Can work force me to ask grandparents to watch the kids?

[Lifeisconfusing]

Iv been furloughed as I have 3 kids at home,dh works away Monday-Friday, so no childcare.

Since 4th July am I right that grandparents can Now look after your children? Problem Iv got is one set have health conditions and feel it’s too soon and the other side work (nurse+teacher) if work call me and tell me Iv got to come back what will I do ? It’s not very clear to me what my rights are. Thanks

They can't force you to get grandparents to watch the kids. There are plenty of alternative childcare options out there.

However they can end your furlough because the business now needs you. You then have the choice of working (do you need to go in or can you wfh?), taking holiday for a few weeks but eventually running out and then having to pick another option anyway, asking for unpaid time off/a career break, or resigning.

Ultimately they are employing you and paying you so as long as they continue to do so they can expect you to work to the needs of the business (within your contract). If you refuse to work as per your contract they have every right to terminate your employment and stop paying you.

@Mumratheevergiving - many companies will use the furlough scheme until end of October, is it fair on workers who are in, possibly doing more work than normal now to cover furloughed workers? No. But thats the way it is

@DateLoaf They are running. The play schemes have been really good in my area since the start of Easter holidays they have tried to help the parents out and offer additional dates. My usual play scheme is full but I did get an email saying they may put a football camp on. They definitely will get fuller quicker. People are suggesting to try and help OP out.

@Discobar

I doubt anyone will be on furlough into September and definitely not October other than those that absolutely have to - I.e. those who's employers aren't actually allowed to open such as night clubs. Sadly will probably mean lots of redundancies but I can't see it happening for companies that are allowed to open - too costly for employers and would grow resentment between the furloughed and non-furloughed as most of the furloughed would be for their own benefit (childcare) rather than there actually being a lack of work for them meaning those not on furlough would be doing far more work for not much more money or benefits.

@notmytimes- I think you'll be surprised

Incentives due to be announced on the 8th fir when furlough ends in the autumn.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8489231/Government-pay-10-wages-people-work-furlough-flip.html

This story is over - not just the mail

Discobar many companies will use the furlough scheme until end of October, is it fair on workers who are in, possibly doing more work than normal now to cover furloughed workers? No. But thats the way it is

It might help the workers that are in, possibly doing more work than normal, that as and when furloughed colleagues are asked to return to their job they get on with it and accept that they need to either sort childcare OR arrange leave OR WFH but don't try and extend furlough on the basis that 'my preferred childcare is not available at the moment'.
The country is picking up the bill for everyone furloughed. If there's work for them they need to come off that scheme.
A lot of companies are going to have to make redundancies, it's a smarter move by employees to show that they are at least willing and able to work!

@Discobar

I really hope I am wrong - mass redundancies will be horrific in too many ways to even list.

Sadly I think I am right. redundancies are coming no matter what, hopefully not on a mass scale. So if I was OP I'd be making every effort to get back to work and show as much willing as possible to make myself as indisposable and valuable to keep on as possible. Even if that meant being super flexible and using my less preferred forms of childcare.

@mumratheevergiving - sure, it would look good to show the employer that they could work from home and state posdible solutions

Doesn't change that a lot of companies will furlough for as long as possible while they continue to evaluate business levels. I totally appreciate that this will cause resentment with unfurloughed workers.

You only have to have seen the news last week of the thousands of furloughed employees made redundant. Unfortunately as the furlough scheme changes to the employer having to pay a portion, it’s only going to get worse.

Finding childcare for summer holidays is hard, it's always been hard but even more so during this pandemic. Holiday clubs have only this week had info from Gov about how they could run and that changed after it was published. Some I expect will run, some won't as they may not be profitable under the new rules.

Another childcare option is to employ a nanny. With three children that can be viable as you agree a salary with them caring for all children in your family, not per child. Nannies have been able to work throughout this pandemic.

If you have relatives near by then if they can do the childcare then that would be an option.

Your DH may work away but why can't he take some annual or unpaid leave? Alternate it between you.

If your employers want you back then you have to arrange childcare and get back to work
The only alternatives are to WFH,take holiday or unpaid leave or resign
My company will be flexible until the end of August and then it will be back to work or out the door

Furlough is essentially the way to keep people reasonably compliant during the time when there was a real risk of a major peak (mercifully averted), so that there were not mass layoffs during the potential crisis.

Those who were furloughed are those who are most at risk of redundancy, because a business that had to cut back that hard, or close, might not recover (fully or at all). Give or take a shielding staff member, or those volunteering for furlough rather than being selected, it's quite a vulnerable position to be in.

So I would be making every effort to return on time. Using a pair of local sensible students might be the best temporary plan

I see alot of these threads and wonder what everyone thinks keyworkers have had to do this whole time with their children?

You find friends, family or local teenagers to help.
Childminders and holiday clubs are opening so that is now an option.

I want to go back but I’m confused about childcare

That's not your employer's problem though, is it?

I do actually feel for you OP as this is just yet another example of how women are going to be fundamentally thrown under the bus here. Ultimately your employers are not being unreasonable though in expecting you back at work but I appreciate how hard finding childcare is. But what I really find frustrating is how it’s always the woman’s responsibility. Whether your partner works away or not why does all the burden of organising this fall on you?

What would you and your husband normally do in the school holidays? Do that.
You and him have accrued holiday leave as normal, so that will cover some of it for a start (take turns).
Otherwise it's unpaid leave, I wouldn't give up a job at the moment, unless you can afford to live on your dh wage?

What was your childcare situation before furlough?
I've never had help from grandparents and have worked full time during lockdown. My husband was working at home then on furlough so we've been ok but he's back to work now and my three are back with childminder. My youngest is 1 so it's been difficult managing all of them during lockdown but I'm surprised so many people are totally reliant on grandparents. I've wanted to bring some of my staff off furlough but have had the same issue with them saying they can't due to childcare/ not able to use grandparents.

I don't understand why people keep saying what would the op do in the school holidays?

As she's said, her parents would have her children. But they have health conditions and feel it's too soon to look after her children.

If coronavirus wasn't here her parents would look after her children through the school holidays and she would be able to work. They cannot look after them now due to having health conditions!

Enchanted19 then it’s time to explore any of the other reasonable alternatives suggested above and not just say grandparents are unavailable therefore I can’t work.

In OPs particular case she also says one of the other grandparents is a teacher surely they could ask them to help over summer? Or they could use annual leave, holiday clubs, mutual arrangement with friends or a childminder/student.

Yes we are in a pandemic we are all having to do things differently while we work!

There’s a thread on here with posters talking about being made redundant, jobs will not wait around until it’s convenient for you to return... www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3955486-11-000-jobs-gone-in-two-days-more-to-come

Its worth baring in mind you need to be prepared to go back.... Technically they can ask you to come in the next day as when furloughed you have to be ready to work....

We have had some difficulty getting a few of our employees back, they seem to think they can be paid to stay at home for the rest of the summer. We had to be quite harsh to get them back (the work is there) but surprise surprise childcare does materialise when they realise its a choice between resigning or going in...

I know I sounds really hard but your child care is not you company’s problem. So when and if they ask you to come back to work then it’s up to you to go back!! People are being made redundant every day this whole situation is just so unfair, and as usually mothers are the one bearing the brunt of the hard decision like child care.

Your employer CAN continue to furlough for child care reasons but they dont HAVE TOO. Many reasons they have chosen to end it main ones probably it will soon cost them money to furlough and they actually need you in work doing your job for the business to run properly.
They do have to be flexible to some degree though eg if you needed to change your days or start/end times for child care. Do you have any other family members who could help out aunties uncles cousins? Or a school friend parent you could share child care with?

@SockYarn never said it was