Key worker? Virtually everyone!

[Dilbertian]

The list of key workers is so extensive that some schools are going to find themselves too full for the number of staff available to supervise children, even if ratios are relaxed.

It is very broad the list.

We are not sure if we come under it as an emergency heating, gas, electric and plumbing company the school are looking into it for us

The list isn’t a list of people who HAVE to send their kids in.
Don’t if you can avoid it. Some people can’t.

But who would you 'kick off' the list because I cannot see anyone listed there that we can do without?

I don’t think we’ll be inundated with children. People will not send their kids in unless they absolutely have to.
For example I won’t. Me and DH are both key workers. On the days I have to go in, DH will work from home.
Many key workers will have a SAH parent or a parent working from home.

A lot of people are choosing not to send their children in anyway. At DS's school they are asking for proof as to why the second parent can't look after the child if just one is a key worker.

I'm not a key worker but my ex is, so I don't think we'd qualify anyway as DS lives with me mainly and not ex but I wouldn't send him in even if we did.

Who do you disagree with?
I do think it should be more that one parent in a 2 parent family though.

Even Key workers are supposed to be social distancing when they can.
You DON'T HAVE TO send your kids just because. It's for when there are no other options.

@Nuffaluff I'm a single parent key worker. It's not always that simple. I'm trying to juggle ex-H wfh, and changing my hours to free up more days, it's really difficult. And obviously it all falls down to me to sort out.

I disagree wholeheartedly with the people who are sending them I as their partners are key workers.

One girl in a local group this started her husband in army. She doesnt work. Shes sending them in.

I hope the school foil her plan.

The stupidty is incredible.

People need to think about the reasons schools see actually closing.

I am vulnerable and dont work. Hubby key worker. I am entitled to care but my son is staying with me. Just safer for do for do many reasons. It didnt even cross my mind to send him despite the fact I will struggle incredibly due to health problems.

We need to be thinking about wide society for sure.

*sending them in

My work considered all our 5,000 employees to be Key Workers.....

Some are (social care), but others like HR, Finance can work from home, but they seem to still be expecting us to send the children to school.

I am not doing it!

I don't want to send dc but dh and I are both parts of emergency planning operation so neither cannot be here.

Balancing our duty in regards to patient and public safety with that of protecting my dc is breaking my heart. I want my dc cuddling me at home but instead they'll be in school so I can be an nhs manager (who the public seems to hate as I'm not a nurse or doctor but if you saw the work currently going on you'd recognise our value).

The list is broad because there are companies who if their services stopped it would cause problems for the country.

For example, they have banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure as they need the money supply to continue. However not everyone who works in banking , building societies and financial market is a key or essential worker. So some of the staff in the branches, so are the people who physically move money around and also the IT people who support the branch workers and support banking apps.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered
If you read my post carefully, you’ll see I said that people won’t send them unless they really have to.
Clearly, you are one of the people who has to.
Stay safe.

And I would be happy to take care of your child and support you in any way I could.

The list is broad because there are companies who if their services stopped it would cause problems for the country.

For example, they have banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure as they need the money supply to continue. However not everyone who works in banking , building societies and financial market is a key or essential worker.

But you are relying on workplaces to say they don't need all their staff. Some are going to use this list to say to all their staff that they can consider themselves key workers. Just like individuals, many are not considering the greater good, just their own benefit.

I know of several friends where the Mum is a key worker who are basically intending to abuse the system. They all have a partner who is not a key worker and should therefore take responsibility for looking after the kids but they are planning to send them into school/ nursery anyway. Also other people who are desperately trying to fit themselves into the key worker box, just so that there kids can be in childcare. Yes the guidance is unclear but I would have expected people to have more social responsibility than this. Clearly if there is any way at all that your kids can be cared for at home, this is what you should be doing

I’ve got one Facebook friend wanting to send her children. She is a key worker. Her husband doesn’t work.
I am actually beginning to get quite distraught at the stupidity of people. Just because you feel fine today does not mean the same in 3 weeks. People are being incredibly selfish. Either openly or in a hugely hypocritical way where they are posting on Facebook about helping others, meanwhile they stockpile or let their teens mingle in Boots!!

I don't think it's correct that people will only send their kids in if they have no choice. On both my kids' chat groups there are families with only one key worker who are planning on sending kids in. Reason given is mostly the non-key worker can't WFH at all/WFH with children in the background (join the club!), or in one case a SAHP that just wants the break from full time childcare (again, join the club!). There are 4 doing this over 2 classes that are quite open about it. I'm getting increasingly annoyed as the day goes on and my phone keeps pinging with messages. The teachers are all going well over and above to support those who need it in addition to all the home learning stuff, and these people are choosing to add to their workload so that they aren't inconvenienced in any way.

@DippyAvocado - the workplaces that don't need all their staff are laying them off or going bust. So while you see construction workers etc carrying on now soon their work will dry up.

@skankingpiglet as soon as one of their darling children catch a cold and they have to isolate the entire household for 2 weeks, some of them will change their minds.

I can't see where vets would qualify in that list? Can anyone?

I feel so bad for people who don't want to send their kids and have to. Why anyone is sending them who doesn't have to it beyond me.

We have children with EHCPs as we are a special school. So I theory they could all attend. In practice there will be less than 26 children coming in next week. Parents are frightened and those who can keep their children home are doing so.

the workplaces that don't need all their staff are laying them off or going bust. So while you see construction workers etc carrying on now soon their work will dry up.

Which is why the government need to step in with salary subsidies as they have done in other European countries.