Simona from Eastbourne

[thebigthreefive]

Do you feel like Rishi answered your question?

I'm due back from maternity leave on 8t June, I can't be furloughed but I have no one to looks after the baby. I'm classed as a key worker but one that can wfh so I can't use the childminders and anyway they're all full.

I'm in Wales so my rules are slightly different to England.

Just got no idea what I'm meant to do with an active 11month old.

I'm trying to book my holiday but my HR team want me to use 5 days per week even though my flexible working request has been accepted to reduce to 3 days a week so my holidays won't last very long. It's a mess.

My husband (key worker too) is out the house 7-6 weeks days, I could work after he comes home but I'm up at 5.30 with the baby.

It's a good question but it isn't any different from a lot of parents who are having to work with no childcare just now so not specific to people returning from mat leave.

I'm a key worker but can wfh and have a 3yo. It's been very difficult.

The government have told employers to be flexible and understanding. My public sector employer told me I work my hours or take unpaid leave.

Yeah the government has told employers to be flexible and understanding.
Of course they don't have to but if they'd rather a employee goes I'll have to leave then which will cause more problems for the employer.
I don't understand a employer saying you'll have to use annual leave then because if they need them back to work but yet they can use leave so do they need them back or not .

What were you planning to do for childcare? Did you have a nursery place reserved which you can't now take?

Your annual leave should have been recalculated based on your new hours. Have they told you what your current holiday entitlement is for the year? It doesnt sound right that they have asked you to take 5 days to cover 3.

@JaggedHedge

What were you planning to do for childcare? Did you have a nursery place reserved which you can't now take?^
^
I was speaking with childminders and arranging visits and then lockdown started. They all closed and I couldn't book to see them or a place, then they opened with restrictions for key workers, this childcare is totally free for key workers so now they're full. I can't use them while we're in this situation as I can wfh. So now because we have no idea how long this is going on I've booked a place but don't know when I can start using it, or even if it'll be available as the free kids might not return to their usual setting when the childminders are open without restrictions.

Also @JaggedHedge I should have answered the A/L question too-

So I didn't take many days while pregnant in 2019, so I was hoping to have all those days against my new working pattern of 3 days per week. But HR are saying that my new pattern comes into effect when I return to work physically so after I've used the holidays. But I feel like I'd then be contractually obliged to work 5 days if anything happened to cancel my holiday request which during a pandemic can happen!

Are nurseries in your area not opening up? Particularly as you are both key workers, you should be able to get yourself a place?

Our nursery is taking on new starters from 8th June.. the only thing being they can’t offer for you to look around nursery at the moment. But certainly round me, there’s plenty of word of mouth about the best nurseries & you can’t really go too far wrong if they have a decent ofsted!

Might be worth doing a bit of research & phoning round a few?!

I agree he didn't answer the question at all. So it's basically down to employers whatever they decide to do and some will be more reasonable than others. I think this is very unfair on women.

I think it's a tricky on wrt to the holiday @thebigthreefive

It sounds like they probably can insist you take your leave based on 5 days and only start the 3 day week afterwards but you could give ACAS a call and see if they can clarify.

I'm in Wales, working from home with a nearly-2 and nearly-4 year old. My husband is a key worker, but we're not eligible for any local 'hub' childcare as I'm not. Basically, it's been a shit 11 weeks. We've both taken bits of annual leave, but otherwise I work when my husband isn't, and vice versa. So one or other of us often works in the evening, or the weekend. It's not sustainable and I am on my knees. I believe Kirsty Williams will be making an announcement on Wednesday, so hopefully something to go on by then.

All I can suggest for you is to try a Hub, as you are both key workers. If not, then perhaps take some comfort in the fact you're not alone! Hopefully you won't have to juggle things for much longer once your maternity leave finishes. Good luck!