Furlough

[newnameswhothis]

I have requested to be furloughed 2 days a week for childcare purposes. My line manager has came back to me advising that HR have said they did not plan on Furloughing staff during this lockdown and are having a meeting about this towards the end of the week.

Can anybody advised me what rights I have? I'm a full time employee for 6 years. Can a company refuse to furlough you for the reason that they don't want to use the scheme?

I'm at an absolute loss I already have roped in every able family member to help with childcare for the 3 days I've committed to working and my partner is a KW so not at home.

Lockdown last time was hellish and that was with me being furloughed down to part time hours I just don't see how I can commit to full time and watch my DD (3) as well.

Its tough
Anecdotally it seems like a lot less companies are furloughing staff this time round
Due to the additional costs?
We are so busy that we just can't afford to have people off

You have lots of alternatives but want to focus on the one thing that isn't obtainable. Is there a possibility of working longer on the 3 days that you have childcare or moving some hours to the weekend when your partner can manage the childcare?

Hi OP, I sympathise and we are in a similar position. Husband and I are both being told to work, neither can do our jobs at home, but do not fall under the Key worker criteria for the childcare at the schools and nurseries. I honestly have no idea what the government expect people to do.

You’re WFH, tbh I can understand why your employer has declined it!

This time I don’t know anyone on furlough, everyone is working and I don’t know anybody at work been given it either
If you are in funeral-care id imagine your company is busy? My colleagues best mate works at a funeral director and they are working all hours
Can you company afford for you not to be in?

@BeeDavis and whilst I'm full engaged with my work what exactly is my 3 year old daughter to do for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week

@HedgieHog

I'm not directly involved in the funeral care aspect. I pure deal with finance and mostly for pre-need financial planning. There are sections within my company which are busier but it hasn't effect me

@Letshavesometea

I have to admit I was pretty negative earlier I was stressed and worried I will have DD home with me 2 days a week which I will need to just do my best possibly starting earlier longer break in the middle and work on late.

[quote newnameswhothis]@BeeDavis and whilst I'm full engaged with my work what exactly is my 3 year old daughter to do for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week [/quote]
Funnily enough I know numerous people in your position who are managing to work and homeschool.

I think we should kick more of a fuss about the inability to access furlough. There are calls for both parents to have the right to be furloughed if schools are closed by the Women's Budget Group and others:
twitter.com/WomensBudgetGrp/status/1346788116200349696?s=19

Email your MP with their briefing. MPs have have just agreed in parliament today that the current measures can extent until the end of March. The toll this will take on the health - mental and otherwise - on mums and kids will be huge. We're still scarred from the last lockdown. How many people will be pushed over the edge and what damage will be done we can never recover from?

I decided to leave my last employer in June because there was no flexibility and I simply couldn't juggle full time work and full time childcare any longer. I took a new job on half of my former salary elsewhere because I was promised great flexibility. They have been true to their word and have agreed to fully furlough me until schools reopen.

I know how extremely lucky I am. But I should not be extremely lucky. Everyone should have more support from employers and the government. They simply can't close schools again like last time - possibly now until the end of March - and then tell us all 'tough shit'. I know we are all exhausted but please email your MP, request a virtual meeting and tell them to stand up for working parents. I'd also have another word with your employer if you think this is feasible at all and also your trade union if you are a member.

That's a bit unfair @BeeDavis, she's not talking about homeschooling she's talking about looking after an active 3 year old who can't just be plonked in front of an iPad and told to get on with her lessons.

OP, can you reduce or compress your hours? Or take two half-days leave pw and fit your half-day work into a full day. She could have some screen time/you could do some early morning late evening working around that for 4 hours a day?

Funnily enough I know numerous people in your position who are managing to work and homeschool.

I call bollocks on this one

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett Thank You,

I have managed to arrange childcare for 3 days and will muddle through the other 2 starting earlier taking a longer lunch and working late.

Myself and DP also have a few days annual leave left until April so wi take a few half days spread out across this month hopefully this lockdown doesn't go on too long

Can a company refuse to furlough you for the reason that they don't want to use the scheme?

Yes, it’s not cost neutral for them

Yep and the cost of someone to do the furlough claim, extra HR and payroll costs. For some small businesses it works out very expensive to furlough.

@AgnesNaismith

Funnily enough I know numerous people in your position who are managing to work and homeschool.

I call bollocks on this one

Good for you, but they do 🥱 Of course they struggle, lots! But they manage without trying to take the piss out of furlough.

Why should they struggle?? Do you think this is good for the parents, or the children - who have already had their lives completely turned upside down.

Companies should take a look at Zurich for a way to treat their employees.