Going back to the office with no childcare.. what do I do

[Hmmmmminteresting]

I need advice if poss please.
Work have dropped the bombshell today that despite the fact we've all worked from home (very sucessfully) since lockdown began, they want us back in the office 3 days next week and WFH the other 2.
I have made no secret of the fact that I am going to struggle. I have a 4 and a 2 year old at nursery. Nursery closed down as lockdown began despite me being a key worker, my dh was furloughed just for my benefit as WFH for 2 months alone with the dc was not sustainable. His work agreed to furlough him but now understandably want him back 1st June as he has work to do.
I have explained to my work that nursery will take 4yo as due to start school in sept, but the younger one they wont take till july.
I've reiterated this to work today, that I will struggle to work 3 days a week at the office in june as no childcare for the 2yo so would be grateful if for that month I can continue to WFH daily.
I have been told that I am unable to look after dc while I am WFH now. And that if I have no childcare I have to work evenings and weekends, till midnight they said is acceptable. So I have to get up at 6am, look after dc all day, start work when dh arrives home st 6.30pm, work 5.5 hours 5 x nights a week and then go to bed at midnight, then make up the other 12 hours on my weekend.
Seriously... I'm done. What am I meant to do. I just want to cry

😳 god do they think your superwomen??

No advice or anything op but have you had a chance to speak with the area boss or hr?

Sounds absolutely impossible to me

Do they feel that you haven't been productive whilst being off? I cannot think of any other reason they would need to ask this of you. I personally would be saying no.

Are you in a union? Seek advice from them; your work are being utter bastards.

As your DH was furloughed for childcare reasons, why are they calling for his return, when those reasons still exist?

That's completely unacceptable on their part 😡 Why do some employers not realise there is give and take in every relationship. If they treat you well now you will repay them in due course.

What work do you do? How will they know how many hours you've worked?

I guess if you can't work due to childcare problems you should ask to be furloughed.

Obviously they can't pay you if you're saying you can't work! That isn't fair on them. It's a shit situation but they shouldn't be the ones out of pocket.

I see your a key worker but are you public or private sector? Is there no way they'll agree to furlough you?

Work in the evening and weekend was my work’s solution too.

I think shortly the attention will turn from teachers and unions blocking the return to school, and focus on people’s right to continue to WFH indefinitely. I think it will require a change in legislation. But the government will have to address this one way or another.

Or it’s going to mean the inevitable redundancies that will follow lockdown will mostly land on the women with young children.

Which kind of sets the whole equality movement back a few decades.

Naively l thought this whole experience would make employers more open minded about working from home. How about you and your partner using a combination of annual leave or unpaid leave?

@Pollyputthepizzaon furlough is for no or little work not childcare issues

Is there any other nursery's in the area which are open? Just for a few months in the short term.

How about a childminder?

Furlough can be offered for childcare reasons!

Could you apply for unpaid parental leave?

Furlough can be for childcare:

'If your employee has 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.'

From government website

Do you think you can work from home with the two year old? What a difficult situation .

Your employer is being very unreasonable in the first place to want people back in the office when it's not necessary. Government guidance is clearly to work from home wherever possible, and they should be abiding by that.

That's obviously not the big problem here however if they're now saying you can't WFH with your child anyway. Is it a type of job where your hours are clearly recorded or something? Basically how would they know if you did do four hours while child minding then a couple in the evening?

If you're a key worker your local authority childcare team will help you find a childcare place.

I’m a childminder with spaces as some of my families have lost jobs etc. You should ask around locally.

Obviously they can't pay you if you're saying you can't work! That isn't fair on them. It's a shit situation but they shouldn't be the ones out of pocket.
Why should the OP be out of pocket by having to take unpaid leave; why should the OP have to work til midnight and at weekends? It's far fairer that employers be out of pocket than employees.

Absolutely unreasonable, if employees can work from home they shouldn't be returning.

@EL8888 you can ask to be furloughed fir childcare, the government confirmed this and it is on the gov.uk guidance. However your employer doesn’t have to do it.

Your work is being extremely unreasonable - you have been working from home successfully for 2 months?! As long as the work is done who cares when where and how?!
There must be other parents at your work? Are they trying to use this to lay people off?

Maybe other HR or employment lawyers can advise

If they genuinely need you back, can you quit the nursery and find a nanny or childminder instead for those 3 days?

If you are a key worker the nursery had to take your you get child surely ?

I’m a nursery manager and we Are only taking the older children back June 1st - but key workers children regardless of age have been attending And get priority!

Tbh though your company are being really awful a unreasonable !

www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

@EL8888 the government advice says employees who have caring responsibilities and therefore cannot work, can be furloughed.

Have you looked at other nurseries or a childminder? I think it’s fair enough that employers want the employees to work full time hours now and they can’t give the leeway that have given to parents wfh indefinitely. If you have explored every possible childcare avenue and you can show them that you really can’t make it work, then they should be understanding.

Thanks for the advice. I didnt realise that regarding furlough so I will ask tomorrow although I'm sure it will be a no! I work in the private sector and hours are not recorded but I have a lot of work so it will become pretty obvious I dont do my hours as I would fall very behind.
Its seeming like furlough or unpaid leave is looking like my only options!
Thank you for your help. I needed to get this off my chest tonight as I would never have slept

"It's far fairer that employers be out of pocket than employees"

That's not how business works - they exist to make money

Unfortunately the OP has these choices to keep her job:
work evenings & weekends,
or find a nursery or CM that will take her youngest
or see if she can get furloughed because of childcare