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

I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving a 13 year old alone for 9 hours a day either OP, that's a long time. Such a shitty situation. Do you have any friends or family who can pop in and check up on him during the day? Even if it's just a quick hello on the doorstep to double check he's ok and getting on with his work?

Ignore the arsehole-ish responses. You made the terrible mistake of being granted furlough so the hyenas have descended to scream that you're a workshy freeloader.

The best approach is to drop an email or text saying you want to talk about your return to work. Offer some times and methods of communication. A video call is probably a good way to communicate in the absence of a f2f option. This is where you raise the possibility of working flexibly.

But the main thing you need to drop is the reasons you have outlined in this post. As many people have said on here, your son is old enough to be left on his own. And your employer isn’t going to allow you to work from home to supervise his school work and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.

The best reasons you can give are health and safety. If there is an option to work from home you should. But you have to set out the explanation of how you can work from and address, rather dismiss, security concerns. That means more than suggesting an app. These exist but aren’t always secure. Zoom is a prime example. All of your Company’s data needs to be secured and using home computers may not offer that.

Take account of the implications for other staff who might want the same thing. Highlight that flexible or agile working could facilitate social distancing avoiding problems with the H&S agencies. Be willing to come in for part of the week to do f2f and to pick up paperwork. Honestly try to be more positive, your are negging on everything and everyone in the company. That attitude can’t be hidden.

This is something you should have done already. Furlough was never a long term option. You are being passive in not seeking clarity about your furlough or return. It won’t resolve you problem.

@refusetobeasheep

It can be done very easily once the paperwork is obtained as you say.
I've worked for multiple companies on a SE Bookkeeper basis in the past when my ds was younger and used Team Viewer to access accounts for clients. No problems.
I ceased being SE and became employed wanting a guaranteed wage and it would seem this company however are dinosaurs. I actually have software on my personal laptop now which my employers IT guy installed on my laptop just before lock down but they wanted it removing. I got a call at home the day it was put on asking me to take my laptop back in the next day to get it removed. As the IT couldn't come in to the office to remove it (due to a call out), he removed the app from the works PC remotely once he got back to the office.
I have to say after making what I felt was a stride in initiative, I felt like I'd had my knuckles rapped They didn't give a reason, and I don't access bank accounts etc so I'm not sure what kind of a security issues they have. Also the accounts can't be accessed if the PC is not switched on in the office

@refusetobeasheep

Sorry, We use Sage and view that app, emails can be assessed too. Basically anything that's on the desk top

Have you approached your employer about your child care issues yet?

I have contacted my employer and requested to work from home. They are going to see what they can put in place. Fingers crossed the MD will see it's the right thing to do currently

GoodGiod luck mummytippy. I'm sure you can find a solution to allow you to mainly work from home, which is in line with current regulations.

Thank you @refusetobeasheep

I've had a reply back now and they've decided to keep me on furlough for the time being. Said they're quiet and not all employees are going back at present. Said they're bringing members back in stages starting next week as there is nothing for them to do at the moment

Well that's good news.

before any of this happened I offered to work from home... showed genuine initiative

I know you did, OP, but it's patently obvious that your wish to WFH is based on childcare, and that's not really a motivation for employers to offer it
Many actually make it a condition that alternative childcare's in place before agreeing and it just doesn't sound as if that's the case here, even in non-Covid normal times

As said you've already negotiated a work pattern which suits your travel budget, and in these difficult circumstances I really wouldn't risk pushing for more

Thanks @AmyFl

@Puzzledandpissedoff

My request was based on childcare issues AND that the government is advising people to wfh where they can.
As they're quiet, and they're apparently spacing out inviting employees back, I'm remaining furloughed for now

My request was based on childcare issues AND that the government is advising people to wfh where they can

So let's suppose your employer had allowed you to WFH during this crisis and then expected you to go back to the workplace when it's over - presumably you'd be okay with that?

Because any reluctance may well have revealed that the main motivation was childcare, and that's not something which is likely to be acceptable to many employers

@mummytippy

I don’t want to sound horrible, but just because you’ve decided you can work from home if you wanted to that doesn’t give you the right to demand it. It’s up to your employer at the end of the day and if they say no, that’s the end of it. You can’t keep going back to the ‘well I wanted to work from home but they wouldn’t let me’, as it just isn’t an option for them right now. Just because you think you can work from home, it doesn’t mean you can.

Furlough isn’t a long term option, and people are having to make huge sacrifices right now.
You’ve painted your employer in a horrid light (about how old fashioned they are, no social distancing, throwing tissues at you) but apparently it’s all fine now because you’re furloughed.

But what’s going to happen when they really do need you to come back in? You can’t refuse on the basis of childcare so you need to work out your plans, you’re incredibly lucky to still have furlough so I’d be using this opportunity to devise a plan for when you are requested back.

I’d think about applying for alternative work. It doesn’t sound like they need you back.

You are "ok" for now whilst still furloughed but your employer can request you return to work at fairly short notice as and when they require you. It seems the decision to continue to furlough was due to them not having sufficient work for you to complete rather than your child care issues.

Perhaps while you remain furloughed you could work on developing your son's independence skills? otherwise you'll have this same dilemma again in a few weeks when your company wants you back again.

My oldest is 12 and I'd leave him for a couple of hours but not all day, certainly not that often too.
Don't employers have a duty to let you work from home if it's possible??

If I was in your shoes ( tbh I used to work 3 days and single mum) I would ask my boss to do a combination of work from home and half days in the office until schools return.

That way you give your ds independence and responsibilities to get homework done whilst your working, then have time at home to cover what been missed

That's good news and will buy you some time.

I’m glad you have some time. I think it’s really important you focus on building up your son’s independence and how to manage your anxiety around this. I’m not saying this flippantly, I know it’s not that easy. He’s getting older and needs to practice those independent living skills.