Who has lost their job due to school closures?

[iwlalo]

I'm pretty sure I'm about to. School will not accept my 3dc and my workplace are not being understanding.

Is there anything I can do if they sack me based on the fact I need to look after my dc?

They can't sack you, it's unfair dismissal. They can furlough you though
workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/coronavirus/

workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/coronavirus/

This page sets out your right to request furlough if you can't work from home and you can't work because of childcare. However, there is no obligation for the employer to grant furlough. Having said that, the page suggests that it could be claimed that it is indirect discrimination if it is refused, because it will disproportionately affect women.

[quote delilahbucket]They can't sack you, it's unfair dismissal. They can furlough you though
workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/coronavirus/[/quote]
I can't see where it says that they can't sack you and it's unfair dismissal?

Thank you I will read that website

If you can’t perform the role they can sack you and there is no obligation to put you on furlough.

Any chance of the children’s father/family member helping? Other childcare? Can you work from home?

Are you wfh? How old are the dc? Where is their dad?

Can you take unpaid parental leave?

Father cannot help as he is still working full time. They need to be taught 3 hours each per day. Family/ friends have their own children to teach and others are vulnerable.

Are you a member of a union?

Father cannot help as he is still working full time

But it sounds like you have to too? So why should only you be dealing with this?

Unlike the first lockdown you can have a childcare bubble. Have you got any friends or family happy to do this?

But they don’t have to be taught if this means you lose your job! Can you wfh? Or not?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Father cannot help as he is still working full time

But it sounds like you have to too? So why should only you be dealing with this?

I guess it will depend on who has the higher income. I have had to take unpaid leave to deal with the school closures. Still leaves us entirely in the shit financially and needing to sell our house (and when the redundancies come around later in the year I am guaranteed to be top of the list due to having to take all this time off), but less in the shit than it would if DH lost his job/took unpaid leave.

I gave up the fight, and left my job because of school closures.

There was no understanding or flexibility from my line manager, and the situation was untenable.

You can form a childcare bubble if you have children under 14. That might help?

@iwlalo

Father cannot help as he is still working full time. They need to be taught 3 hours each per day. Family/ friends have their own children to teach and others are vulnerable.

So it’s your DP’s inflexibility that’s potentially losing you your job too then? Has he approached his employer about being furloughed etc?

Depends how long you have been there. Maybe give Acas a call.
You say they need to be taught 3 hours each per day ... where did you get that from? We are in unusual circumstances. You are not expected to be a full time teacher. We all have to just do what we can do. You say the school won’t accept your children. Under what grounds should they be expected? Are you a key worker?
There are millions of us working full time from home and home schooling. We have to do stuff in the evenings / weekends etc ... Does your DH work from home? As long as the children are safe then there is no reason for them to be in school.

They need to be taught 3 hours each per day.

is the issue that you cannot work and homeschool or that you cannot work with the DC around? in the first case, I would not home school. I cannot home school either and I know many other parents in simar situations. I absolutely would prioritise job over home schooling.

agree, the dad also should share some of the load. If you are working, and supposed to home school, why does he get the 'he has to work full time' excuse. Can he not work on the evening, early morning and you work/home school around each other? this shouldn't be all on you if you are a family unit.

You say they need to be taught 3 hours each per day ... where did you get that from?
The guidelines issued by Givt. State schools need to be providing 3-5 hours of remote learning activiites/content per day. Most schools are following this as they've also said that if as a parent, you feel that what you are being providing is insufficient, you can make a formal complaint. And Ofsted may also have the right to assess the content. Unbelievable.
OP, chat to work about flexible options, chat to teachers and explain your situation and the art of the possible (I can't manage 3 hours per child, I can manage X, what should I focus on?). Between the two hopefully you'll find a balance. It won't be perfect, and it'll be bloody hard, but good luck x

• Govt not Givt.

On martin Lewis last night he mentioned you can request furlough and if they won't furlough you then your entitled to parental leave but they don't have to pay you when your off

Could you take unpaid leave? That would be better than quitting entirely?

Don’t homeschool them. Keeping your job is more important. What a nightmare though, I feel for you.

In answer to your question, yes, I handed my notice in two days ago, but then I was coming back from a career break so couldn't request further leave.

In your situation I'd be requesting furlough or parental leave.

You both need to make compromises unless he's in healthcare; has he even asked? I know many men who have adjusted hours to care for their children, it's quite normal. I'd expect most employers to accept fewer hours given the circumstances, but presuming both your employers want to be dicks set up a schedule where one works 6-1 and the other 1-8 Mon-Fri plus a couple of catch-up hours on the weekend or one evening, then there shouldn't be any reduced work effort and it's fairly achievable without burning out.