Furloughed Lone Parents returning to work with no childcare - advice & shared views please

[mummytippy]

I've been furloughed since 24/3 after previously offering to work from home and being told no. I do admin work in an office so working from home is definitely do-able once I have the paperwork. I've no idea what my boss's reasons were as I have the technology and it's not rocket science.

I have a 13 yo ds in Year 9 who obviously isn't going back to school anytime soon. I've been home schooling him as he's the type of child who has needed me to stand over him to ensure he stays on task.
He has Dyslexia and a limited concentration span. The work set by his school has also been set in multiple formats, not all online so I can't just leave him to it.
Home learning is not the be all and end all here...
My DS has friends he may arrange to meet up with once I've gone to work and I'd never know!

Today I've had a text from my boss telling me they're re-opening next week. I work 3 full days 9-5.
Working half days is not an option as they're wanting to keep things as much the same as before as possible.

Aside from Boris making it clear in his speech yesterday, that single parents with no childcare are 'impeded' and have a 'barrier' in returning to work and the Government would 'hope employers are understanding of this'

I also found this on the Gov.UK Website:

www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

''Employees with caring responsibilities

Employees who are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19) can be furloughed. For example, employees that need to look after children can be furloughed''.

I can't leave my ds at home by himself so how do I reply to my boss?

What are everyone else's plans on how to contact their employer to ask to remain on furlough due to no childcare?

I have elderly parents too (I'm an only child) who are relying on me at the moment with shopping etc so I cannot use their child care services as before as they're shielding and I cannot afford to fall ill as I'm the head of the family currently.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.
I had previously posted similarly in the Covid Section of Mumsnet but was guided here to the lone parent section for further advice

Legally a child who is of secondary school age may be left alone in the home. I don't think therefore you can say you have no childcare as it is not necessary.

As I posted on the other thread, I'd email - for the paper trail.
I'd say you've always been willing to continue working and are more than happy to work from home. If necessary, say you'd do months end/salaries in the office if needed.
If he responds in the negative, then request furloughing to continue due to childcare issues.
Legally, 13 is not an accepted age. There is no legal age, its about you believing that your child has the maturity to be home alone and obviously you don't.

I would assume that the definition of ‘children’ where this is concerned, is in line with the tax credits element that pays for childcare (up to secondary school age)

@Thatbitchcarolebaskin
Yoy can get uc and tax credits help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and disabled).
So yes, op would be eligible.

@Solomummy

Thank you for posting on here too.
I am actually in receipt of UC as a result of being furloughed to top up my pay as I'm on a low income.
I have just received my first payment last week.
I was in receipt of WTC and CTC previously but the UC has now replaced this.
I'm still being assessed for Council Tax benefit

As was advised on your last thread..your employer can furlough you if they want to but they don't have to. If they decide there is work to do and choose not to furlough you, your choice is unpaid leave, annual leave or redundancy.

Parental leave is an option, its unpaid, but your employer can tell you to delay it for another time if they want to, so that's not a foolproof option either.

@SoloMummy

I just wanted to add that I didn't get the 'childcare element' of CTC as didn't/don't use a childcare provider.
I think my post may have been misleading in that what I was meaning by childcare was myself being home... and that the only option I'm potentially facing is leaving my ds at home alone

@kissmysass

Yes I have read all the other comments on my other post and am aware it is at the employers discretion - thank you

Ok, so what advice are you looking for?

You can either reply to your boss saying you'll be in the office, ask to work from home, or tell him you won't be coming in and leave the decision about unpaid leave or redundancy with him.

I think it's going to be difficult to convince someone that your year 9 son can't stay at home 3 days per week. Can you swap his "school days" for the time being so he does school work while you're home and the three days you're working count as his "weekend?" In all honesty the fact you say you cannot leave your nearly 14 year old at home for 8 hours (x3 days) because he might go out with friends or cause trouble etc.. that isnt your employers problem. If they won't let you work from home you need to come to a solution with them or face losing your job. Your employer holds all the cards here as furlough isn't compulsory.

I'm not sure what help you're after? Happy to try and advise though.

What do you do in summer, you went to work last summer left him home?

Do that. If he leaves the house then you're right, you can only tell him not to.

I believe on the last thread the OP said her parents look after her son, but they're shielding as they're elderly.

My ideal situ to tackle all is to work from home.

Last summer my ds went to my folks but obvs he can't currently as they're sheilding.

I have contacted my employer and requested to work from home. They are going to see what they can put in place. Fingers crossed the MD will see it's the right thing to do currently.

How did it go?

I've had a reply back and they've decided to keep me on furlough for the time being. Said they're quiet and not all employees are going back at present. Said they're bringing members back in stages starting next week as there is nothing for them to do at the moment... bit perplexed why they asked if could swap my days, then continued the furloughing but it is what it is

To be honest OP wfh with a child who needs constant supervision of their work is extremely stressful so furlough might be the best thing. I agree with PP about swapping the days around so that the weekend becomes school days and I've done that several times with DD as we just couldn't get through the work otherwise.