7 year old daughter just tested positive. Work being difficult

[Plumviolet]

My 7yo dd just got a positive corona result yesterday, I'm negative so far and I work full time in a retail environment but obviously can't now send her into childcare anymore so need to stay gone with her to look after her. My mum is vulnerable so I can't even ask her. My work are saying that I have to take unpaid leave to look after her but I am still having to pay the childminder and I can't pay her without a full pay check. What the hell do I do? Where do I stand?

Surely it is not in their interest to have an employee come in who is potentially (highly likely) positive but not officially on a test?

OP, I guess you dont have dependency leave but can you call in sick yourself and take paid sick leave

I don't know any companies that would pay sick leave for 10 days without a doctors note.
The OP has also already told them about DDs positive so they'll know she's lying.
I've also never personally worked a retail job that's paid sick pay.

OP, it's a rubbish situation but unfortunately there isn't anything you can do about it.
I'm assuming her dad wouldn't be able to help?

Have a look to see if you qualify for the grant OP.

It's saved my skin twice.

For those saying they won't test children, I am assuming a school won't let a child back in school until they have isolated for 10 days if they show symptoms of COVID

@toomuchlaundry

For those saying they won't test children, I am assuming a school won't let a child back in school until they have isolated for 10 days if they show symptoms of COVID

I think people mean they won’t do LFTs on asymptomatic children. Or I guess that maybe they just won’t tell the school the child had a temp/cough/loss of taste. Harder with a cough, but easy with a temp at the weekend.

If too many parents do that, will probably find schools will have to close with too many staff off sick and isolating , so will be in the same position, and possibly more than once.

Honestly? I would book myself a test, take her with me and swab her again, and get me a positive.

Seriously what other alternative is there?

You might be entitled to ssp. I think you can fill this out 111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/
Also as the others have said, you might be able to claim the test and trace support payment. Get in touch with your local council. Even if you aren’t eligible, some councils have a discretionary fund

Ps hope she isn’t suffering too much x

This is such a shit situation for women. And yes, we all know it will be overwhelmingly be mothers who have to miss work to care for isolating DC for 10 days.

You may be able to claim the £500. When test and trace rang after my kids tested positive they asked if I was in need of financial support whilst they isolated.

@CinderFuckingRe11a

Honestly? I would book myself a test, take her with me and swab her again, and get me a positive.

Seriously what other alternative is there?

And what if her work doesn't pay people off isolating? Then what does she do? Especially if she does then actually test positive after she's due back at work

@rosy71

You may be able to claim the £500. When test and trace rang after my kids tested positive they asked if I was in need of financial support whilst they isolated.

It’s not £500 now, it’s £750 and TTP will tell you this, but they don’t process self isolation payments. You have to test positive unless you aren’t vaccinated and the TTP database provides this information too. The discretionary fund criteria follows exactly the same guidance. Though from previous threads, the guidance is much stricter in England than Wales.

If you can’t work anything else out I’d have a chat with the childminder.

Ask if you can pay for the 10 days in a different way to normal, eg. Can you spread payment out etc. To make it more manageable.

It’s worth asking atleast

Say you have symptoms and then get a test......you can't work until result back? Or ask GP to sign you off with stress/anxiety......which I am
Sure you probably have! What a nightmare.

Hope DD isn’t too unwell and you can sort something. Very difficult.

This scenario is going to be common across the country when schools reopen next week and cases at schools start to increase.

Its all such a fucking mess isn't it? I feel for you OP.

I hope you manage to get something sorted out.

For those saying don't test, that isn't an option as most if not all childcare settings will require a negative PCR for any child who presents symptoms.

I'm not sure how my school is planning to play it but I assume if a sibling or parent tests positive, then there will be a level of testing expected by the school to keep non poorly children in school? (whether that be daily LFT tests or PCR tests on certain days?). So this is how parents of asymptomatic children will be forced into testing? To keep their other kids in school.

However I'd be fucked as if one of my 3 kids tests positive then none of them can go to school as I have no means to isolate the poorly child and take the others to school? Yes I have friends and family who could help out here and there but no-one who could do pick up and drop off everyday for 10 days.

Not to mention all the parents in the OP's position who in theory could continue to work out of the house, with regular tests, but HAVE NO FUCKING CHILDCARE FOR THIER POSITIVE CHILD SO HAVE TO STAY HOME AND LOOK AFTER THEM.

It's a ludicrous plan.

Doesn't look like the government have given working parents much thought in the new isolation rules. I think many more are going to be in the same situation over the next few weeks. Hope your DD is feeling OK OP

I genuinely cannot believe some of the horrifying responses here.
So aggressive.

Do what you’d normally do!

How exactly? What is it you lot, responding in this way, do when your child is sick, please do enlighten me?

My guess is you rely on a grandparent, babysitter, friendly neighbour, other school mum etc.

How after 18 months of being in this pandemic can’t you get hour head Around the fact that it would be impossible for the op to do this given the nature of the virus.

Either that or you just want to put down someone on a lower income, who can’t take the hit of losing pay.

Or maybe you are just so sheltered you imagine everyone has lots of rainy day money.

Absolutely heartless and spiteful.

Anyway back to op. Sorry not much helpful suggestion from me I don’t know how the government haven’t clarified.

Could you try citizens advice perhaps?

It’s tough and I don’t have a solution but hope you can work around it. This needs to be a warning to many though- better save incase this happens to you, if you can’t save because your unable to, things can get harder….it’s got the potential to be a really shit winter. This is why I also think this Xmas will be differnt from the rest and more centered around family than material things.

How exactly? What is it you lot, responding in this way, do when your child is sick, please do enlighten me?

Took time off work and looked after them. DH and I split the care between us but no, no grandparents close by, no neighbours/other school mums, etc - just us.

Do you feel enlightened now?

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

What do you normally do when she is unwell? If she had chicken pox or a sickness bug or something? How is this situation different?

Situation is different as this disease requires child to isolate...

Three weeks ago everyone would be jumping all over you calling you selfish and worse for even considering stepping foot over your threshold. Now apparently you ask elderly relatives to come and care for your child whilst you go to work. Cos it's all so different now.
Rightio.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross
The op doesn’t mention dad or dp.

She mentions her mum who therefore is presumably her go to for a sick child.
But this is corona virus. She can’t ask her mum. Or any of the other suggestions I said. The point being it’s covid. Not a normal childhood illness.

And here’s a clap for you if you can take the time off without worrying about it.
Some people can’t and it’s a huge financial burden.

If you can only be smug because you managed with your family set up and job, yet another mum may potentially be worrying about how to feed her seven year old due to this mess that the government have created, then I’m far from enlightened. I’m completely confused by your lack of compassion .

[quote lastrolo10]@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross
The op doesn’t mention dad or dp.

She mentions her mum who therefore is presumably her go to for a sick child.
But this is corona virus. She can’t ask her mum. Or any of the other suggestions I said. The point being it’s covid. Not a normal childhood illness.

And here’s a clap for you if you can take the time off without worrying about it.
Some people can’t and it’s a huge financial burden.

If you can only be smug because you managed with your family set up and job, yet another mum may potentially be worrying about how to feed her seven year old due to this mess that the government have created, then I’m far from enlightened. I’m completely confused by your lack of compassion .[/quote]
Oh ffs!

You literally asked the question “what do you lot do when your child is sick?” And although obviously your tone was passive aggressively bitchy, as if you’d delivered some amazingly intelligent “gotcha”, I answered your question.

And now, to prove the passive-aggressive bitchiness, you’re STILL not happy and I’m apparently smug - despite not having any local family support or a handy baby sitter. You have no idea how easy or hard it is for me to take time off work, or what it costs me financially. But when my child is sick - in response to your question - I take the time off work BECAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY FUCKING OPTION I HAVE.

OK?

So here’s a clap for you and your wonderfully compassionate ability to sit at home and post oh so snarkily and then pat yourself on the back for what a wonderful human being you are.