Can you request furlough? I could cry

[Cantstopwontstopeating]

Hi,

I’m not sure if this has been asked so apologies if it has. But can you request furlough? I was furloughed last year for about 4 months when we were in proper lockdown- then worked from home. I know their is so many people in this situation and a lot of people worse off but I just can’t manage working from home and parenting at the same time.
I just say managed the first time as it was quite new for us both (4yo) but he’s had to isolate twice since September and each time has been a nightmare. My job requires me to be on zoom meetings/calls most of the day and my son is too young to understand. He is ok playing on his own for an hour or so,’il set him little tasks etc but then soon wants my full attention.

He is an only child and I am a single parent with nobody else to help me. He’s finding it hard anyways and being overly clingy with everything what’s going on. The last time in November when he isolated my manager gave me a warning about how my standard of work was slipping and could I lock myself in a different room. I know il not be able to do my job properly and then there is the homeschooling - his school are setting activities what need to be completed everyday then sent back.

So my question is can I request to be furloughed again now his school has shut. I am literally sitting here crying, I’m just so done with this shit and the constant anxiety of it all. I am so sorry for the pity party I’m just really feeling it at the moment.

Can you get a childminder? I mean you can ask for Furlough, but they would have to justify to the governement to get the money back so don,t be surprised if they say no.

I would definitely request it if I were you, it sounds completely unmanageable. I'm so sorry for you and your boy, it's so flipping tough right now.

Yes you can. They don’t need to give you it but childcare is a valid reason for furlough. As you are a single parent though could you bubble with someone ? Or even if you didn’t you can still have a childcare bubble where they take the child out of the house.

I have bubbled up with my mum- she did help me loads last year but she is all out of holidays till April, plus she is a key worker and in a stressful job so that really isn’t an option.

Can you be signed off? Genuinely you’re not well!

It’s an awful situation but If there is no one to pick up your work then they will not be able to furlough you - at the end of the day jobs need to be done so I can quite understand where employers are coming from unfortunately. Is there anyone you can ask to do childcare? Take 2 weeks of annual leave etc? Home schooling - have Monday and Tuesday or whatever as weekend days for him and do school stuff on sat and Sunday plus 7am -9am and 5-6 pm. 3 hours per day is fine. Probably too much for his age. The homeschooling can be gotten around. Crappy situation though.

You can request furlough on the basis of childcare but your employer can also decline. Your situation sounds very difficult OP. Can you buddy up with another family from school to cover childcare and form a childcare bubble?
Would you be able to request a keyworker school place?

Speak to the school and explain your situation and that you just won’t be able to send work in each day like that-it’s not feasible.

I think you have every right to request furlough and no working parents should be penalised for doing so. It's near on impossible for so many parents to supervise young kids and work at the same time. Otherwise, if you have a friend you could bubble up with who has kids to share some childcare?

I would definitely buddy up with another family btw - loads are doing it round here.

Bloody hell. Your manager has suggested that you lock yourself in a different room to your 4 year old leaving him unattended while you work.

Speechless. What the fuck is happening to this country.

You’re literally me OP. Word for word.
Not much we can do,I think, except make the best fist of it we can. I found a workday rhythm last time that seemed to stop us falling apart (alternating between work and kiddo)- but the payoff was I worked until midnight or later almost every night.

It nearly fucking killed me, and I’m knackered going into it this time. God knows what state I’ll be in by the end of this round....

Solidarity. PM me if you need an ear

Thank you for all the advice.

I literally have nobody to bubble up with as a lot of people at the school aren’t taking this seriously- each to their own, I am not judging at all. But we still see my mum on a weekend and she comes to visit etc so I would hate to pass on anything or even pass it to my son.
A couple of my friends are keyworkers and the others have young babies or still working so that really isn’t an option either. But thank you I really appreciate it xx

My work cant cope without me so I cant but you have my complete sympathy. My youngest is almost 8 and it's hard work never mind four. I dont know how people are meant to cope.

I’d be telling the school you can’t do the work and send it back on every day! It’s not possible

He’s only 4 - he will catch up

Do a bit of school work with him the odd evening and maybe a bit over the weekend !

It’s ridiculous to think parents have time to homeschool and work tbh

@Cantstopwontstopeating

Thank you for all the advice.

I literally have nobody to bubble up with as a lot of people at the school aren’t taking this seriously- each to their own, I am not judging at all. But we still see my mum on a weekend and she comes to visit etc so I would hate to pass on anything or even pass it to my son.
A couple of my friends are keyworkers and the others have young babies or still working so that really isn’t an option either. But thank you I really appreciate it xx

Why can’t your mum look after your child then? If you’ve been seeing her anyway.

She can’t look after him as she works full time 8-6 mon-fri. She comes and sees us when she is finished sometimes and we stay with her on a weekend.

The whole system is unfair, I really feel for you. I asked to be furloughed too but was turned down. Then I hear parents with a sahp are getting spaces in the keyworker school. If that’s the case it’s disgusting and should be stopped. If I was you I’d go on the sick. At least you’d get something instead of unpaid leave

@LouiseTrees op’s mum works as well.

@Cantstopwontstopeating good luck -I’d definitely ask work

Could you flexi furlough?
Somebody could correct me but furlough is only offered to those that don’t have any work to do at all , ie because the business has shut and there’s no option because there’s no work .
They are offering work and have work for you ,1) I’d ask them , if they say no then
2) I’d ask for flexi furlough
Or
3) get signed off with stress ?
Hope things improve ❤️

Honestly if your mum can’t help you and you can’t get furloughed then you might have to take annual leave or change your bubble to someone who can help.

I would try talking to school. Even if you are not a key worker you sound like you qualify for a place more than most people, particularly on the basis your main childcare support is your mum who is a key worker. I think our headteacher would let your child attend our school.... I'd ring up and have a really honest conversation about your circumstances and see if there is anything school can do.

Are you able to work altered hours? It’s not ideal but I worked 6am - 10am and then 7pm-10pm during lockdown to work round the kids and working from home.

Will he watch TV? Screens is what got me through last time. I gave up homeschooling, it couldn't be done. He's only 4.