Returning to work

[maa1992]

Hi,

I'm on mat leave, little one is just turning 6 months old. I work in a small office, they are currently working from home as per government guidelines.

I started mat leave at 36+5 and had my baby at 37+2, I took a weeks annual leave and then my mat leave commenced. (If this is relevant)

For the past month they've been asking me to come back, telling me how busy they are etc, which I understand.

My 9 months mat would be up in June. The thing I'm worried about it, my mum was going to be my full child care. However, she's deemed as high risk with the corona virus and is self isolating.

I have no other form of childcare, I've also looked on childcare websites and no childminders are taking any placements at the moment (understandable)

DH is a keyworker, we have no other family who could help, plus me and baby are isolating and staying home.

What do I do? I can't go back yet, I'm also paranoid this will be going on in June when I'm due back!

Is anyone in this situation? I could WFH but I don't know how reliable I'd be as my 6 month old takes up so much time

Bump

Bump again x

Can you afford to extend your mat leave and take the full year? By then hopefully things will have settled and it'll be easier to sort childcare.

If your DH is a key worker you may be able to get a nursery or childminder space but why are you putting yourself through all this - enjoy the rest of your mat leave, use the leave you have accrued over the last 9 months to stretch it out til August. Your child is still young and you won't get this time back. I think you'll regret putting work first (I understand you need to go back, I'm
Talking about cutting mat leave short) if you do.

Tell work you have no childcare. You don't have to explain further than that.

I am in a similar situation. Due to return to work in July after taking the full year off. I have asked to return part time although I'm waiting to hear if this is agreed. I was in the middle of looking at nurseries when this all started so I haven't managed to secure a place yet. Everyone in my office is working from home so I have assumed if I do return in July and nurseries aren't open, that I will just have to work from home with my DC like others in the office. Really hoping we are back to some sort of normality by then but who knows

I would find out what the deal would be with working from home, what the expectations around hours would be, ie are they expecting you to be sat at a desk 9-5, or do you have a workload you can do as and when? Also don't be afraid to say no if it's not something you are ready for, I would ask the questions though and see what the deal would be.