Confused-How can people go into work when no childcare?

[Sleepdeprived42long]

I’m confused about something-how are people with young children able to go into work following Boris’s info yesterday? What’s happening to their kids when there’s no school, childcare provision and they’re not allowed to go to other families? Obviously talking about non-keyworkers.

It's an excellent question and one that should be asked at the press conference instead of journalists keep asking the same questions every day

No idea and I doubt he’s even considered it tbh.

I said this yesterday and was told if a parent really wants or needs a job then they will find a way. Or they should quit So basically it's tough....

I agree with you though absolutely stupid.

I’m shocked that this doesn’t seem to have been taken into account at all!

@princesstwinkle really??? We’re almost a breaking point WFH and it’s likely we will be asked to return to the office at some point as type of work means we can’t wfh long term. At that point my kids will have to go to friends/grandparents (and break the rules) or I’ll have to take unpaid leave (not ideal either but at least we could if absolutely needed).

Think the wording was along the lines of what do parents do in the summer holidays (well clearly either GP look after/other family members or holiday is arranged etc) but this isn't a good enough excuse to keep a parent in a job apparently.

I also voiced concerns over older students up to year 9 who some parents would not feel confident to leave in a global Pandemic, obviously childcare provisions are non existent for them but also at the age they are you cannot predict they would follow the rules if you went back to work and left them for hours a day! Apparently in that case it means your obviously happy to have no money so get on with it.

Employers should be furloughing staff if they have caring responsibilities that mean they can't work.

There seems to be a prevailing belief on mumsnet that childcare is available for everyone if you just look hard enough.

The reality of 18 month waiting lists for private nurseries, zero childminder availability, schools with no access to breakfast/after school clubs, etc in some parts of the country, is just putting up barriers.

Even the fact that these facilities, where they exist, have legally had to close to the majority of parents is no excuse, apparently.

Thing is “the do what you would normally do in summer holidays” is no good.

A lot of parents use holiday clubs, they aren’t open!!!

Our normal summer holiday childcare is grandparents and holiday clubs (along with some annual leave). Neither of which appear to be options at the moment.

@ErrolTheDragon

Not again, if you’re public sector you won’t be getting furloughed. I can’t even take unpaid leave!

Errol “ Employers should be furloughing staff if they have caring responsibilities that mean they can't work.”

The cost of this lockdown is insane.

A sensible company will unfurlough those that can get childcare.

Leaving those that can't on furlough. But no eveeyone will be honest.

But also if your company has alot of work, eventually companies will have to prove they are using furlough fairly.

So unless furlough remains in place for peoples whose companies do have work, but have kids that can't go to school, not sure what they will do.

Lots of people will be in a position to work though. Those that work opposite shifts, those that have one partner still furloughed or a sahp. Those that have a child that is the right age to go back to work.

From your posts it appears that you are currently WFH. Boris has suggested that those who do so should continue for the time being.

I guess many will have to take unpaid leave so employers have the money to pay for cover

Someone will bo doubt come along in a minute and suggest a nanny....

Employers should be furloughing staff if they have caring responsibilities that mean they can't work

Employers can do this, while furlough exists. Theres nothing to say they have to.

Only 17% of people in the workforce use childcare, I suspect the answer is those without the need for it go back first and nurseries back from 1 June

Not everyone who is in this situation will have the option of furlough (if they are not eligible or if their employer does not agree). Puts everyone at the mercy of having understanding workplaces (and colleagues!).

Not something I’m having to tackle right now as still wfh but likely will in the near future which is why I asked!

Since everyone is asking the same question I suggest keeping up to date with the news reports, interviews and the press conferences, we've been told that there's more information to come, I guess we need to wait and see.

Definitely not comparable to summer holidays is it?
We can’t use grandparents or holiday clubs etc.

But they’re still allowed to furlough people aren’t they, so that’s what they should be doing for those who have no childcare I think. It’s not ideal and probably not fair on other staff but none of this is.

1. Not everyone has children under age 11.
2. Not everyone has both parents working (maternity, sick leave, etc)
3. If even one parent can work from home then they should continue to do so.
4. If both are key workers it means the child can go to school
5. Some people have nannies, au pairs, a teenager in the family who can move in to babysit etc.
6. Some parents have jobs where they do opposite shifts to each other to care for the children.

There may be less people than you think who are unable to go into work because they are the sole carer of an under-11, unable to work from home and not a key worker. For now there is still furlough, I guess in a few weeks there will be a review of who's left on furlough to determine what measures to take.

Never has the word"confused" been so over-used! You are angry, upset, irritated ..there is no confusion!

There are also varying reports that school days won’t be the same length or frequency as we have been used to, so childcare concerns are likely to exist longer term.

I have put forward this question to the briefing. We are already struggling as neither of us can work from home (well I can but my employer won't let me - a whole other story!).

We are paying the nursery a retention fee but my employer has just said find another nursery, like it's that easy! So I've had to reduce my hours and I only took home half my wages. It's a horrible situation.