Returning to the office now kids back at school

[Holly1293]

Hi there,

Does anyone know current guidance for parents who had been working from hone whilst schools were shut?

Is it still "if you can work from home, do work from home", or is it now expected that as kids are back, parents should return to their office jobs as normal?

Boss wants me back in office full time but we are no longer using our childcare (grandparents) as they are in 70's and want to be cautious, so I would have to do all pickups (so easier for me to do so if I'm working from home). Also concerned about all this 'mixing' with two kids in two separate schools, and then mixing in workplace.

Just for context, I occasionally worked from home before all this, but once schools shut, worked from home exclusively. I popped into office a couple of times early morning before anyone else was there to pick up anything as necessary, and have been in a couple of times for an hour or so for meetings etc.

I was hoping to drop kids off at school, go to office for an hour or so and pick up anything I need, and then work rest of day from home, taking late lunch to collect kids.

Whether you return to working in the office is up to your employer. You could request flexible working or reduced hours but it would need approving by your employer.

@EmMac7

Offices have been found to be the second worst location for attack rates after the home.

Numbers are already going up now + people are returning to offices = inevitable disaster in November/December IMO.

There’s a reason Sweden still recommends citizens work from home.

And Scotland and Wales.

You need two meter distancing (or one meter with everyone in masks) and measures like one way systems and extensive hygiene and cleaning.

Many thanks for all of your replies.
Just wanted to check as there didn't seem to be any 'official' guidance.

A local school has already had to close to a couple of classes just a few days in to new term, so may all change again soon anyway.

Will see what boss says.....

That flexible working “solution” gets on my nerves - why do they always suggest “apply for unpaid parental leave” as an answer? What shall I pay the rent with, dust??

I think it's meant as a short term solution rather than having to resign

Bosses who are insistent on productive staff member returning to office confuse me. As an employer I've shut one office (since it was near break clause in lease) and kept the other minimally staffed with a few employees who'd been less productive WFH and wanted to return.

There was a business cost to setting everyone up to WFH but we've spent that now. Spending the money to make the office Covid-secure for everyone to come back could be wasteful, as if there's a subsequent case in the office everyone would need to quarantine again. Plus everyone is happier with the additional flexibility of WFH so we're more likely to retain staff.

Grandparents will have to be used as childcare, or you find another option. If that becomes prohibitively expensive, then it's time to look at life choices in general. Annoying but true.

If your company wants you back then you'll need to go back.

Does anyone know current guidance for parents who had been working from hone whilst schools were shut?

The current guidelines for you are what your employer tells you to do-that’s it.