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

@Pertella - his work furloughed him until 1st June so that's 10 weeks, you might rather say they've done their bit and now it's OP and her employer's turn to sort out the final month.

Are offices even allowed to be open again yet?

Yes, what is your DH doing to ensure his children are cared for? Why should 100% of the burden be on you to sort it?

DH was on furlough so he could look after the DC and OP could work. Now DH has to work....

Find another nursery for the 2 year old.

I don’t quite get your nursery situation. They were the only children going in on those days or the only key worker dc? How small is it?

Are they changing this on June 1? Nurseries are starting to reopen.

DH was on furlough so he could look after the DC and OP could work. Now DH has to work

Yes, DH didnt have to work...

And now the OP has to work FT and cover all childcare!

They need to come up with a solution together

I think you have to look at the LA childcare provision for keyworkers if the nursery remains closed. It's by no means ideal but it's what many of us doctors and nurses have had to use to enable us to keep working. Unless you're prepared to take unpaid leave or work evenings. It's not fair to request furlough or try to get a sick note for this. Many of us have worked through the most awful conditions and had to send our children to whatever is available and I think now it's time everyone else realised that there is significant compromise needed when going to work. Sorry if that sounds harsh but lots of us have had to deal with this for the last 2 months.

Ask to be furloughed, then unpaid leave, if all else fails get signed off with stress. The situation with work and employers not understanding about childcare is shit and puts an unfair burden on women.

I'd be asking about holiday/ unpaid leave.
If they value you then it shouldn't really be a problem for 4 weeks only surely?
If not then I'm afraid I'd be going down the evening/weekend route for the next 4 weeks ( then you'll probably need a holiday!)

You can request to be furloughed but if they need someone to do the work then I can’t see how that would work.

I’d find childcare if nursery not opening still (when will they?) or unpaid leave / paid holiday.

I think your husbands work need to be more flexible. He can’t go back 1 June as he has two small children to look after, they can continue to furlough him.

Why don’t you both work 4 days a week ?

He can work 4 days a week on site and you can work 3 in office hours and make up the other 8 hours In the evening.

Is having to look after young dc a suitable reason to employers now nurseries and cc are reopening?

Maybe, maybe not but I’m interested.

Why is the nursery only taking back one child? Apologies if you’ve said that already and I missed it.

This is down to the government's wishy washy guidance. In Ireland they've said if you can work from home employers should not even be considering a return until 10th August.

I don't really know what to suggest OP but even your employer relents and says you can WFH, you still have the issue of childcare. I think a lot of nurseries are reopening in early June so it might be worth investigating.

Send a video link of Bozo's speech where he said employees with no childcare shouldn't be expected to go into work.

The government needs to come up with official guidance for employers on this. I am going back full-time (to school) after half term and we had LA guidance that school staff were expected to use the key worker provision available but employers should be flexible around that if there is no childcare. I have school hour care provided for my DC but no wraparound care so my school have made provision for that. I feel employers need to be compelled to offer flexibility to those with no childcare, either by allowing continued with (which they should still be doing anyway!!) or furlough.

continuing WFH that should say

On your hours do they know when you’re actively working? Ie logged in in some way. To know that you are providing the hours required.

I think you and dh need to be flexible here.your work are saying ok you can't come back to the office due to childcare so you can continue to work from home and they've offered a solution to work around your caring responsibilities. You can make this work of course you can. Be flexible and creative with your time. If there are times of the time your children take naps use that to work. When your dh comes home from work he takes over with the kids and you do a few hours. You're going to have to look at how you can spread your working hours over the week including weekends. I think shift your mindset and try to see the positives here, more quality time with the kids, no commute, no nursery fees, no forking out for lunches etc