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!

I had a similar issue OP, but when I said that I could do ad-hoc shifts on the days my partner has off,

I'd try for this - and look and see if there are any nurseries still open perhaps a few days a week might be affordable if you also work around your DP. Though local news was saying low numbers of children and fixed costs meant many were thinking about closing.

Otherwise - it's stay home and look after child - whether short term using parental leave or longer term.

DP's work then sent a laptop home for him to work from. He tried for two days but it wasn't working properly. His work haven't allowed anyone to work from home unfortunately

This doesn't make sense to me; surely if they were prepared to send a laptop home with him, that doesn't equate to them not allowing WFH?

Unfortunately, this all reminds me of many who say they hope the current WFH thing will continue ... precisely so that they don't have to pay for childcare any more

No, your dh doesn’t work on behalf of the NHS. He works for a private company that makes its money by selling things to the NHS, a completely different thing.

Plus, you ARE choosing to send him to someone else to look after him! A pensioner who doesn’t charge you!
I’d be asking the supermarket for shifts at the weekend or in the evening when your child’s father can look after him. I’m sure they’d be more than accommodating,

OP although you’re worried about your dc settling with family he doesn’t know well could you perhaps take one week off and use it to build dc up to staying with someone else.
Even if you could afford childcare your son would be unsettled initially.
It may be worth getting another family carer in place for the future.

What would have happened if the current pandemic hadn't happened but your dad had become unwell and was unable to look after your child? You'd have to source alternative childcare. I'm sorry but it's not your employer's problem that you can't arrange adequate childcare

If the supermarket you work part-time for won't give you more flexible shifts or furlough, can you go on unpaid parental leave and just take a temp job that will give you shifts around your dh? There are heaps of options around at the moment in most areas.

I'm shielding on government advice ( I got the dreaded letter) and my company has refused to furlough me even though they can. I will get paid SSP apparently.

I agree OP that it really seems unfair that your company can do something to help you but refuses to.

I'd say your only option other than finding childcare would be to ask for weekend and evening shifts when your partner is available to look after your child.

Anyone else astounded that a supermarket, most of whom have recruited more staff to make up shortfalls have furloughed people? .

Astounded? No.

There are lots of reasons for furloughing people.

It's a crap situation, but there is childcare available you just cant/wont/dont want to pay for it and that isnt your works problem. It's up to the individual to cover their own costs for work.

I'm a SAHP because we cannot afford childcare, so I have to stay at home. I would love to be back in my old job but childcare is more than my wage. I cant expect free childcare nor can I expect anyone to pay me for being at home. Obviously when you had free child care it was workable, but now that's not available and you're stuck, it's pretty rubbish but your work is under no obligation to furlough you, especially as the work is there and there are alternative options available (even if you have valid reasons for not using them). Have you looked into what universal credit you would be paid towards childcare costs to see if that would leave you a bit of your wage left over and allow you to at least break even? (I know in my case it didnt but it's worth checking out, especially if it helps in you retaining your job once this has ended) or even what universal credit you're entitled to being a SAHP? (again we dont qualify for this but your circumstances may be different and you may do)

@Soontobe60 he doesn't sell things to the nhs. He works with people who have stomas and things like that. He sends out their prescriptions and products they need to use on a daily basis.

He gets commission for them joining and signing up to use their delivery service instead of customers going to the doctors and getting their prescription themselves.

There are lots of reasons for furloughing people.

For those shielding then yes, and I hope that their pay is topped up to 100% by their employer. Or for those who have to because of the medical or physical needs of a dependent as their provision is closed, yes. Going to a union about it because you don't want to pay childcare though? Erm.

Any employer in a key industry who has furloughed people who had childcare available but didn’t want to pay for it will find themselves on the sharp end of an HMRC stick come audit time. Furlough isn’t to compensate for lack of free childcare, it’s to help out when there is no childcare. Key workers being furloughed should be very few and far between.

You’re going to need another solution OP and I would suggest it involves your other half stepping up a bit more and working it out between you.

My son has a similar problem. His work is still open, but he can’t get to work as the public transport is no longer running at the times he needs to get to work, as he works unsociable hours and shifts. He offered to go in around the times public transport was still running, but was told no. He asked to be furloughed, but was told no, he isn’t entitled to this. Either my husband or myself would normally take him, but husband doesn’t keep well and is on shielded persons list under 3 different categories. Son moved out to stay with a friend, so husband and I could completely isolate for at least the 12 weeks told to, as husband wouldn’t survive if he got Covid-19. Gp has already phoned and asked him to put a DNAR on his record. Son can’t get any help at all, so is using up his savings. If this goes on much longer I will have to help him out, out of my disability benefits!

I know how unfair things are and hope you manage to get sorted out.
Don’t expect any sympathy on Mumsnet!!!

OP have you had advice from a union rep or if there isn't one can you try to get through to the CAB or ACAS? Get informed practical advice. You're on a hiding to nothing here.

Acas are a good point of call.

A summary of their current advice to those with Coronavirus related childcare issues due to schools closing “except for children of key workers” is to either put them on furlough, re-arrange hours or take holiday/unpaid leave.

They don’t specifically mention nurseries/childminders but the same principles apply.

The main reason for furlough was intended to be to keep businesses afloat, if it's being used way beyond that no wonder we are headed for such economic doom. And yes, in many cases feeling hard done by because you can't be furloughed is entitled.

The current global situation is tough for everyone, The childcare issues are you and your partners not your employers unfortunately.
You do have options (you might not like them but you do)
So as a family unit you and your partner work and use both your wages to pay for childcare this is not your problem alone!
If both of your salaries combined won’t cover this and other outgoings you as the I’m assuming lower earner take unpaid leave for as long as your employer will let you and hopefully keep your supermarket job.
Or you give up work and stay at home to look after your child.
But you absolutely need to reconsider using your elderly diabetic father as a permanent childcare source after lockdown eases regardless of how much he loves doing it for you.
I realise you may feel slightly attacked on this issue but In the nicest possible way it was never really a sensible or sustainable childcare option.

@Coffeecak3 last year before I went back to work after maternity we had plans in place for the other person to come and spend time with him alone in different places so he's feel More comfortable but unfortunately they never turned up and didn't bother to contact us or anything for a few months. Which is sad but what can we do!

@Staticelle

Right. So you know why people can be furloughed. Why are you astounded that supermarkets are doing it?

Crazy one, but could you have your dad move in and ask your work to furlough you based on shielding as you say they are furloughing people based on that... Just throwing out ideas! Something you can use instead of all the negativity on here!

And your husband should push to work from home if his work is done on a laptop - if your work can be done on a laptop, there's not much reason to be in an office.... In fact, I would say his company are being unsafe by asking people to come in.

@mammatomyboy16 you need to put your capital in your name when you are nm-ing

I don’t see the ‘hate’ to you or ‘abuse’ -just bafflement at your entitlement that your employer won’t post you unless!m, you know, you go to work

Not read thread. My jaw hit floor when i read that your over 70 father looks after your 13 month old son whilst you work!

The grandad isn’t shielding though. He’s vulnerable which is a different category.

It's a crap situation, but there is childcare available you just cant/wont/dont want to pay for it and that isnt your works problem. It's up to the individual to cover their own costs for work.

This, in spades.

I'm sorry OP but saying 'I can afford my child I just can't afford childcare' is a complete contradiction, childcare isn't optional. You either:

• Work full time and pay for childcare
• Work part time and pay for childcare
• Stop working

It really is that simple and it's not anyone else's responsibility.

So your choices are
1 - pay for childcare
2 - work your shifts around your partner's
3 - take unpaid leave

It's rubbish they won't furlough you but they don't have to unfortunately

Recheck UC as you might be entitled to it and it can help with childcare costs