If you can't WFH but you're not a key worker, how are you managing if school closes?

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I'm looking for ideas really. Single parent, not a key worker and can't work from home. I've been told today I can't be furloughed as we are too busy and no one else will have time to do my work. Anyone else in the same situation? If school closes will other childcare settings also have to close?

[quote StatisticalSense]@LongBlobson
Is your husband working 24 hours 7 days a week then?
If not you could always work at weekends or evenings around his work if it was so beneficial for your mental health.[/quote]
That's going to depend on whether the OPs workplace operates in the evening / at weekends, and if her role can be carried out at that time.

Lose your job along with hundreds of other single parents who can’t work from home and have no alternative childcare? That’s really the only option

@JedwoodDeadwood
That comment was for a poster who said she is self-employed and able to choose whether she is able to work or not.

@Waxonwaxoff0

My work have refused furlough, but I think they will allow me to be flexible with hours where they can.

My ex husband drives trains so he wouldn't be allowed furlough as his work is essential. He does work weekends and shifts though so he is sometimes off in the week, I do office hours. So he will be able to have DS some days.

Check his rota and talk to him and see what he can sort out.

Hopefully The school might be more amenable if you only need a few days .

And fingers crossed this won't last longer that the two weeks.

I'm a key worker (TA) and DD got accepted this time round so that's a massive relief, still had to scramble to sort out Monday and Tuesday as they're not opening until Wednesday now ,the every Friday 12 o'clock finish and no breakfast club which means she can only go in at 9. I'm supposed to start at 8.

@RosesAndHellebores Thank you! Thats amazing. Both myself and DH work at universities and the university owned nursery wouldn’t take DS last time as they said we didn’t qualify. I’ll dig out the evidence.

The guidance has changed zippy they were right last time but not now.

Also loathe the posts stating that school isn’t free child care!

These are probably the same people who moan when SAHM carry on SAH when their dc go off to school!

Just fuck off!

And I’m not a SAHM before you ask!

Not that it makes a difference but I’m just pissed off at some of the sanctimonious posts on here by some!

@StatisticalSense

I'm a gardener, I can only work in the daylight! I have to travel to work and be there for a few hours at a time.

I work for a small company which doesn't do weekends. Not an option for DH to work evenings/weekends either.

My heart goes out to you - this is so so sad. I don't understand why your company can't just furlough you - you will end up getting overwhelmed it's so unfair.

I would also write to your MP to raise the issue around furlough for childcare reasons not being allowed by your workplace. What do the government expect us to do.

I’m self employed and wfh, but not sure how I can be working all day (for clients with contracts, so can’t just not work!) and parent my three year old. I lost my entire business the first time around and have finally built it back up, having not been entitled to claim anything. If they shut the nursery I will have a breakdown. DH is a key worker on shifts, and is a manager so unable to take much leave right now.

Last lockdown I had to leave my 12 and 9 yr old alone five hours a day. Not ideal but it was that or lose my job. This will probably be the case again as DH works 200 miles away in Essex (away all week). It's a constant guilt trip.

No ideas for you OP, just big bag of sympathy.

We’re lucky as DH can mostly work from home, so at least DC will be safe, if not actually educated. I’m in Scotland so we had advance notice.