My work won't pay or furlough me.

[Mammatomyboy16]

So I have a 13 month old son. My dad looks after him when I go to work. Since we went on lockdown my dad hasn't been able to look after him as he's classed as vulnerable. Over 70 and has diabetes. I'm a key worker so haven't been able to go to work. My partner is also a key worker so can't stay off and look after our son.

I've taken some weeks timebanking, holidays and 2 weeks we had to self isolate as my son had a high temperature but he was fine.

Anyway, my work won't furlough me. They've said if I don't come back to work next week I won't be getting paid. I've told them the only way I can come back to work is if my dad comes back and looks after him, which is risking his life and my sons life. I am furious with my work. They have furloughed other people which I understand as they live with someone who's vulnerable. But because I don't live with my dad I won't be furloughed.

I can't afford to not be paid. I can't work around my partners hours as he gets in so late from work everyday.

I don't know what to do!

”Being furloughed involves arranging a basic income for people so they don't have to go out to work for money and spread infection.”

That really really isn’t what furlough is. It isn’t a universal basic income. It has very specific rules and purpose, much narrower than most people think. Furloughing a key worker because they couldn’t afford available childcare would absolutely not fit within the scheme and doing so would be an extremely foolhardy action on the part of the employer, as well as causing them an employee relations nightmare as all the other employees struggling with childcare costs then ask for the same.

Absolutely flowery.

Furlough is solely intended to prevent widespread redundancies due to businesses having to close/suffer a reduction in work. It can also be used for those who have been ordered to shield and for those whom the closure of schools and nurseries etc (so not keyworkers) has affected their ability to work.

You don't know the family situation. Not everyone can manage a toddler

If an elderly dad with health issues can manage a toddler, why can get DH not do some parenting during the weekend whilst OP is working?

"I can't afford childcare" just means "I don't want to pay for childcare".

Low income families on Universal Credit can get up to 85% of childcare costs covered. The whole system was designed so that people are better off in work than not working.

For people who don't qualify for UC, the Tax Free Childcare scheme covers 20% of childcare costs.

There are some childminders and nurseries who are still looking after keyworker children, so it would be possible to get childcare.

OP, the coronavirus situation is not going to disappear any time soon. Your father is "vulnerable" and won't be able to do childcare. So you need to decide whether to take unpaid leave (or resign) and be a SAHM for now, or find childcare for your child. Either way you will probably be entitled to some Universal Credit.

I can't afford childcare" just means "I don't want to pay for childcare

Low income families on Universal Credit can get up to 85% of childcare costs covered. The whole system was designed so that people are better off in work than not working

this. I was for years on a low income and I was not able to afford not to work - if the income is low, you get a huge chunk of the childcare paid making it affordable. You need to have quite a huge income to not et any help with childcare.

There are also other schemes to help pay for nursery. I guess the OP just doesn't want the expense. If she is not getting help with childcare costs then she must be pretty well off.

"If she is not getting help with childcare costs then she must be pretty well off."

She's not getting help with childcare costs because she doesn't have any childcare costs!

I suspect (based on what she's said about fluctuating wages and UC eligibility) she would very likely be able to get help with childcare costs if she had them.

She's not getting help with childcare costs because she doesn't have any childcare costs!

she also said she could not afford childcare.

Which I have disagreed with and explained my reasoning above.

but I don't expect him to. If he turned round tomorrow and said I'm not looking after him anymore. If either quit my job, work full time and put him in nursery or use other family members who have offered.

But whats the difference with now? I mean, isn't that exactly your situation?

I'm not blaming you for using your dad as childcare, I would love to have that option and you're quite right for taking it, but I do think that having a plan B is a good thing.

she also said she could not afford childcare.

You find us anyone who will admit that they can! No one relishes those sorts of outgoings. It's a nightmare, and I speak as someone whose kids required it (20 odd years ago) before there was any help at all from the government.

One day, maybe when you are celebrating some dear relative's 99th birthday ten years from now, you may come to appreciate the fact that millions of people could afford to stay home and not go out coughing and hacking to scan your groceries or drive your bus for you.

Except some people have to work. There's a handy word for them, key workers. OP is one. Her work have furloughed people that have vulnerable people at home, so there are less workers at her essential job. She isn't sick, she isn't shielding, she isn't vulnerable. She has many many options, she just doesn't want any of them. Which is fine, give up your job then. She wants paid because she is UNWILLING to do her job, not UNABLE.

@MrsTerryPratchett I'm not unwilling to do my job 😂 do you really think I want to be stuck in my house for 5 weeks with a 1 year old who is getting just as fed up as I am?

I can't afford to throw my son in childcare. Not one person on here knows my financial situation to even throw that comment in. I can't get other family members round because that's not allowed at the moment.

Yes I have said I am working weekends which my partner also works on a different job which he had to take on whilst I was on maternity to be able to keep a fucking roof over our heads.

And I know you'll all come out the woodwork with why did you have a child then if you can't afford one? Well because I did, he gets everything and more he could ever want or need. He's loved, healthy and happy.

Not one person on here knows how much money me or my partner makes, pays out for rent, bills and whatever else. No we aren't entitled to universal credit, so therefore we don't get help with childcare that way.

And to be completely fucking honest! I don't want my son to go to nursery 😂 I'd rather him be with someone he's comfortable with!

This is my decision and my opinion. Like everyone else has one on here I'm entitled to mine as well it's just you all don't like it 😊

OP I understand your frustration but you are coming across badly.

Lots of pp have suggested you investigate childminders and nurseries. You may find a place for your som in one. A childminder should not cost you more than you can afford, as you say you can afford your child. Paying for childcare is one of life's necessities for most parehts who want to work. Hopefully you will be able to sort something out

That's all absolutely fine, Mamma. Of course you can run your life however you want (that sounds sarcastic, but it's really not).

But what you can't do, is expect your employer to pay for it for you.

But what you can't do, is expect your employer to pay for it for you.

Exactly. I respect your right to make choices for your family. I just don't think you can expect paid for them.

If you work in a supermarket, can't you work nights/late evenings? Assuming DH will be home with the sleeping baby.

So you're telling me if you worked for a company as big as mine and you found out they was furloughing or giving full paid leave to their staff and not you?m even though government guidelines said you are eligible to it you wouldn't be a little annoyed?

As I've said my decision to work weekend wasn't easy, as my partner works weekends and the money he makes we need that more than mine. But I also can't afford to not work. We both have our own bills and everything to pay. Neither of us can afford to not get the money we are used to.

I understand everyone's loosing money and everything in the situation we are in and I'm not doubting that or saying me and my family are the only ones struggling

But, as has been pointed out countless times on this thread, it seems that you are NOT eligible for it.
You HAVE got childcare options. You just don't want to use them, if the language you use, e.g. "throwing him into childcare," is anything to go by.

How many times does it need to be explained to you OP that there are regulations about furloughing and if your company was found to have not followed the regulations there would be consequences. I would imagine therefore that the people that have been furloughed fit the regulations whereas you have the ability to source childcare and therefore don't fit

why do you think putting a child into nursery or leaving them with a childminder is 'throwing them into childcare'. Your choice of language is very emotive. Are you now saying parents who use this options are neglectful or how is one supposed to interpret this?

The more you write, the worse you come across.

Good luck with whatever you decide. You clearly don't want help or advice.

So you're telling me if you worked for a company as big as mine and you found out they was furloughing or giving full paid leave to their staff and not you?m even though government guidelines said you are eligible to it you wouldn't be a little annoyed?

I'm a key worker. I'm at work. Someone has to do my job. I'd rather the many people with pre-existing conditions and vulnerable loved ones at home were protected, rather than me with one child. My colleague with a DH with a new cancer diagnosis is barely holding it together. I'd much rather she was safe at home.

I have a bit of furlough envy for those who get a free holiday. But the world needs to run. And someone needs to run it.

Have you even looked into childcare options? Government funding and so on?

I guess all of us would love to be furlough and stay at home whilst this goes on. But guess what! the country would go busted and there would not be money for everyone hence this cant be applied to everyone that feels like it.

you've several options and solutions choose the one that is best for you.

Is that the worlds smallest violin I hear?

So you're telling me if you worked for a company as big as mine and you found out they was furloughing or giving full paid leave to their staff and not you?m even though government guidelines said you are eligible to it you wouldn't be a little annoyed?

No I wouldn't be annoyed if a large company I worked for hand to draw the line somewhere at who is eligible for a furlough and who is not.

This is precisely why they won't give it to everyone with simple childcare issues. Otherwise they'd lose half their staff and be unable to operate.

I'm sorry but they can not give it to everyone who has childcare issues. I'm sorry that you don't think its fair. I'm sorry you think you should be paid for doing fuck all, when you have a guarenteed job which a lot of people right now are facing the situation when their furlough ends its P45 time and they are well and truly fucked.

The people who are being furloughed are likely to have underlying healthcare issues or a close family member who does so have a much greater health and safety need to be furloughed rather than a life style choice which you yourself point out yet again:

And to be completely fucking honest! I don't want my son to go to nursery 😂 I'd rather him be with someone he's comfortable with!

And to use your own words:

This is my decision and my opinion. Like everyone else has one on here I'm entitled to mine as well it's just you all don't like it

You are right I am entitled to my own opinion, but you might not like that either. So is your employer. And your decision to be fussy about childcare provision isn't my problem, but neither is it your employers either nor the taxpayers.

I'm sure theres lots of people (some on this thread) who struggle financially to pay for childcare but manage somehow and understand that unless there is wholesale long term reform in this country (which isn't possible at short notice during such a huge crisis) its the responsibility and problem of parents to find a solution, not expect to be paid for a job they could do, when others are losing their homes and businesses and are in far dire straits.

Seriously what are you going to do in a few weeks time when lockdown ends but the advice is still to socially distance from those with health conditions. Cos thats whats going to happen.

Your partner needs to step up and look after his child as you do shifts around his schedule. Or take unpaid leave. The choice is yours.

(And yes it sucks that you aren't getting furloughed, but unless you take it higher than your manager complaining about what isn't going to happen it's not going to magic up a solution to your childcare issues)