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Original poster

Literally why am I a key worker?

174 replies

Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 14:11

I'm feeling so frustrated today.

I work for a large multi national retailer which is currently classed as an essential shop as we sell predominantly food.
My role is absolutely not key, I dont contribute to feeding the nation, to getting the food on the shelves, to checking the quality or assisting in the logistics of it arriving. However the entire company has been classed as key workers, all 16,000 of us which just seems crazy.
Dh is a key worker and cannot work from home (he works in Fire protection predominantly in care homes).
There's so much pressure coming in rom all angles regarding not sending dc to school if you WFH. I wfh 80%, of the week but work will not allow me to look after / home school my 6yo as they say there is no requirement due to my KW status.

I feel like such a fraud. The worst thing is the school know what job I do at the head office and that I work from home and I feel pathetic.

Work have now told me I am to lie and say I've been moved to one of the teams that feed the nation if my status is queried.

I feel physically sick all the time, like im putting dc and his teachers at risk, at what the school must think of me and at the fact that my company are being so inconsiderate.
They told me if I really want to have him off I can take unpaid leave - what for the next 3 months?! We have a mortgage and bills to pay.

The whole key worker thing needs a massive review. It's just a massive joke the whole thing.

OP posts:
SixesAndEights · 09/01/2021 14:59

Just keep your child at home and silent and unseen during any Zoom meetings.

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 15:00

@unmarkedbythat

M&S sell food. If someone works as a fashion buyer for M&S they are not contributing to feeding the nation but they are employed by a retailer which sells food. Is this enough for the wilfully ignorant among you to understand how someone can work for a business that sells food and have nothing at all to do with that element of the business?
I'm glad some people get it Smile
OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 09/01/2021 15:04

How will they know your child is home?

You're mostly doing admin/spreadsheets/meetings are planned?

I wouldn't tell them - your child is old enough to sit in the kitchen and read when you absolutely HAVE to talk to people?

AllDoneIn · 09/01/2021 15:06

Put it this way. Every teacher I know is moving heaven and earth to not send their own children into school, even if they are in working on site and leaving children with a partner wfh. Why? Because we know how quickly infection spreads through schools. We have seen it with our own eyes.

The utter stupidity of schools having to take so many pupils means they may as well be open. This pandemic will run and run because our Gov has no grown ups in the room to really clearly tell people they need to stay home and to make businesses move heaven and earth to make this possible even if that means compensating them.

My latest eye roll was for the woman I know who is a beautician who works from home in normal times but currently can't work. She's still sending her children to school and mostly Mrs Hinch-ing her house because although she's essentially a SAHP right now her boyfriend is a 'keyworker'. Idiot.

madroid · 09/01/2021 15:06

Union? HSE?

Or just keep your dd at home and see what they do? Afterall, if it went to a tribunal (it wouldn't) how would the company come off trying to defend any disciplinary action?

surelynotnever · 09/01/2021 15:07

There was stuff on teh news today about how the definition of key worker is far too wide, means far too many children are still going to school, and there is far too much spreading of the virus as a result of all these 'key workers.'. I have a friend who has a key worker letter, and he really, really isn't, and neither is his whole company.

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 15:08

@madroid

Union? HSE?

Or just keep your dd at home and see what they do? Afterall, if it went to a tribunal (it wouldn't) how would the company come off trying to defend any disciplinary action?

Very true actually. Hadn't thought of it like that!
OP posts:
RosesforMama · 09/01/2021 15:08

I would keep her home.
I would tell my company that she does not interfere with my role -if they found out. I would have thought teams calls could be easily managed if you place the laptop with the camera looking into a corner so she isn't "in the background" and keep yourself on mute most of the time

Fwiw I am a keyworker, a proper one, but my child is not going in as I am able to wfh 90 percent of the time and DH can cover occasions where I must go on site. As long as it doesn't prevent me doing my job it's not up to my employer to dictate this imo.

WorraLiberty · 09/01/2021 15:08

@LaurieFairyCake

How will they know your child is home?

You're mostly doing admin/spreadsheets/meetings are planned?

I wouldn't tell them - your child is old enough to sit in the kitchen and read when you absolutely HAVE to talk to people?

The OP is yet to answer these questions
humtar · 09/01/2021 15:10

Lots of us are expected to work from home whilst having our children at home.
I'm a teacher, I have to work from home, including online class zoom sessions whist supposedly educating my own children. I can only use KW provision in their school when I physically have to be in my school (for KW provision)

AChickenCalledDaal · 09/01/2021 15:11

I can but am not allowed!

In that case you can't. I don't think you need to feel guilty - there are people taking the mickey, but you aren't one of them.

DoubleDeckerBusRideLover · 09/01/2021 15:11

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

If there is a place for your child at school, then why are you thing yourself up in such knots about it?

The school will have capacity limits. Your child is within that. They have decided they can accommodate him, so they have.

FYI - schools have been told they cannot set limits.
boatyroo · 09/01/2021 15:11

I'm in almost exactly the same situation in a very similar company I suspect.
So difficult as reading here I feel terrible for even thinking about sending my 4 yr old in.
I've done two days working with him at home this week and it's very difficult. I have very frequent calls with colleagues.
I'll need to send my child a few days next week as I have all day meetings (literally 9-6), and I just cannot give minimal attention to a 4 yr old for that long.
My husband is also a key worker officially and can't work from home, though definitely not out saving lives or anything!

ReadySteadyBed · 09/01/2021 15:15

I assume the school doesn’t have unlimited places for KW children so could you say there is so place for her as other parents children are higher up the list? Add in school staff shortages as a reason....have you told your employer she has a place?

AntiHop · 09/01/2021 15:17

I completely understand why you can't risk trying to pretend to your work that your 6 year old isn't at home. I've got 6 year old and my DH is mostly at home with her. Although she's very mature but there's no way we could 100% rely on her to never interrupt a meeting, or burst out crying when she's hurt herself.

Your employer is being very unreasonable.

DayBath · 09/01/2021 15:17

Email to the boss. "Just to confirm our conversation on X date, you would like me to lie to the school to get my child a keyworker place in order that I can continue to work rather than be furloughed? Please let me know if this is correct"

CC everyone you can to drop them in it.

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 15:20

I have been set up from home in the exact same position for 10 months. If I suddenly move to an area of the house where she won't be in the background its going to be extremely obvious.
Its not a case if "absolutely have ti talk to people". I have on average 4 meetings on teams per day during my working day. Many 1 on 1s, some with more in but we don't switch our cameras off. I could probably get away with hiding it for a day or 2, not 6 weeks or more.

OP posts:
boatyroo · 09/01/2021 15:21

The thing is, they don't have to furlough her. And a supermarket or similar who has arguably done well during this period will be very reluctant to furlough any workers as this will be known about. I suspect if she pushes it with them she would be offered unpaid leave.

Doris86 · 09/01/2021 15:22

@DayBath

Email to the boss. "Just to confirm our conversation on X date, you would like me to lie to the school to get my child a keyworker place in order that I can continue to work rather than be furloughed? Please let me know if this is correct"

CC everyone you can to drop them in it.

It’s not lying to the school though us it? The OP works for a food retailer. Official government guidance says that anyone working for a food retailer is a key worker.

Even if you’re not physically stacking the shelves, or driving delivery lorries, you are still contributing to the running of the company to ensure people can ultimately get food.

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 15:23

@ReadySteadyBed

I assume the school doesn’t have unlimited places for KW children so could you say there is so place for her as other parents children are higher up the list? Add in school staff shortages as a reason....have you told your employer she has a place?
I made the mistake of telling them Tuesday she has been accepted into school when they first started putting pressure on for me to "sort out my childcare issues". However school on Tuesday were very accommodating and granted everyone a place who requested one and yesterday put something out to say they may now review it next week as they feel they have too many (i agree with them btw)
OP posts:
midnightstar66 · 09/01/2021 15:23

Are you sure about that? My dc are strictly only allowed at school when I am working out of the home. I know plenty of people who have turned down key worker spaces as they can work around it and it's not necessary to send them

TooStressyTooMessy · 09/01/2021 15:24

Can you do what DayBath suggests and force them to put it it writing? Or would that risk your job?

You have my sympathies, I am not in the same situation but have been in similar and the guilt and frustration is horrific. So many companies are forcing staff to send their children in which will only increase the R.

christinarossetti19 · 09/01/2021 15:25

Just keep her at home and, if questioned, say that she's got a bit of a cold/sore throat/cough so needs to be at home and that you're waiting for the result of a covid test which, when it comes turns out to be 'inconclusive' but child still has cold, so still needs to isolate.

I reckon that you could get a good term out of this with EYFS/KS1 kids. Fine over the weekend, planning to send them in on Monday then they threw up in the middle of the night on Sunday, so that's 48 hours etc.

By the time this has played out and you've been working perfectly well at home with your dc there, they'll likely have forgotten about it.

TooStressyTooMessy · 09/01/2021 15:25

I’d also consider contacting the school letting them know that it is your employer who is forcing this, not you.

orangecinnamon · 09/01/2021 15:26

@Esmerelda01

I have been set up from home in the exact same position for 10 months. If I suddenly move to an area of the house where she won't be in the background its going to be extremely obvious. Its not a case if "absolutely have ti talk to people". I have on average 4 meetings on teams per day during my working day. Many 1 on 1s, some with more in but we don't switch our cameras off. I could probably get away with hiding it for a day or 2, not 6 weeks or more.
Could you start using the background function...if you have one?