What are my options?

outofpocketemployee

I'm currently furloughed but my work is starting to go back in this week, in stages. My employer would like me back in.
My wife is also starting work again this week. Thankfully she can work from home. I can't and would have to go in to the office. 
We have an 18 month old child who would normally be with some kind of child care during the day. Obviously, the lockdown means that can't happen.
My wife earns 30% more than me, so her job is our priority. My employer thinks she should be able to do her job and look after the little one. I'm telling that's impossible and I need to stay furloughed to be able to do childcare.
Am I right? Are there any other options?

Jeremy535897

I sympathise, because I think a lot of people will be in this position. If your employer wants you to return to work, that is his prerogative. You can only request that you stay furloughed. If you say you are not going back to work, your employer may decide to put you on unpaid leave or possibly dismiss you. 

LilElvis

Can you ask your employer if it's possible for you to vary your start/ finish time to allow you to cover some of the childcare? Can your wife vary her hours so that she can work whilst you are at home?

Gonna-be-debt-free

Jeremy535897 said:

I sympathise, because I think a lot of people will be in this position. If your employer wants you to return to work, that is his prerogative. You can only request that you stay furloughed. If you say you are not going back to work, your employer may decide to put you on unpaid leave or possibly dismiss you. 

LilElvis said:

Can you ask your employer if it's possible for you to vary your start/ finish time to allow you to cover some of the childcare? Can your wife vary her hours so that she can work whilst you are at home?

A combination of both of those ^
Very politely request your employer to keep you on furlough, pointing out the guidance that says that childcare is an acceptable criteria for furlough, but say that if that can't be done is there any way they could adjust your hours to help in the situation.

Mrsn

It appears from the guidance that childcare settings for those not yet attending school will also be looking to open their doors again from 1st June therefore you are technically only in need of a very temporary solution.

Speak very very nicely to your employer to see what can be done because in reality childcare won’t be their main concern right now.

Hermann

It was stated today by PM in Parliament that lack of childcare is an impediment to returning to work and that employers are expected to recognise that.   However there appears to be nothing in the published plan that states that in writing.

It may also be worth noting that on page 26 of the published plan it states.....

The Government is also amending its guidance to clarify that paid childcare, for example nannies and childminders, can take place subject to being able to meet the public health principles at Annex A, because these are roles where working from home is not possible. This should enable more working parents to return to work. 

So it may be possible to re establish some childcare as that is no longer entirely unavailable due to lockdown.

outofpocketemployee

Doesn't matter now, I've been 'let go'

Jeremy535897

outofpocketemployee said:

Doesn't matter now, I've been 'let go'

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Thrugelmir

outofpocketemployee said:

Doesn't matter now, I've been 'let go'

The reason given? 

sharpe106

outofpocketemployee said:

Doesn't matter now, I've been 'let go'

What reason was given? Is it just you or have others been let go to? i.e. was it done fairly or just becaues you wanted to be furloughed still?

outofpocketemployee

Primary reason is because I can't provide an answer to when I can work due to child care. It's just me, below the other reason, I believe, from my previous post

have been off work since the lockdown started due to having to look after my 1 year old. My work closed down a week later.

 My employer has been paying me and a few of my co-workers 50% of our usual wages since the lockdown. I should mention they skipped a weeks wages and still owe 2 weeks full wages (we are paid 2 weeks in arrears), which we are told we will get when this is over. The 50% is coming from company funds. We are told we will receive the extra 30% when they claim the money from the HMRC furlough scheme.

Our concern is our employer keeps telling us they have been having issues with furlough claims via the government's website and that they may not see the money until December. I find this hard to believe. I have found no evidence of others having issues with claims, my employer states it is due to us being hourly employees??? They have been dismissive and/or skeptical of the scheme from the moment it was announced.

We have had to sign contracts that state we will need to give 1 years notice if we decide to leave or repay all monies paid to us during the lockdown/furlough period. This is based on the company getting the money from the scheme. If our employer doesn't get the money from the scheme we have to give 2 years notice!!

We (the employees) are concerned we are now trapped and we don't expect to see the remaining 30% of wages owed. We strongly believe (mainly due our employers history) that they are going to say they haven't managed to get the money/grant from the government but in reality they will have done and will pocket the money themselves. 

Are we over reacting and being paranoid or do we genuinely have reason to be concerned?? 

None of have actually been furloughed and we won't be getting the missing 30% of our Furlough money. It's either been pocketed by the company or no claim has been made and they are trying to trap employees in to nasty contracts. I should add, these contracts also expected employees to pay the furlough money, PLUS 100%, If they were to ever leave.