Still no sign of who key workers are or two parent rule?

[Drogonssmile]

As an NHS worker whose husband earns double what I earn, if the rumours are true and both parents need to be a "key worker" for children to attend school or nursery, then I'll be off from Monday and on unpaid leave for the foreseeable future.

The idea struck me though, and I wouldn't do it myself, what is to stop someone in my situation going off sick with stress due to trying for sort out childcare etc and getting paid full pay for 6 months? (NHS sick pay).

YY @Quartz2208 - Billy BigBalls at the bank isn't important at the moment. Nurses and shelf stackers are!

It's a dilemma for me. My husband may/may not be a key worker (as no clarification as yet). However, he earns more than me. I'm the key worker likely having to come into contact with covid-19 and have at risk family members at home. I love my job and did enter it for the right reasons, whilst being told "don't take your work home with you or you will burn out" yet I won't be able to fully focus on my work as I will be worried about my kids/ loss of an income higher than my own and increased risk due to me being a "key worker"

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett My DH can’t work from home and I’m sure he isn’t the only one, he has been told to keep working until told otherwise or it will be unpaid leave, if lockdown is imposed their insurance will cover so he would get some pay, he makes a lot more money than me as I am part time front line nhs staff, there is no way I would be able to make all ends meet in my pay alone. So if it is both parents I will be going off, I love my job, I take great pride In getting people better and keeping them well and want to help through this pandemic but I also have to do what is right for my family which is keeping them fed, warm and roof over their heads

@iwanttoshakesomeppl that article is interesting but I can't find anything anywhere online that says the same thing and it states "number 10 sources have reassured...." they don't name who has said it's only one parent.
The lack of clarification is driving me crazy! I'm not going to bloody sleep tonight for wondering whether I'll be spending the next 6 months on unpaid leave.

@LonnyVonny in the town I'm in a lot of parents are still working. My dh is still at work and defiantly can't work from home.

Sorry I should have said DH is a structural engineer in agriculture

Surely its common sense that both parents need to be key workers? It's not about family finances. Its about public health.

Apparently Tesco’s and marks and Spencer’s are having special times for nhs staff to shop.

The government hasn't 't clarified who is classed as key workers and if it needs to be one or both parents. Everything in the papers is speculation. I'm really supised that some schools have acted on that.

@Pixxie7 I won’t need that extra time because I literally won’t have enough to pay my bills and buy food seeing as finances won’t matter

@Lifesabeach86 I'm surprised too. It seems from reading online here and elsewhere that schools are interpreting it any way they wish. Some saying one parent, some saying two but surely they should wait for the official "list" and guidelines from the govt whenever the hell that might be. There can't be one rule for one local authority and another rule for another LA, there'd be riots!

@Drogonssmile I got messages from children’s school to fill in a form, basically just asked if I would use the service, the ages of the children and my postcode, not sure what the outcome will be

Surely the government have thought about this? There must be many key workers who earn less than their spouse, yes we need key workers for public health but at what cost? Open more schools and keep the numbers down

On question time, they have said that there will be clarification tomorrow

Fingers crossed for you @TheCountessatHotelCortez

All I got from the school was a message 5 hours ago that said:

UPDATE:Still awaiting direction from Gov about Key Workers, as soon as we have any information we will let you know. Please do not ring the office. Thanks

Great.👍🏻

When I asked the manager at Ds2s nursery at 4pm she just shrugged.

This is us too - one child's school has a partial closure already but youngest Dc are there as DH is a key worker. I am not. That school haven't clarified - they have asked about 'primary carer' and I have suggested we care for the children equally.

Eldest's school have specified both parents- I have asked where is the gov guidance is that specifies this. Obviously they haven't come back yet as there is t any they are making it up.

It had better be sodding early tomorrow. I've got to get a meeting with my manager organised to sort out WTF I am going to do!

@user1471440782 exactly it’s all fine and well saying it’s not about finances but we need to think long term as well, yes we need to do what we can to stop the outbreak but we need jobs etc to go back to and money coming in in the meantime, enough to cover our bills. We are housing association and they aren’t putting any payment holiday in place we have been told rent will be paid as normal or action will be taken

Just found this. No list but one parent clarification.

amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/children-to-attend-school-if-one-parent-classed-as-key-worker

We have had a list of key workers from our school and a very firm sentence stating both parents need to be key workers to qualify. I have no idea where there info has come from but must be from somewhere....

We are one of two schools that servean armed forces base, if it were just one parent the schools would be 80% full.

Most parents with school age children who both work, can trade child care off between them. So they can both try to keep their employer happy & keep their jobs.

If you only get access to school/nursery childcare for both parents being key workers, you can’t be surprised if those key workers have to do that balancing act and reduce their hours.

Surely we want dr’s, nurses, porters, to be able to make an easy choice to come in to work. Not to have to worry about their family finances - particularly thinking of essential NHS staff that are not highly paid.

Otherwise it’s yes come in, work like a person possessed, possibly risk your health, go above and beyond in this time of crisis... oh dear you can’t afford the food shop.... oh dear your partner’s business has gone under. ... But never mind you’re so valued

I am a teacher and I dont know if I qualify as a key worker, or if my husband needs to be one too. We are not getting any more information than anyone else.

Is your dh able to do his job from home? If so, then his employer needs to accept that there will be a lot of winging it and getting done the essentials around the children.

My daughter's school sent a letter today stating both parents have to be key workers or single parent with sole responsibility.
Also stated in letter they need parents profession, employer details and these would be checked by the county council.

@justasecondnow exactly I’m not feeling particularly valued right now, when the news broke about school closing yesterday I was in work at the time and my boss basically said it’s not their problem! At the end of the day I will do what is right for my family even if that means one less nurse