Furloughed single parents returning to work who have no childcare - Advice please

[mummytippy]

I've been furloughed since 24/3 after previously offering to work from home and being told no. I do admin work in an office so working from home is doable once I have the paperwork. I've no idea what my boss's reasons were as I have the technology and it's not rocket science.

I have a 13 yo ds in Year 9 who obviously isn't going back to school anytime soon. I've been home schooling him as he's the type of child who has needed me to stand over him to ensure he stays on task. The work set by his school has also been set in multiple formats, not all online so I can't just leave him to it.

Today I've had a text from my boss asking me if I would be prepared to swap days if requested. I usually work 3 full days 9-5.

Aside from Boris making it clear in his speech yesterday, that single parents with no childcare are 'impeded' and have a 'barrier' in returning to work and the Government would 'hope employers are understanding of this'

I also found this on the Gov.UK Website:

www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

''Employees with caring responsibilities

Employees who are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19) can be furloughed. For example, employees that need to look after children can be furloughed''.

I can't leave my ds at home by himself so how do I reply to my boss?

What are everyone else's plans on how to contact their employer to ask to remain on furlough due to no childcare?

Thank you in advance

@vanillandhoney

I know there's a vast difference but also, no 2 children are the same.
My ds speaks to friends online and who's to say once I'm out at work he doesn't arrange to meet up with them.

Also, why would the Government say that people with children can remain furloughed... if no childcare? It's there clear as day on the website... and Martin Lewis has said the same... no ages of the children mentioned

I think I wouldn't be happy leaving a 14 year old alone all day if prob feel better if there were 2 close in age even one a bit younger but alone, probably not if your almost an hour away.
Ask to pick up papers and process from home is the best way to go.

I have a 13 year old and I could leave him but I wouldn’t want to either, I’d feel like I was being neglectful but that’s my opinion.

My ds speaks to friends online and who's to say once I'm out at work he doesn't arrange to meet up with them.

Well, maybe set up a doorbell camera so you can see him coming and going, or ring him randomly on the home phone to make sure he's where he's supposed to be. It's not ideal, but this isn't ideal for anyone and I think complaining that childcare to be available for a 13yo when it's not available for 3yo isn't going to help your case with your boss.

I was 12 in 2002 and was left home alone five days a week throughout all the school holidays. I don't know any 13yo who is in any form of childcare - there isn't any around here so working parents have no choice but to leave them. It's just normal.

OP I wouldn’t leave my 13 year old for 9 hours a day home alone either. He would really struggle with that and I’d be on edge all day and not work as well for worrying I suspect

If it’s a MW job then I’d ask outright to WFH or go in for a few hours to get the books but go home early and wfh then.
If they say no I’d resign and sign on.

@crustycrab

I'm going to reply this evening... my employer did not exactly communicate with me well after I was furloughed...

A colleague text on the 24/3 to tell me she had arrived in and was being sent home... I heard nothing and then text my boss and had it confirmed back by text on 1/4 nearly 2 weeks later

The document released yesterday by the government says those who can work from home, should do so. So your employer should let you wfh- the government has said exactly that. I find these employers just deciding that it's time for everyone to go back to the office really frustrating!

If I were you, I'd ignore the general comments and approach your employer that as in March you'd like to work.
Explain how you could do this from home. Perhaps if accounts is part only going in for month end as a compromise?
If this is shot down, then be honest, that you would like to be furloughed again, for childcare reasons as it permitted.
That way it's in their court and you've set it all out in a written format.

@vanillandhoney

He has a mobile phone. He chooses whether he answers it or not... been there done that when I've asked him to confirm home from school and I don't have money for a doorbell camera... and if I did what would that achieve... I'm 45 mins away!

I am having to leave my 16 year old and 14 year old looking after my 6 and 5 year old while I work. If you didn't have a job and were claiming benefits a 13 year old at home would not be considered an obstacle to getting full time work. He is old enough to be left at home alone while you work for 2 days. While I appreciate it is daunting if you haven't done that so far it is not an excuse not to return to work. You have been lucky your company allowed you to be furloughed. At the end of the day you are required to return to work and your company has requested you to do so. This is one of those situations where by you need to decide if you wish to keep your job or stay at home and then be in the situation of having to look for another job. Lack of childcare only applies to primary ages children or children with additional special needs. Your company would be in their rights to follow disciplinary action if you refuse to attend to work.

@SoloMummy

Thank you... this is how I'd have liked it to have been and think this is my planned way forward

"Also, why would the Government say that people with children can remain furloughed... if no childcare? It's there clear as day on the website... and Martin Lewis has said the same... no ages of the children mentioned"

Because their documents and guidelines would be ridiculously long if they were to outline every single potential situation.

It is also clear as day that if employers should have been looking to furlough staff "if they’re unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus".

Your employer can safely operate, if your son is old enough to chat online to friends and stay at home alone usually then he's old enough to print out his own worksheets and do some homework. It's not ideal but if you won't ask to work mornings or part days then you might just have to do it.

I do understand why you don't want to leave him, I feel the same with my 13 year old. However once my school tells me to come back in he will be left each day from 8-4.

I've been using this time to teach him key life skills (food preparation, safety rules etc), making sure he has a good routine each day and he feels ready.

Maybe start preparing him for the inevitable as all the other work options seem unlikely judging by your post. Or find another job I guess.

@AmyFl

"So your employer should let you wfh" the employer seems to have some security limitations that mean OP can't work from home

It says childminders can look after children of all ages I don't know If that's meant literal as in upto 16/18 or all ages of primary children. You may strike lucky and find a child minder in your area willing to look after him.
Furlough for child care is an option for employers not an automatic right to employees. In a bigger national company it may be easier but a smaller independent company its probable that they actually need you to be working for the business to function and referring back to my PP you don't want them to end up making you redundant down the line because others have picked up your workload and they realise business can function without you.

@AmyFl

You have hit the nail! It should be simple... it's my employer's attitude that wasn't and that caused me to be furloughed in the first place!
There's an App called 'AnyDesk' which would allow to... if they'd let me!

I think I'd be more worried about the lax attitude to social distancing. Didn't Boris say you should only return to work if you could do so safely.

There is no childcare available in most places for a child his age. Even when we're not in the middle of a pandemic. So it's nothing to do with childcare providers/schools being shut.

Sorry but I agree with the majority of pp - you need to go to work. Your ds is old enough to be left alone.

@mummytippy I’ve heard nothing from my employer yet. I’m really worried about it. Just waiting to see what they say. I’ll have to take unpaid leave if they refuse to keep me on furlough

I wish people would read the whole of my post before commenting

Agree with a PP who suggested looking for a childminder that would take him. Most wouldn’t but under the current circumstances you might be able to find one. It would cost money but remember that the value of your job is not just your current salary. If you want to have a job when your DS goes back to school you will have to work until then, even if your expenses are higher for a while.

dont justify yourself. i wouldn't leave my 12 year old for 8-9 hrs every day and have actually never left her in the house alone not even for 10 minutes.

speak to your boss first, see what they say after you explain your situation. good luck

@RedskyAtnight

I'm not looking to place him with a childcare provider... I'm the person providing it and ideally would like to work from home