteousness is embarrassing).

@SchrodingersImmigrant

What's up with all the bun fights last few days. I was more pleasant when I started dieting and was hangry than half an mn is now!

I am a self-employed accountant working from home, my husband is a NHS work so out all day for long hours. It is a very busy time of year for accountants (tax return filing deadline). I did think about sending my children is, which I can do as my husband is a key worker, but decided against it as my kids really didn't want to go, and it just didn't feel right. However, everyone's situations are different and it is very hard to judge others as we don't really know what is going on inside other peoples' houses. My youngest suffered from terrible anxiety during the first lockdown, and I did think that sending him into school might help. If I'd done that would I have been judged?

The problem is the government made the key worker status too wide and schools don’t have the staff for a significant number of children in school as well as running a home schooling programme.
What’s likely to happen is the schools will have to close properly as they will continue to have positive Covid cases.

I and the rest of my team are classed as key workers. Whilst were essential to keep a sector going, no one has opted to send their child to school as we’re lucky enough to work for a public sector employer who offers flexibility and those with children are working early morning/evening/weekends and around their children in the day. I think a lot is about how employers are acting, I know some will not be so lucky. Some will use it selfishly, others won’t. The government need to narrow it down to critical workers. My MIL is a teacher who has 50% of their school in. It’s mad they’re expected to do both online and in person teaching! In the first lockdown my niece had to go in and was one of three pupils out of over 1000.

Everything is a crucial role to those who do it. That’s why we have more than half the children in at our school.
Boris saying schools are closed is a joke.

I starting to suspect the government want as many kids in school as possible and just wanted to make a show of closing school. I mean what’s the fucking point in struggling we might as well all say our internet is crap at home and send them in. It’s a fucking joke.

@Parker231

The problem is the government made the key worker status too wide and schools don’t have the staff for a significant number of children in school as well as running a home schooling programme. What’s likely to happen is the schools will have to close properly as they will continue to have positive Covid cases.

It was made wide deliberately so that access wasn't cut off for critical workers in less obvious roles who genuinely need places. To capture all of the people it needs to, it has to be based on principles not a "list" and requires the public to exercise judgement and personal responsibility. The problem is not the definition, it's the abuse of it by people who know they don't really need the places but take them anyway. The Government tightening the definition (e.g. with arbitrary sector-based rules as many on this thread seem to support) might reduce the level of loophole-seeking but would simultaneously end up excluding workers who we, collectively, really need to continue working. I am the last person to be defending the Government in pretty much every circumstance, this is the worst Government in the history if the UK, but this particular problem about too many children's parents requesting places in lockdown is entirely the fault of the public not exercising judgement and decency.

@Applepie05

I and the rest of my team are classed as key workers. Whilst were essential to keep a sector going, no one has opted to send their child to school as we’re lucky enough to work for a public sector employer who offers flexibility and those with children are working early morning/evening/weekends and around their children in the day. I think a lot is about how employers are acting, I know some will not be so lucky. Some will use it selfishly, others won’t. The government need to narrow it down to critical workers. My MIL is a teacher who has 50% of their school in. It’s mad they’re expected to do both online and in person teaching! In the first lockdown my niece had to go in and was one of three pupils out of over 1000.

I agree with this too: employers need to enable people to make responsible choices.

@Wearywithteens

I know a Cathedral ‘door greeter’ who has claimed an ‘essential worker’ school place! Bonkers.

Madness.

I would say Accounts are very necessary at this moment in time,.with all.money & cost associated with Covid. The wheels need to keep turning, and the gvnt needs the taxes it collects from the people.& businesses to help pay for all of this.
Would have thought that was obvious tbh?
Like benefits , furlow schemes, business loans and grants etc
?.where is the money coming from?.
From the UK tax paying people!
Yes accounts is essential..along with a list of others!

Can't say I'm surprised, I have been shocked by the number of parents playing their keyworker card when clearly they are not. I understand that jobs are essential and need to be done but many - accountancy, admin, solicitors included - can be done from home, it's just inconvenient for them and at the end of the day that is all these people care about. I could play the keyworker card too but chose not to as keeping my family safe during a global pandemic is a higher priority to me.

I don’t think you get to pick if you are a key worker . Our school has a list and if your job is on it you can apply for a place . So I’m guessing the powers that be deem accountancy to be essential .

As an accountant for a charity worked none stop helping with shopping repayments to volunteers etc half in office half at home I have kept my two at home some people can cope with their kids and are very good at organising their time. Others just want an excuse to get the kids out of the house. Sorry I know I will be shot for that comment. I had worked in practice getting year end accounts done working till 2am plus in the morning when my kids where younger worked Christmas eves boxing days all the joy of the job when you had deadlines and work coming in at the same time no schools open then so just learnt to work around it.

Tax returns. You are ridiculous.

Should add I know two accountants who applied for key worker status but where furloughed for several months last year so they are taking the piss !

Many jobs are vital! My friends in logistics work from hike and are vital. My other friend at Microsoft is vital, my data security friend is vital ...... what makes my frikkin account a key worker?!?! So what if it’s tax return season? My accountant works from home with his kids there. Like millions have to!! I’m sorry but accountants are not key workers. Only on MN!!! 🙄😖😖🙄

@SchrodingersImmigrant

It's essential. I know number of people who would end up fined without having their accountants atm. Unless tax deadlines move, accountants are a must have

And I do that job, one of the easier jobs to do wfh. All online, my colleague all WFH. Juggling childcare. It would be nice to have my child in school and a lot less stressful but I have a sense of social responsibility

Anyway guys, quick, it’s 8pm, time to go and clap for accountants!

Financial services is classified as an essential worker.

where furloughed for several months last year so they are taking the piss

What’s last year got to do with it?