If a child has to isolate, but not parents, how will you manage childcare?

[ginforall]

Something which has been playing on my mind, so interested in others opinions on this. If your child tests positive so needs to isolate for 10 days how will you manage childcare if you do not need to isolate and work expects you in? I officially get one day paid to sort out childcare, and then it would be unpaid, DH same. Usually we would ask grandparents if needed (but obviously not if DS had covid). I'm assuming one of us would have to take time off unpaid which would feel a little frustrating (both teachers so no option to wfh).

Hopefully won't be an issue but interested in how other parents are planning to manage.

We have already agreed we would split it and use annual leave,
If we didn't have enough annual leave then I'd take the time unpaid as I'm the lower earner so that would have the least impact finances (although still significant).

Work would hate that and want us to split in but we have to pay our mortgage and put food on the table do they'd have to get over it.

The government need to sort this out. So many parents are at risk of losing their jobs over this. I'm allowed a day or two off unpaid to sort out someone else to watch my child if they are ill. No one is going to do that if they've got covid. There's going to be so many ill children left to fend for themselves while parents work when it might not be appropriate. They need some sort of paid covid care leave.

@IWasBornInAThunderstorm

The government need to sort this out. So many parents are at risk of losing their jobs over this. I'm allowed a day or two off unpaid to sort out someone else to watch my child if they are ill. No one is going to do that if they've got covid. There's going to be so many ill children left to fend for themselves while parents work when it might not be appropriate. They need some sort of paid covid care leave.

Spain introduced this.

The UK government have shafted workers, with the exception of the rushed and therefore over-generous furlough.

@KicksLikeASIeepTwitch I know that was done a couple of times last year by staff at home but then cover went manic with lots of supply etc so it stopped. Definitely something I could suggest if needed though. Thanks.

@IWasBornInAThunderstorm

The government need to sort this out. So many parents are at risk of losing their jobs over this. I'm allowed a day or two off unpaid to sort out someone else to watch my child if they are ill. No one is going to do that if they've got covid. There's going to be so many ill children left to fend for themselves while parents work when it might not be appropriate. They need some sort of paid covid care leave.

It's reasons like this that people will stop testing too. Harsh reality is some can't afford to take 10 days unpaid leave, (multiple times if you have more than 1 dc). Morally we all know test and isolate is the correct thing to do but morals don't pay the bills and put food on the table....fact

Wellbythebloodyhell yes it doesn't seem well thought through. That or they don't care about people isolating anymore.

I know it's morally right for us to isolate but if my workplace puts pressure on me to work then I'm going to have to put my family first.

@IWasBornInAThunderstorm I'd do exactly the same as I suspect most people will.

English legislation is

• self employed zero - no sick leave , no statutory sick pay
• PAYE employees - first 3 days off sick - no pay, day 4 you may get statutory sick pay and fairly low state levels. If you are off sick too much you might get sacked. No right to unpaid time off over than about a day to look after a sick or isolating child.

I think that remains the law despite CV19 - no right to take unpaid leave to care for a child so you have to hire an emergency nanny or nurse or something if the child is positive and has to isolate.

(Plus some people on benefits can get up to £500 when required by law to isolate eg if they have covid themselves)

@wellbythebloodyhell I think the moral case is on the government and employers to pay due to absence if child is isolating/positive with a Covid test. Many employers could accommodate this as a temporary measure but I really doubt this will happen despite the fact that we should be doing this as a society.
When there are very few restrictions in society you wonder why parents would put themselves through it? I've been through it all last year when my children had covid.

I don't know how I will manage it as a single parent. No paid holiday time here either.

@Howshouldibehave

or will they be forced to hire a daily nanny or nurse even if that takes a month's pay to cover the cost?

Is that even a thing? Emergency nannies that work closely with children with covid?

There was one nanny offering her services in a parenting group I am in (double-vaccinated, and an (overseas) qualified nurse too). She's very expensive, say similar to a good IT contractor day rate.

If a child has a positive PCR (the only reason they would need to isolate in England) then you can’t have anybody enter your home. So that would rule out any childminder/ nanny/grandparent/ neighbour etc.

@Girlscout1910

If a child has a positive PCR (the only reason they would need to isolate in England) then you can’t have anybody enter your home. So that would rule out any childminder/ nanny/grandparent/ neighbour etc.

You can, as long as they isolate too.

@Girlscout1910

If a child has a positive PCR (the only reason they would need to isolate in England) then you can’t have anybody enter your home. So that would rule out any childminder/ nanny/grandparent/ neighbour etc.

Can you link to that rule?

This is from gov. Uk stay at home guidance for households with a positive case.
Visitors to the household
Do not invite or allow social visitors to enter your home, including friends and family. If you want to speak to someone who is not a member of your household, use the phone, email or social media.

If you or a family member receive essential care in your home, carers should continue to visit and follow the provision of home care guidance to reduce the risk of infection.

All non-essential in-house services and repairs should be postponed until the self-isolation period is completed. Delivery drivers should not come into your home, so make sure you ask them to leave items outside for collection.

I’m not sure child care is classed as a ‘social visit’… surely the care of a child is ‘essential care’?

Why would anyone volunteer to look after a covid child?

Paid professionals are refusing to have children who have positive cases at hime into nurseries or other day care -

If that person gets covid they can no longer offer services and will be unpaid for several weeks -

@BluebellsGreenbells

Why would anyone volunteer to look after a covid child?

Paid professionals are refusing to have children who have positive cases at hime into nurseries or other day care -

If that person gets covid they can no longer offer services and will be unpaid for several weeks -

Oh no I agree, I was just interested in whether it was an actual rule that someone couldn’t enter your house if there is a positive case within it. I imagine some family members would volunteer to look after children rather than their parents have to take unpaid leave. My parents still work full time so obviously couldn’t, but I’m sure some would.

I'd do it for a sibling's child if they were going to be really screwed otherwise. But that's it.

For those asking for a link to the rule about not allowing people into the home when there's a pos test (apart from basic common sense of course) I've found it. This is the new guidance

@Looneytune253

For those asking for a link to the rule about not allowing people into the home when there's a pos test (apart from basic common sense of course) I've found it. This is the new guidance

👍 someone already linked to it a page or so ago but thank you. I don’t think childcare would be considered a social visit… more an essential service.

@Neverrains also if you click on the link in the middle of that text it takes you to the definition of essential care and it's more about nursing etc rather than childcare

@FfrothiCoffi see the second screenshot posted which is linked to by the first one

I suppose it’s all open to interpretation. I can’t see how care of a young child is a ‘social visit’.
Entirely irrelevant to me as I don’t have anyone to ask, and wouldn’t be able to afford a nanny etc, I was just interested in the actual guidance.

I don't think it is when the second link explains it exactly.