Nursery refuse to take my DC!

[DreamInLavender]

I spoke to management today and just wanted some confirmation that I could still send DS in (they sent an email out saying they're happy to try and sort things for essential workers at this time).

They asked me what I do and then said no, they couldn't take DC as I'm not an essential worker

I am, and if we go into lockdown our services are classed as essential and will continue to run. Is it really up to the nursery if they take DC or not, or are they discriminating? Yes of course they can set their own rules but not ones that discriminate surely.

I'm fuming and honestly don't know what I'll do

It may depend what sort of medical clinic you work in. Friend's daughter who does admin in a specialist non COVID-19 related department in a hospital has apparently been told they are all essential workers even if not directly involved, partly because of the number of staff who are off.

Can you get your employer to write something saying you are a key worker?

@JudyCoolibar but she's not.

The less people we have to do the paperwork the more nurses and doctors need to do it which will take there time away from patients?

Cleaners are vital......this is a pandemic, we need places to be clean

this is a list from a London school

Children of Key Workers

Medical, nursing and paramedic/ambulance staff
Social Workers
Workers in Adult Social Care
Health Care professionals, Assistants and Administrators
Childminders (Certificate of Registration) and Nursery Staff (PVI)
Fire and Police Service Workers
Delivery Drivers

I work in a school in an admin role. We've been told by our management that we all 'count as key workers' so they expect us in next week if possible to offer childcare for other people's DCs. My own DCs school won't consider me a 'key worker' as I'm not a class teacher. Thankfully DH is working from home and can look after my DCs, although I'm pushing to work from home.

Frankly this is making me consider changing jobs once we are back to normal in the Autumn.

Hospital support staff (cleaners/porters/etc), anyone involved in food production and distribution including retail workers, people who keep utilities like water, electricity and communications working, sanitation workers, anyone involved in necessary pharmaceutical production and distribution, and medical/scientific researchers in relevant fields are all necessary workers at the moment. (In addition to the obvious necessary workers in frontline medical and other emergency services.)

Many employers will tell their employees they are key workers and are essential because they want their businesses to run and their employees to keep working. This is not going to tally with those who are actually key workers. It’s going to be problematic.

No one yet knows who is classified as a key worker. The list is now expected to tomorrow (but a private nursery probably has its own criteria).

I'm hoping OP comes back and says she's a nail technician

List isn't out yet so no one knows.

Of course the government can tell nurseries what to do - they are regulated by Ofsted, they can be shut down any time.

What an utterly useless post since you didn't actually tell us your role.

Think is, the definition changes.

During the fuel crisis, transport workers were deemed, 'essential,' but guess not so much for this crisis as they will probably want to stop people moving around.

Personally think people in supermarkets, those who work in the depot/distribution workers, farmers, farm workers, lorry drivers should all be essential workers for the purposes of their children needing to be in school.

Someone appears to have found that OP is a PA...

I suspect that you'd be expected to be able to do that job from home with relative ease, if I'm honest.

What is your job and are you the sole parent?

I'm school admin and we're on a rota to go in. Really hoping we're on an essential workers list if we're expecting to be in school supporting teachers in classrooms. Luckily school are being understanding to childcare issues and DH has some annual leave he can take. Just waiting to hear more.

You're only eligible if BOTH parents are on the list - if it's just one of you them the other parent will be expected to provide childcare

Has the official list been released yet? I know it's due sometime today!

Frankly this is making me consider changing jobs once we are back to normal in the Autumn

Our economy is in the process of taking an absolutely massive hammering and I doubt we'll be back to "normal" or anything like it anytime soon. You will be bloody glad of that job in months to come. Many people are in the process of losing theirs right now.

We all need to pull together to do our bit. Schools still need administrators - it's not "providing childcare for other peoples' DC", it's ensuring that the country is able to keep functioning in a time of national crisis.

@DisgruntledGuineaPig why? You have a stable job, what would you change to?

You’re either a key worker under the definition that will be provided by the government or you’re not. You can’t just decide that you are a key worker.
Additionally both parents need to be classed as key workers for you to be able to continue utilising schools and nurseries.

Friend a pharmacy worker says she is not classified as a key worker, she is going spare. Wales

it's tricky.

What if you are a solicitor - but a solicitor who does criminal defence work? Who else is going to help desperate women who have resorted to shoplifting when they are taken to the police station?

Whereas if you are a commercial solicitor then clearly you do not fall within the criteria.

Ah I’ve just advanced searched you OP and remember your thread about your friends hurtful comment.
Unfortunately it is very unlikely that as a PA you will be described as a key worker, even if it is in a medical setting.