What is the difference between an essential worker & a critical worker ?! Are they the same thing?

[PullingHairEverywhere]

The primary school my DC’s go to have requested additional evidence that I am a “critical worker”. I obtained a generic statement from my work however it says I am an essential worker as my role you cannot do at home and we are running on a 24/7 basis. I work in manufacturing/production and my company are not offering furlough. The head teacher has replied saying the statements are too vague and they need my name, job role and working hours on this statement then they will review it. Because it’s manufacturing I can’t do my role at home. SO what can I do here ??! I was furloughed last summer for 7 months but I’ve been back since October ! Me personally - I don’t think my business is essential (we make car parts), but we are still operating.

Please tell me your thoughts here....

AIBU in wanting to tel the head teacher she is being unreasonable asking for MORE evidence ?

The school have emailed every parent saying they are at unsustainable levels regarding looking after “critical worker” children. So they are now trying to get children out of the school. This lockdown is different , no one is really furloughed anymore are they? Unless you’re in the leisure industry.

The list of critical workers (who are different to essential workers) is very narrow: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

How has your employer got classified as an essential worker? Whatever their rationale is (eg we make trucks which supply the logistics industry which transport food) that's your rationale.

Car parts could be critical in keeping the emergency services running, or helping key workers get to work

I didn’t think working in manufacturing makes you a key/essential worker does it, unless it’s food manufacturing, but I may be wrong

It sounds like you are works out of the home, can’t do your job at home, much like the construction industry who aren’t considered keyworkers

Sorry - also the headteacher has said my workplace MUST clarify how I am contributing to the COVID response ?!?!

If the reality is you engineer some sort of shiny chrome bit on a jaguar your employer is taking the piss really aren't they.

OP does the childrens father/other parent work out of the home in a job that can't be done at home & can't be furloughed? Can they have the children while you work?

I am an engineer for car parts. The business want to keep running for obvious reasons (keep turn over going / ensure all staff have a job) - yet there is now a possibility the school may pull the plug on this. Thoughts/experiences appreciated.

Unfortunately, just because you can't work from home doesn't make you a critical worker. Car parts manufacturing doesn't appear on the government list so the Head is quite right to query it.

There is a difference, which I think the school is trying to clarify, between a worker essential to a business and critical workers essential for the covid response.
It sounds as if your employer classes you as needing to be in work for them to function but this is not the same as the government's definition

How is the employer taking the piss, NoIDont ?

If you aren't an essential worker then school don't have to provide a place for your children.

Ita rubbish for people qhose employers are expecting them still at work

Get your employer to tell the school (via you) how you fit the criteria. If you're an 'essential worker' they will be able to give a good reason why. If you're not I guess they would be closed, or you should be furloughed. Though I understand the school's issue, it's not up to them to move the goal posts and decide who can and can't work, and therefore who can pay their bills and who can't. How do they think that's going to go down with parents and employers?

[quote NotFabulousDarling]The list of critical workers (who are different to essential workers) is very narrow: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision[/quote]
That doesn't differentiate between critical or essential workers.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

How has your employer got classified as an essential worker? Whatever their rationale is (eg we make trucks which supply the logistics industry which transport food) that's your rationale.

I guess I could go down this route - unsure if it will work though. The school are being very awkward.

@spanieleyes

Unfortunately, just because you can't work from home doesn't make you a critical worker. Car parts manufacturing doesn't appear on the government list so the Head is quite right to query it.

This^ My daughters employer ( she works at an opticians) provided her with a document to confirm for that her job role is listed as keyworker and put all my daughters details ( name, job role, job title, working hours.... and then gave a managers name and contact telephone number and email contact...... this was a requirement of the school

The school aren't being awkward, they are applying the rules fairly. The link above gives the list of critical categories, if you fall within one of those, you are eligible for a school place, if you don't then you aren't.

@Kitkat151 did your daughter get a place with the school after providing all the info?

School aren’t really being very awkward though are they. They’re saying only people eligible can send their children in. That’s what they should be doing.

The fact your employer wants you in is irrelevant, if they are not an essential service

Well, if we make car parts for essential workers then maybe we are essential workers ? I don’t believe the guidance is clear.

The issue is with the employee not allowing staff to be furloughed for childcare reasons.

Schools need to keep the number of pupils down to keep everyone in them as safe as possible.

@TheRealMrsMorningStar I never said it did. I simply said there was a difference and posted the link expecting OP (an adult) to be able to click, read, and decide if she was on the list (she isn't). But since there have been threads ad nauseam on MN about how university librarians and dog groomers are key workers, I think we can safely say that the distinction is that critical workers are the things specified in the list of critical workers (which OP's job isn't on) and "essential workers" "key workers" etc are simply nebulous terms that have been rendered fundamentally meaningless by so many people claiming they are one when they're not.
But since OP can't apparently click and check and find out she's not on the list rather than asking randoms on the internet to speculate about how she can blag a place she's not entitled to, I'm out.

No, making car parts doesNOT make you a critical worker, whether you sell them to critical workers or not!

I’ve looked at the link, we are classed as production. Thanks for being helpful @NotFabulousDarling