Any other key workers needing to give up work. So worried

[Thatsmycupoftea]

Hi all,

I bet loads of people are in this position tonight. What are you all doing about it?

My school are only taking key worker children if both parents are critical key workers. I am, but dh is not. Dh cannot work from home as he is an engineer and needs to be on site to build and design stuff. He's our main earner and we can't live without his salary. He took all the time off during the first lockdown and has exhausted this option. His company is staying open.

My work won't pay me to have 6 weeks off to look after my children and we really can't afford to lose my salary either right now.
I have no annual leave left because one of my dc has been ill this year and required hospital stays and operations and I have used it for that.

What is everyone going to do.
I'm so worried about losing my job.
I know loads of people are in this boat and loads have already lost jobs. I was so confident that my job was secure and I have worked my backside off throughout this pandemic till the point of burnout (doing extra hours upon hours for free) and it feels like a massive kick in the teeth.

Sorry to rant.
Stay safe and strong everyone.

Have you spoken to the school about your situation? Many have had some flex, but I bet tons of parents (with less justification than you) will be having a go so suggest you email asap and call tomorrow.

I'm not a key worker but have a lot of sympathy, as I'm a single parent who lost my job after not being able to manage 3 young kids and full time work through the first lockdown and over summer. I get why we need lockdown, but it's all so shit right now for working mums.

You need to start a Universal Credit application ASAP - they will not backdate whatever the situation was unless you can prove you were ill or their computer down.
I am fortunate that I am a keyworker who has a place but I was very worried before when bubbles burst twice: I took unpaid parental leave (hence my knowledge about UC above - I should have applied as soon as I did that. I didn't so my claim was too late).
I also took requested leave to look after dependents - this was paid but I made up the hours later.
Government will not help with regard to not being able to work due to no childcare - they claim it is between you and your employer to use up annual leave, take any paid leave you are entitled to then unpaid leave - the only compensation for the latter is via a UC claim. Employers who cannot or will not negotiate with you - your only comeback is via your union if you have one.
I was/am lucky in that my employer is aware of the situation always being precarious for me (no support/single parent).
I wish you all the best

Are you a healthcare professional or another kind of key worker? The school may relent and allow you a kw place if you make it clear that if they say no the nhs loses a nurse (if you are a nurse that is)

If that won't float, is there any way you could juggle things by moving to night shifts or otherwise juggling your availability? Can dh work non-standard hours and get stuff done eg he could work 6am to 2pm instead of 9-5 and you work 3pm to 11pm for example and you get 2 full time employments while still providing full time childcare?

Oh, and as rubicon says, it is always, always worth speaking with the Headteacher/senior lead in charge of safeguarding/family-school liaison officer directly as they might be able to help you if their numbers are low enough and your children could be reclassed as vulnerable (I would ask them whether the DC's previous illness/hospitalisation and absence record because of that could be used as leverage to place them in the vulnerable category. I would also explain without your income they may end up financially vulnerable/premium plus). It is worth asking.

Is your husband not classed as construction and therefore a key worker?

I agree with posters above re speaking to school - it’s a appalling situation that a key worker may be lost.

I do hope there is a review of key worker childcare needs. I know schools are under massive pressure but it is not OK that getting support in your position is a postcode lottery.

Also, anyway you could talk to work about reducing hours and draft in support from family - or could your partner do a day a week from home?

I hope you can work something out OP

@Thatsmycupoftea

I'm sorry, what an awful position to be in.

Do you have any family or friends you could ask to do childcare for you at all??

What about childminders?? Are they still open?? I used to work in healthcare and found a childminder who was flexible with hours.

You may well not be entitled to any UC if your husband works and earns more than about 16-20k. You may be though, so get a calculation. With childcare costs added to your claim, you may be entitled to some. It's different for unemployed vs childcare costs. Universal Credit Essentials is a really good charity who have a website and FB group with calculations. Even if not entitled to UC and childcare eats up your wages, it may be better doing that than giving up your job completely.

Failing all that, could you get signed off sick?? You'd hopefully be able to keep your job.

Are you eligible for furlough? Or, if public sector, maybe your employer would consider special leave?

workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/coronavirus-schools/

No keyworkers in our house. No furlough available. No working from home available. Already lost our business due to covid. Due to start my shiny new job next week, the job I had to get due to losing our business. 2021 is fucking marvellous.

Can your employer offer you opposite shifts to your DH? If he works mon-fri 9-5 for example can you work evenings or weekends. Id speak to your manager and try work some hours around your DH , reduced hours is better than no hours at all.

Do you have any one who you can form a child care support bubble with?

I work in a school, we have applied the same rule as yours and are being very strict. However we are also having conversations with parents who don't quite fit our strict criteria and making decisions on a case by case basis so I would recommend seeing if you can talk to a senior leader there.

It is difficult to work out who has genuine need and who would just prefer it and we do want to protect both staff and those families whose children have to come in by keeping numbers as small as possible, but we also want to support and would absolutely help a family who are at risk of losing their job or income.

@ChangingStates

I work in a school, we have applied the same rule as yours and are being very strict. However we are also having conversations with parents who don't quite fit our strict criteria and making decisions on a case by case basis so I would recommend seeing if you can talk to a senior leader there.

It is difficult to work out who has genuine need and who would just prefer it and we do want to protect both staff and those families whose children have to come in by keeping numbers as small as possible, but we also want to support and would absolutely help a family who are at risk of losing their job or income.

Absolutely

You're employer is required to give you the time off. You are not entitled to pay for the time off.

I would go back to your employer and tell them you want the six weeks off unpaid. The fact that you are willing to do so might light a fire under them to make alternative suggestions. (I told my manager in my old job this in March and a laptop mysteriously appeared overnight for me to WFH).

I would also go back to the school and ask them if they can be flexible with their policy.

Our DC school are operating with the policy of two/single keyworking parents without any other childcare options. We're in Wales, where childminders and nurseries are still open for now.

It seems like quite a range. Our school are taking one key worker. It’s meaning that about 25% of the school will be in. They emailed asking if everyone did really need the place. The problem is employers of key workers are expecting them to be working not juggling childcare. Critical workers will often be the lower paid within a family.

www.gov.uk/parental-leave

Don't give up your job. Take unpaid leave parental leave if you have to and suck up the loss of income for a bit. It's unlikely you will be going on a foreign holiday this year, nothing to do at the moment, so money to save there (so long as you block your Amazon prime account ).

But do NOT resign without a big fight!

Seems to me that if your DH is a design engineer, he could be classed as a key worker.

I'm really sorry you're in this position OP - I would go back to the school and make it clear that if they don't allow you a place then they are essentially forcing a keyworker out of their job, which is not something they should be aiming to do in the middle of a pandemic.

Thanks all.

I have emailed school this morning so fingers crossed.
I spoke to my manager and she was not best pleased to say the least. She basically said I need to be in work as we are short staffed as it is. I get it but I feel quite sick. I made it clear that we cannot afford to lose dh wage and she understands that.
What a horrible situation for everyone.

Good you’ve contacted the school if need be get a auppprting letter from your work
In fairness to your boss and work I can see why your boss is asking you to come in, we are in middle of national crisis and need the staff to meet increased capacity. In ordinary times 6 week in one go off work is big ask never Mind in middle of pandemic

Why can your husband make absolutely no adjustments?why is it you solely taking six week off to the deteriment of your career? Why can’t he put a compelling case to his work he work 4 days on site you work 3 long day? He’s has responsibilities that he needs to step up

1. To support you
2. Look after his own kids
3. Would he really really see you give up,work lose job because of his inflexibility

If I was your colleague or manager I’d not be happy at you wanting 6 weeks off work.
Work aren’t compelled to give you 6 weeks off work in middle of a crisis. Somewhere in your contract will be the phrase and other duties as directed

The employer is NOT compelled to give op time off,it’s dependent on service needs, by all means she can request but work don’t need to give op 6 week parental leave. Plus op is required to give work adequate notice

Have you tried to get paid childcare? Through an agency or locally?

Also your work only has to offer up to 4 weeks a year,depending on service need. They are not compelled to give parental leave and certainly not 6 weeks. Plus you need to give adequate notice to allow work to make provision

The advice of mn regard employment is regularly dingbat. Go Sick? What kind of stupid reckless suggestion is that. Pretend to be sick to get time off? Op isn’t sick she’s got childcare issues. The work needing done doesn’t decrease,if you go sick your work has to pay you,and probably bank or agency too to get the job done

@Redbirds

Is your husband not classed as construction and therefore a key worker?

That may well be the case, but our school is only accepting what they consider to be 'keyworkers' which they only list as 'blue light services', social workers and teachers.