Crap. Schools closing. What am I going to do about work?

[Eek2020]

I know I’m not the only one in this situation but I’m panicking after meeting with my manager at lunchtime.

Lone parent to 11yo with additional needs. Live rurally and at other end of country from family.

NHS acute physiotherapist. I moved here and picked this job as it was Mon to Fri and school hours. My child goes to a holiday club during school breaks which is currently closed due to CV.

I’m apparently not an essential worker according to our school as not nursing or a doctor. If they do decide to permit children of essential workers to continue attending until Easter hols, mine won’t be included.

Applied for 2 weeks block of parental leave today. Manager refused it in writing ASAP due to “current service demands” and instead offered me alternative dates within 4 months, as per our local policy.

Can’t work from home as all my patients are inpatients.

Manager has basically said it’s up to me to arrange childcare alternatives. Because I can anticipate the schools closing, I won’t be given emergency dependents leave as I could have planned ahead for childcare given that I have had a few days notice about schools closing.

My child’s friends’ parents not wanting to babysit, understandably, due to my close contact with elderly patients everyday and the effect it might have on their families.

What can I do?

Oh. Annual leave also being refused at this time due to current service demands.

Oh, that's bonkers.
Your skills will be so essential in the coming weeks.
And essential is not confined to murders nurses and doctors.
It's also the Physios, OT's, SaLTs (swallow rehab post trachy).....and the admin, porters, cleaners, hospital chefs, med lab people etc etc etc.
All essential posts.

Honestly, your school is being unreasonable and I'd be surprised if your manager cant give you something to say so in writing.

North west Scotland here. I’ll have a look at what’s available locally tonight. Hoping the school change their very inflexible criteria of “essential workers”. Hope Sturgeon releases a list today that all schools need to consistently follow rather than permitting each school to interpret this phrase individually.

No wonder morale in the NHS is through the fcuking floor. I would self isolate to be honest if you have no other option, if you have no leave and you would have to take it unpaid otherwise (even we get full pay if we can't get in at the moment FFS), your son comes first. Sorry you are being put in this situation, there might be some resolutions forthcoming, but I wouldn't bank on it unfortunately.

Could you get your employer to write a letter explaining why you're essential staff? Then hopefully school will accept your child?

Otherwise, I think in the short term you have to say you need to self isolate. I'm guessing you have plans in place for Easter?

Eek do you not have a special leave policy,
I’m in England and the trust are allowing us to us this for when schools close. I’m a nurse but it’s all employees.
Sounds tough and she’s not supportive.
Has your trust not done any policies or procedures on this.
Best wishes

I think there will be a list forthcoming - schools that have already made these decisions have done it before the order that will come so they'll not be able to make up their own rules so easily once it's mandated

The Doctors and nurses can't function without physios, pharmacists, porters, cleaners, A&E receptionists etc so I expect the full detail of the set ups will include all NHS staff

I hope you get some support from your manager

I hope this throws some perspective on how lots of jobs previously dismissed as unskilled or lower class are actually valued positions.

I’m a carer. It’s an absolute disgrace if we arnt classed as essential workers in terms of keeping kids at School. If we don’t turn up to work our clients will die.

I would really argue the point that a physiotherapist working in an acute setting is an essential worker!!!! The school are making a decision with little knowledge of what you do.

I was at physio this morning and mine said she was classed as an essential worker. Can you speak to your union or line manager to get a letter confirming this asap for your school?

Sorry you are having to deal with this.

I would get your manager to write a letter to school. As you are an essential worker, as an acute physio you will be needed more than ever to help clear beds.
This is why I was worried about schools closing and who qualifies as an essential worker. My son has autism and his college has closed. I’m now looking at taking 2 weeks unpaid leave either side of Easter. As he is too old for a childminder and all the support groups are closing. I work with cancer patients but as a counsellor I’m def not classed essential staff.
It’s going to get very difficult.

@Eek2020 I can hear how stressful and difficult this is. Contact your local medical school, most are now set up for medical students to offer childcare to people in your situation.

Would it be possible to send your children to your family, especially if schools are shut for the duration?

In Wales dome school date staying open for childcare to NHS workers. Can you phone your local authority to see if anything is in place in your area.

Go off sick with stress 🤷🏼‍♀️

Honestly OP, I would ring in sick in your position. You will get paid at least.

They are closing for five weeks!

Does anyone know if childminders will still be operating? Surely they’ll be just as at much risk with children going there? Also my childminder keeps adhoc children during holidays etc which if she kept them all now she’d be over her numbers how will she decide who to keep?

I am a HCSW in community nursing am I essential staff? Email from school say anyone working in health and social care or emergency services would get a targeted response

My daughter is a supply teacher, so won'y get paid if the schools shut. She is thinking of offering home tutoring/childcare, so it might be worth contacting supply agencies to see if they know of any teachers planning to do this. There may be adverts appearing on Facebook etc as well.

This talk of opening schools to essential workers only is nonsense. A lot of people seem to think it is only doctors and nurses. What about cleaners, catering staff, receptionists, hospital and store security, warehouse workers, anyone working in food production, distribution and shopnfloor staff too. Someone needs to process their wages, etc. so admin staff too. I could go on and on.

@MrsNettle I agree completely. I'm in Holland and the government has made the list of 'essential occupations'. It includes all sorts of things, including anyone involved in the food delivery chain - no use having fully-staffed hospitals but a starving populace because none of the supermarket staff can't get any childcare!

I imagine there will be school staff who are off and able to provide care of some description. I’m planning on asking if families need help starting with the single parents/low wage families.

I was also told to 'sort childcare' by the NHS when as a district nurse new shifts were imposed. It was impossible, I couldn't magic up appropriate and timely care that didn't exist. So I left.
I would self isolate for two weeks to give you some breathing space and not rule out going off sick with stress or suchlike.
I think the knock on effect of closing schools, although now necessary, will have far more consequences than people imagine.
I now work in general practice and will be facing a similar issue. Hoping for a lockdown then at least DH who is currently being told to go in, will have to work from home.

Hopefully the school will reconsider if you explain what you do. They maybe see physio and think you’re treating sprained ankles.

Presumably the NHS will have lots of workers in your situation, who they want to keep working. Can you all get together to ask your employer to organise a childcare solution for you?

Get manager to email school. x is a physio employed in a hospital. I require her to work. She is essential. She is a heathcare professional and should be accorded same treatment as a Dr or nurse.