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).

Looks like some schools have taken it upon themselves to provide their own definition of key workers so that parents know where they stand. Not sure how I feel about this - on the one hand I understand parents want to put plans in place ASAP, on the other hand it’s no good telling parents one thing if the government then announce something different (eg are key workers ALL NHS staff inc admin, or just the frontline staff?)

I found it astonishing that Johnson didn’t address this (or exams) today given how many questions yesterday’s announcement gave rise to. I found it even more astonishing that not one member of the press raised it, instead wasting time with basically the same repeated questions which gave Johnson free reign to talk generally without commitment. They must have been briefed not to ask, as they must have realised that these were the questions people really wanted an answer to today. And that scares me because where is the accountability if the press are being dictated to as to what they can and cannot ask?

I worry that so many do not recognise the extraordinary circumstances “key workers” are in right now...I am an nhs consultant having to make the most difficult decisions of my career...incomprehensible decisions ...nothing has prepared me for this whilst I also (willingly if fearfully with very limited protective gear) run towards this virus to help others.

I have spent today working with schools to begin to plan for next week. In England there is still no announcement about defined key workers or whether this applies to one or two parents. We can't make act until the government agrees the information.
We have also been advised to consider service personnel - again if both parents are serving or single parents. ( if this is the case I have one school where nearly 400 children will need care)

As an LA we too waited for the government announcement at 5.00pm.
My 14 hour day today has been horrendous, dealing with nearly 400 schools, logistics of who/where, school meal arrangements, cleaning arrangements, safeguarding, transport, anxious heads, anxious staff anxious parents - tomorrow will be worse!
We really are trying our best in dealing with something that has never happened before.

The head of my kids school just sent out a message saying they hope to know more tomorrow, so they're still working now 21:45, they'll be bright and breezy for the kids tomorrow at 8:45. So stressful for everyone.

At the moment the Country needs key workers to work

NHS and social care staff
Police
Fire
Prison workers
Energy worker
Healthcare supply workers (masks, gloves, medication, etc)
Social workers

The government has made it clear it will support businesses who lose staff due this pandemic and the economy will suffer BUT the staff mentioned above are critical to ending the spread and treating those who need medical help. Right now no other job is as important, without the above staff this situation will get worse.

I don't care if one parent earns 5 million pounds and the other is a hospital cleaner earning minimum wage, right now that cleaner is more important than a corporate suit.

Once we get this under control we can look at the economy and whatnot but making sure people stay alive is worth more than any amount of money.

@chergar I absolutely agree with you that it’s vital to keep people alive but I would also like to have a home at the end of it and food In our bellies

People want immediate answers but unfortunately this is a fluid situation which will constantly change and we will all need to adapt and re adapt.
Like Darwin’s Finches, lol.
Nobody has absolute answers, a definitive answer given today could change by morning.

I’m a TA and we have been told we have to go in. DH is at home for now but as soon as flight restrictions lift he will have to go back to the Middle East where he works. Can’t be at home homeschooling my child and at work looking after other children (and I’ve volunteered to go in by the way despite me technically being in the vunerable section because more than half of our staff are self isolating due to vulnerability and they are worse than me). I can’t go in if my son doesn’t go in. I do have a 15 year old in Y10 so I could call on him if necessary but he also has work to do to try and salvage his GCSE’s. It’s so so unclear.

I am a key worker and have received info that both parents have to be key workers. My DH is self employed in the bar/restaurant trade. The business supports 4 households. If he can’t work, by which I mean running around like an idiot trying to find a way for the business to survive, then we, and 3 other families, will lose our homes.

I just can't believe the lack of comprehension that this is life or death for many thousands of people. It's not about your husband's fucking wallet. What is the point in closing schools if so many kids are going to be in anyway, and businesses just carry on regardless?

People saying they would just choose to stay home so the higher earner can continue with their non-key job are failing to understand that they won't have a choice.

But TheCountessatHotelCortez if it wasn't literally a matter of life and death the schools would stay open for everyone. Sadly it is literally life and death, thousands of dead in Italy from clovid-19 and goodness knows how many through lack of available hospital beds to other illnesses. Hundreds of children going to school, spreading the disease among themselves and heading back home is going to result in people dying. The government aren't just fucking up the economy on a whim. I personally think a blanket approach to all kids with an EHCP is a mistake.
I'll head to school every day and I'll work the Easter break and I'll risk getting the virus because I'm fairly young and in good health and so probably only suffer mildly. I'm pretty sure there's a very good chance I'll get it, and a small chance it will be serious I guess. As a teacher that's not what I signed up for, but I'll do it. I'll be right fucked off though if I'm doing that to let a high earner keep their pay rather than ensuring front line staff keep people alive.

The government need to ensure you don't all lose your homes, interest rates are at 0.1%, there will be a financial package. Teachers shouldn't have to risk their health for your home or anyone else's.

Our school has said both need to be key workers. It's not really fair any other way. I'm a teacher myself but will have to share wfh with my partner and do my days on the rota without my own kids.

That’s fine for those of you who have mortgages, our housing association has said they will be expecting rents as normal or action will be taken

or action will be taken

No one is going to be taking any action. Guaranteed. The courts aren't open to take those with arrears through. The staff won't even be in the office. They will be working from home (with their kids underfoot) doing as much as they can remotely dealing with all the other stuff to even think about rental income at the minute.

The definition - and whether two parents or one - will make a difference between half the school being eligible, and 5% of the school being eligible (plus of course children with EHCPs - who mostly require 1-1 support - and those under SS care).

Schools need clarity, to ensure that there are enough staff.

If just 1 parent has to be a key worker, it is deeply unfair, because a single mum who is not a key worker will have to lose work and income to look after children, whereas a key worker married to a high earner in business gets to receive free childcare AND keep a high income coming in.

it should be single parents who are key workers and families where both parents are key workers. tThat would bring it in around the 10-20% of families level - depending on EHCP / vulnerable children - that means this could be run safely.

Yes nothing will be done at the moment but what about when we are out of the other side and we are in trouble with months of arrears?

Then a tiny bit will be added on top of your usual monthly rent and slowly (even over years) it will reduce.

HAs don't evict if they can see that you are actively clearing the arrears, however slowly.

Found this in the newspaper, says only 1 key worker is needed for children to be able to access school again.

I guess the balance the government has to find is between essential staff such as the OP not working to prioritise family income, vs the need for people to stay home, taking a financial penalty, to reduce the demand on the service she works in. While everything is a choice still (except children of non key workers who are neither vulnerable nor have an EHCP missing school), it's a tough balance to find.

Guardian:

On Wednesday, it was understood that the rule would only apply if both parents were key workers, but Downing Street sources said it will apply even if just one parent works in a vital role.

I'm a key worker and husband is not.

But if he has to do childcare and I have to work then I'd have to quit because he earns the main money 3x my paltry salary

We could survive but if a lot of key workers are in the same position then there would be a huge gap when they are needed most.

People want immediate answers but unfortunately this is a fluid situation which will constantly change and we will all need to adapt and re adapt.

That does not apply here because they've known for weeks that closing schools and nurseries was on the horizon.

It is wildly irresponsible to say "ok, schools are closed at the end of the week to everyone but the children of key workers" and then fail to publish any clarification of exactly who that term applies to.

Some professions will be obvious but people who are in that grey zone of not knowing whether they technically qualify as key workers or not need urgent clarification to avoid total chaos.

The issue is - literally - a 10x increase in children attending school next week if it is 1 parent rather than 2 parents. 5% vs 50% of the school population in some schools.

And then other families in need complaining (quite rightly) that they have to suffer very deeply by leaving their job to provide childcare, while other families with a parent who COULD provide childcare gets childcare in school because their partner is a key worker.

And a half-full school will face all the difficulties that schools have encountered this week - insufficient staff to provide safe care.