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 ?

I would class manufacturing car parts as keeping the road network going, especially if it’s parts for repair rather than new cars.

Again, as others above, I'd suggest that applies to highways and water/electricity operations teams dealing with emergencies and ongoing maintenance to keep utilities and infrastructure operating.

I think that what the school have asked is entirely fair. It's now up to your employer to demonstrate how the work that you do is critical to the Covid-19 response, and if they can't do that, they should really put you on furlough. They may well not want to, so have told you that they can't, but you were furloughed in the last lockdown so they can. If you're denied a school place, there's not really much they can do. If you want to go down this route, some paid childcare providers are still able work, such as nannies or childminders. I know a few childminders who have opened spaces to primary aged children for this reason. Furlough would be a better option for you obviously, as paid childcare would be costly. You really need to have another chat with your employer, explain the situation, and firstly see if they can provide that evidence that your work is critical. If they can't, and furlough is still being refused, going to Acas is an option. There may not be much they can do however, as furlough is only a possibility, not a entitlement. But remember, it is not your children's school who are being arsey here, it is your employer. If your employer essentially forces you to form a childcare bubble or take on paid childcare (which is the only real option, it doesn't really sound like the school are obliged to offer you a place if you can't fulfill their criteria), I'd be finding another job whenever is practically possible. This is the link to the info on furlough, it may help to show your employer this. www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

You can go to work if you can't work from home BUT you only qualify for a school place if you are a critical worker.

This is how I see the rules.

Although there are different rules for individual circumstances - I am a teacher but can’t get a KW place as the majority of time I can wfh but on the days I’m in I can’t get a place either as others need it more which is absolutely fair enough.

The people who need it more I assume are nurses, doctors, shop workers etc who cannot wfh at all but I’m not sure how you’re job would compare to those.

In my school there is a priority list and those at the top get the first places and those who don’t get in are on the waiting list incase someone drops out. There’s just not enough room for everyone.

Yes, there's a disconnect here. You aren't a critical worker, whatever your employer says. So the school won't give you a place. However you cannot work from home. So either you or the other parent need to speak with your employers about being able to be at home with your child.

Not being able to work from home doesn't equal school place

I should add that our school has been very strict. Bubbles are limited in size regardless of how many people want/need them

You would not be given a place at my school. Your job is not critical. Take up the issue of furlough with your employer or arrange alternative childcare.

What's your AIBU question btw, I'm not quite sure from your original post. If it's "AIBU to question the schools insistence that school places going to critical workers only", I put YABU. But I get the impression that wasn't it. If you're after general advice on how to deal with the situation, I think you've left some crucial info out, i.e. if there's another parent and what their working arrangements are.

@ejhhhhh

What's your AIBU question btw, I'm not quite sure from your original post. If it's "AIBU to question the schools insistence that school places going to critical workers only", I put YABU. But I get the impression that wasn't it. If you're after general advice on how to deal with the situation, I think you've left some crucial info out, i.e. if there's another parent and what their working arrangements are.

AIBU ...is the head teacher being unreasonable asking for more evidence from this parent

If that's the question, then no, the headteacher quite clearly is NBU.

I assume head is asking how your work is critical to Covid because it's the first sentence in the government's definition of a critical worker

@PullingHairEverywhere at the school I work at you would not have been given a place to start with. However this is now what is happening across many schools as they weren’t strict enough in the first place.
Unfortunately either your work agrees to furlough you or you plea to the school to keep your DC place otherwise you’ll have to give up your job.
The government should’ve given schools stricter guidance from the start and headteachers should have been stricter on who they offered places to.
I hope you get this sorted OP.

You are getting a bit of a hard time her OP, particularly as you are stuck between a rock and a hard place and none of it is your fault.
The head is right to ask for more info to determine your eligibility, but they also have an unenviable and somewhat impossible task of determining if/how critical/key your job is as they certainly will not have a full insight into the detail of your supply chain positions/customers/contracts etc and the knock on effects to others to make a fully informed decision. You yourself may also not know exactly what your job/employer ultimately contributes to the nation.

It's a bit shit that you are expected to work from home if you can, but if you cannot then you are allowed to go to work but you won't necessarily be entitled to a school place - that is a huge hole in the system that should have been better addressed, and I don't mean by just allowing more and more kids into schools (as that defeats the purpose of the whole exercise). More pressure should be put on employers to permit furlough for childcare purposes or to come to other arrangements. It's also not fair on businesses either frankly but we are all trying to make the best out a bad situation.
Quite simply if your kids are not entitled to a school place there is not a lot you can do no matter how much your employer wishes you could. There is no magical childcare fairy waiting in the wings despite what some on here think at times. There is not bus loads of nannys waiting on hot standby across the country for the call to action at 7:30 on a monday morning should your nursery text to say they are shut because the heating has failed or whatever.
We might have a Territorial Army waiting for the call but there is not the Territorial Childminders waiting too.

The school isn’t being awkward. Everyone wants a place for their child this time around. Today we had someone tell us that a psychologist said her child was suffering and needed a place. Turned out it was an A Level psychology student...

The fact that we’ve had to close 2 bubbles in the last week due to children testing positive doesn’t deter people.

The school aren't being unreasonable but neither are you.
Mechanics were open during Lockdown 1.0 as emergency services, public transport and critical workers needed vehicles maintained and safe so people could get around. This obviously requires parts to maintain the vehicles which is a necessary part of the Covid response. MOTs aren't suspended any more so mechanics need parts to keep public transport, emergency services vehicles and critical service workers safe on the roads.

My letter is very clear it states I am a critical worker, my role being one which is vital to ongoing public protection and cannot be completed from home. It also states I cannot be furloughed as I am a government employee. I was sent it by the ministry of justice. Nursery have never queried DS's attendance. I think if you were making parts for ambulances/police cars you'd have a shot, but I see where they're coming from tbh. You need to go back to your employer and say the shul have clarified i not meet the definition of critical worker, I need to be furloughed. It's not about what your company want.

@CreditCardHelpPlease

My letter is very clear it states I am a critical worker, my role being one which is vital to ongoing public protection and cannot be completed from home. It also states I cannot be furloughed as I am a government employee. I was sent it by the ministry of justice. Nursery have never queried DS's attendance. I think if you were making parts for ambulances/police cars you'd have a shot, but I see where they're coming from tbh. You need to go back to your employer and say the shul have clarified i not meet the definition of critical worker, I need to be furloughed. It's not about what your company want.

The thing is it is about what the company wants. Furlough isn’t free for the company, and is perfectly within their rights to reject a furlough for childcare request. It’s a hard situation for many people. I’m not sure what the solution is.

Nursery aren't shut though are they credit card?

Not now but for a long time it was critical worker children only and reduced provision, they have a few staff who are clinically vulnerable which limited them a lot. Still shorter days than usual even now

Our school have accepted everyone and haven't asked anyone for proof. YANBU

The school are being very awkward.

The school is not being awkward. They Headteacher is following the guidance. It does not sound as if you are a critical worker.
I think your employers are the ones being awkward.

I’m a NHS nurse and I still had to provide a letter from my line manger stating I was a critical worker for the COVID response.

IMO you should get a place since you cannot work from home.

I am a critical worker if you look at the definitions. I can WFH.

Dh is a critical worker and I would consider him more critical than me (although not public sector). He cannot work from home.

Our children do not go to school (our choice) because I wfh.

Think you are I a really hard position OP. I can see why school is saying what they are given the pressures but still hard for you. Not sure if this will help but I wonder if you can question whether they are offering places in school to kids whose parents are wfh or where one parent is not working? Sounds crazy but you can get a place in these situations. Admittedly some jobs (eg doctor doing phone appts) cannot be done with children around when wfh but others like mine (civil service, relatively flexible role) can be and I could have put my kids in school according to the guidance. I'm wfh as is DH so my kids are home, but I know others in same jobs as me using the provision, wrongly IMO. I also know of a a case where sahp put kids in school (as husband key worker)! If your kids school is offering places in these situations, where there is an adult at home, I think they should offer one to you as you have to go out work! And if the school is too full, these parents who should be questioned over their need.

Is there another parent available when you are working?