WWYD. Furlough... or not?

[growingweeble]

I don’t even know if it is possible to be furloughed yet... but as a lone parent with two young kids I cannot deliver my work properly at the moment as well as ensure the kids are ok and homeschooled. I can do my job from home without a problem but not with two kids to supervise at the same time. I’m getting really stressed about not managing to do either of these well so I’m considering whether I should ask to be furloughed. My employer can (I think) then reclaim 80% of my salary from the new Government scheme.
The thing stopping me is that my career keeps stalling. First maternity years, then part time working when the kids were small and just as I moved to FT my recently separated husband died and I was pretty useless at work for 6 months again. I’ve only just managed to get things re-balanced and start re-invigorating my stalled career.
What are other lone parents doing, ie those who have kids 100% and don’t co-parent. Are you managing to homeschool and work?

It can't be your choice, from my understanding. Do they have the cash flow to pay you initially until they can claim back the 80% if you're not working,
do you know ?

You don't need to homeschool especially not in the Easter hols. Give yourself some slack.

I am lucky as I would continue to be paid and there isn’t an immediate cash flow issue where I work. If it isn’t an option then I will just continue to try to do as much work as I can but I’m stressing that I’m not looking after the kids properly or working properly. Maybe it is better to just do one... age old issue but particularly stark at the moment.
I know others are in the same position so I’m just wondering if the Govt scheme is an option and, if it is, if others would choose to take it.

I don’t think you can be furloughed for that reason. Your employer can only furlough you if there is no work available for you to do, it’s not a scheme to pay people without childcare. (This is my understanding anyway)

You can only be furloughed if the company is not operating and there is no work. My work is currently shut so I am furloughed, it isn't an option in/out if the business is running.

It's not YOUR choice though, OP. It's your employer's choice if there isn't work for you to do.

Sounds like the scheme isn’t designed to help those who can’t work then,... just those whose work is no longer available to do for now. Thanks for clarifying.

In my company, the director did ask if anyone wanted to volunteer to be furloughed but couldn't guarantee that they would be able to facilitate this request for everyone that volunteered. I am a lone widowed parent with one DD. I did consider it but the director wanted an answer fairly quickly and I didn't really have the time to think it through properly so I didn't volunteer as I was a bit concerned about what might happen in a few months' time, i.e., would they decide that the furloughed people would have to take another pay cut or maybe get the boot!

I'm not sure I made the right decision as I am also worried about how I will cope with home schooling and working, especially if this goes on until September. At the moment, I am ok because its the Easter holidays so I really am letting my DD have lots of downtime (and doing exactly what she likes which means watching far too much tv!) while I work.

I don't think you've got anything to lose by asking. Another option is to maybe ask if you could do your working hours at different times. If things get tricky for me, it will be my plan to ask if I can log on v. early and finish at around lunchtime therefore freeing up my afternoon for any schooling but I appreciate this might not be an option.

Good luck with whatever you decide, its not easy being a lone parent at the best of times but this situation is making it even harder.

Hi OP if you do have the choice I would say don't do it. I suspect those furloughed will be more likely to be made redundant later on.
You're right that's there's lots of us in the same boat, working and trying to homeschool and it's very stressful.
As a pp said however, cut yourself some slack, use the TV and screens to give yourself a couple of hours where you're really productive and use lunch breaks to listen to them reading etc.

You can now request to be furloughed because of childcare issues. Check the gov website.

I'm Considering taking the 20% hit to save my sanity. If there was a time frame I would work to it. The fact that it is indefinite makes me feel anxious.
Good luck @growingweeble with whatever you decide.