What will your work do if work places are open but schools aren’t?

[gingajewel]

Just wondering if work places re-open and schools don’t what you’re work place will suggest? Do you work somewhere where you will be able to continue to wfh for a few weeks? Will you have to take parental leave or annual leave?
I have no clue about my employers, currently wfh but I don’t think they are too keen on it!

Same as school holidays now - up to parents to pay for childcare

The issue is that there may not be childcare available?!?

@TazSyd i’m in an R&D organisation- takes approximately 2-3 years to recruit for specialists roles, so they will just gave to put up with us working weird hours andfrom homd

I will be going back to work full time on Monday. It's a manufacturing company, (never shut fully) and they and companies like them have been specifically asked to go back to work, with safety measures in place;

"We are following recent guidance, a letter to businesses from the Secretary of State for business, Alok Sharma on the 9th of April tells us that 'Manufacturing is a critical part of our economy and I would like to be clear that there is no restriction on manufacturing continuing under the current rules. Public Health England provide best practice advice on how this can be done
safely’.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-letter-to-the-manufacturing-sector

There are a lot of things to think about, and the company have taken a lot of care to ensure they are complying with the guidance.

There are a fair few office/sales people that can work from home, BUT there are others who just can't and they will need to come in. It's a really good, fair company, but I can't see how they can either keep staff furloughed (and they won't beyond the Government date), or let them take indefinite leave, - paid or not, for child care reasons.

There will be a shift pattern for social distancing, and certainly consideration for parents re shifts/reduced hours etc. I can't see them absolutely insisting that someone has to come in Monday to Wednesday, for example, if they can only get childcare on Thursdays and Fridays. They will be flexible.

Ultimately, it will come down to the balance sheet. They have lost a huge amount of business, and they have to get things back on track. The work has to be done, and can only be done on site. If people can't do it, they will have to (reluctantly), find others who can....

Agree it would be indirect sex discrimination and if it were me I’d be going to tribunal.

@gingajewel

What I meant by tread carefully is, don’t assume you can’t be fired. I’d be as flexible and conciliatory towards my employer as possible. Not go in making demands.

I imagine youd get authorised unpaid leave

That’s likely best case scenario or parental leave which is still unpaid anyway

Schools are relevant to this post as schools are your childcare
For what it’s worth all signs point to schools going back with no restrictions after whit week

They’ve already today said the two metre thing is being rethinked

The scene has been set ....

Once the 2m thing has gone then it’s a free for all for everyone

Mine have made it perfectly clear that despite not qualifying for furlough or childcare (public sector) its business as usual so I guess I’ll continue to suck it up....

@tootyfruitypickle

Indirect sex discrimination? Could you share the case histories you’ve found please?

@myself2020

Sounds like you’re in a strong negotiating position. It is quite simple really - people in skills short roles (ie difficult to recruit a replacement) are always in a much stronger position. The majority of employees (across all organisations) aren’t in skills short roles though. Outside of the public sector, there is little union support either as the majority of private sector organisations don’t recognise unions.

No choice, I'll work from home with kids in the background. They can't force me to abandon them.

I have idea. My work have recently sent out questionnaires regarding how staff will be effected in this scenario. Family do our childcare and they’re shielded or vulnerable so they won’t be an option. I think my employer will be supportive and flexible

Longtime
They can’t force you to abandon them but they can sack you for not turning up

Fingers crossed they don’t obviously

@SuitedandBooted

“ Ultimately, it will come down to the balance sheet. They have lost a huge amount of business, and they have to get things back on track. The work has to be done, and can only be done on site. If people can't do it, they will have to (reluctantly), find others who can....”

You’ve hit the nail on the head here. A lot of companies will be doing everything they can to survive. Why would they keep paying staff who can’t do the job they’ve been contracted to do when (outside of the public sector) its relatively easy to dismiss those staff and employ people who can do the job.

We received an email this week saying that if work starts up again before the schools open we can take any holiday accrued or go on unpaid leave.

Why would they keep paying staff who can’t do the job they’ve been contracted to do when (outside of the public sector) its relatively easy to dismiss those staff and employ people who can do the job

Well yeah why would they but how is that fair?

Someone needs to care about this the government need to care about this. It is THEM who have banned childcare. They need to make provision for us.

I had full time childcare in place. I did not choose to keep my child at home. I want to work but I can't because I have a 4yo. And I could get sacked for not turning up...

It's an absolute fucking disgrace.

That’s why the opening of schools will coincide with returning to work

I guarantee it

Both will happen as same time

I'd rather it was fair instead of the rest of us having to cover , it shouldn't be those who can work take the flak, shit end of the stick, when others sit at home on full pay tbh

I couldn't disagree more @bigchris. I'm unaffected as parent to a 17yo but this is a situation beyond everyone's control. Those who can work and are doing whilst others are furloughed are helping to keep jobs open for future times - for all employees. This really isn't about fairness, it's about survival for all.

Exactly there is no child care open!!!

@Longwhiskers14 I think June 1 is wishful thinking

Ireland have announced they won't be starting back until September. Their secondary schols close end of May, however their primaries close end of June like ours.

I'd be very, very surprised if the UK doesn't follow their lead.

The press are almost always ahead with their predications and every one says schools after whit week

You may be right daisymay133 – the Government furlough scheme is set to run until the end of June, so if schools are instructed to get measures in place to start safely re-opening in the weeks after half term, by the end of June firms could re-open too and childcare wouldn't be an issue. But that all depends on IF schools can re-open safely and whether the teaching unions are satisfied their members aren't being put at risk.

Ours don't close end of June, it's usually 22 July or their thereabouts

@daisymay133 I hope so I really do!
@TazSyd I’ve never been one to demand, I know how hard it is for both employees and employers, it’s such a difficult situation for everyone, not just people (mainly women) with children and also employers who want to keep their businesses afloat!

U ions basically do as their told and I’m a teacher!

They will argue but they always pretty much give in esp ‘if the science’ is strong

There’s just no way government will tell everyone to go back to work and keep schools closed

Isn’t going to happen

They only closed them to facilitate lockdown

Also surely there will be no case law on indirect discrimination in this way as this scenario has never happened before!