To get a drs note for stress due to covid-19 and childcare issues

[Hmmmmminteresting]

I feel sick I'm so stressed!

Have 2 x dc in full time nursery. Our fees are £1400 a month which is crippling for me and dh as our other bills are expensive too.
Today nursery have announces that should they be forced to close (which they think they will very soon) we will still be charged in full.

Also today, my work have said that they will not be allowing any working from home and if we have to go off to look after dc due to school or nursery closures we will be allowed dependency leave but it will be unpaid.
DH has asked his boss tonight and been told the same. Ds1 starts school in september and we have all of our annual leave booked already for the year to ensure we have holidays covered.
We have no help from family around here at all.
Would I be unreasonable to aim to go to the doctors in the next week and get signed off, just so I can get sick pay (I get 12 weeks paid sick leave a year). I'm so stuck and I know I wont sleep tonight!

Any better ideas I'm very open to

[SamSeabornforPresident]

Will your doctor sign you off? I thought they were only to sign off in medical circumstances when you genuinely cannot work.

[Schuyler]

Do you feel genuinely unwell with stress and unable to work? If so, then get signed off. Although don’t you need to self cert for the first 7 days?

[NoAngel1]

What an awful position to be in OP. I don’t have proper advice but if that’s your only option to ensure you keep getting paid then no, you’re not being unreasonable. Your work is.

[RozHuntleysStump]

Do it. You seem super stressed to me.

[dogcatbaby]

Sorry but I've got no idea. The nursery we have used haven't confirmed if they will still charge for being closed. Luckily between DH and I we can both work from home and work around DS but I begrudge having to pay fees when the nursery have closed. Fair enough when DS is sick or we go on holiday or the odd day here and there but it could be closed for weeks/months and it's not fair to have to still pay.

I understand it's a business and staff still need to be paid and other business costs but surely they should have business insurance for that.

Sorry this post is no help - I think I just wanted a moan

[bobisbored]

Can the nursery expect you to pay if they close by choice? If the have a forced closure perhaps but not just because they feel like it! That sounds totally wrong to me.

[bobisbored]

Sorry just re read op, just for forced closure. Still doesn't sit right with me.

[jacks11]

You cannot be signed off as sick because of childcare problems- you are not sick.

If you are stressed, are you honestly so stressed by the situation with covid-19 that you are totally unfit for work? If so, I think you need to speak to your GP regarding that- to be so stressed by that you are unable to work for weeks on end is not normal (unless you or a close family member is high risk due to frailty/immunosuppressed etc- even then, it does seem excessive).

[TerrorWig]

It’s making me stressed thinking about your situation so I can only imagine how you’re feeling.

In the grand scheme of things, I don’t see the problem other than the doc could say no.

[BecauseReasons]

I don't think they are likely to be forcibly closed OP. I think you're putting the cart before the horse somewhat here.

[Poetryinaction]

That is so unfair. How are people supposed to manage?
I would be thinking laterally. What is the notice period at nursery?
Can you call in sick?
Hold fire for now... if nursery closes, all schools will close and you won't be the only ones in this position. Your employer may be forced to change their position.
Is it possible to cut other expenses? A mortgage holiday for example?

[Nacreous]

I think your nursery would struggle to charge you in full because there wouldn't be any consideration on your side (you wouldn't be getting a service or access to a service?) I would dig your contract out and have a look.

[Darbs76]

I don’t think it’s right to get signed off as sick when you’re not sick it’s a childcare issue.

[Miniwilf]

Business insurances aren't covering covid related closures, there's a loophole allowing them to get out of it. I would get signed off if I were you.

[Darbs76]

If nursery don’t charge they can’t pay their staff too. Maybe they could charge less though. Difficult as some businesses could go under.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

People get signed off for depression and anxiety - that’s what this lose lose situation has created for OP.
Your employers sound like assholes- get signed off and good luck to ya!

[snappycamper]

I wouldn't be paying nursery a penny if they are closed and unable to care for my children

[Chillicheese123]

This is going to be the problem, greedy employers basically forcing people in

My boss actually said ‘they’d have to send the police in here in hazmat suits and tell me we had to close before I’d even think about closing’

[Manchestermanchester]

@Darbs76 why, who is it really hurting?

[elizabethdraper]

I am in Ireland. Our schools and reaches are closed. I am bringing my child to work with me.
I have movies down loaded cars book and Lego all packed. It will be fine

[KarmaStar]

Whilst I have sympathy for your predicament,there are going to be huge problems for thousands of people during this outbreak and the communities are going to suffer more if those that can work don't due to childcare issues.
Is there any option of working shifts so either you or your dh are at home with the dc?
Maybe other parents at the nursery can group together and you all help each other out?
Look at the situation at every angle before going off with stress.

[MauriceandAlec]

I think YABU

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I wouldn't be paying nursery a penny if they are closed and unable to care for my children err why not?! They have staff to pay too. It’s in most contracts!

[Darbs76]

@Manchestermanchester - the company, who are paying sick pay to someone who by their own admission is not sick. I fully sympathise with the situation, it’s uncharted territory and we are all worried. I wouldn’t consider faking sick for potentially weeks / months on end as it’s not fair to the company or my colleagues who are going to be already under pressure when people start being genuinely off sick. I just don’t agree with lying about it.