Maternity and childcare

superhels123

Hi all, I’m new to this so apologies if incorrect. I have a question, I am currently on maternity leave having had my baby in March 6th this year. My maternity leave is due to end on 7th September at which time I was planning to return to work As a nurse approximately 30 hours a week however am become concerned that the childcare I had counted on (nursery and parents who are in 70’s) will now not be available to me. I’m not sure where I stand as in could I be furloughed? Lots of questions in my head but these are the first ones for a start

sharpe106

The government have stated they are looking at people returning from maternity leave so until they make that announcement nobody knows what help there will be.  At the moment you need to be furloughed by the 10th to qualify for furlough in the future.  

gary83

Other than the tenth of June deadline after August employers will be making their own increasing contribution to the furlough bill , many companies are not going to volunteer to pay this purely for childcare reasons. 

In addition do you work for the NHS? A government department, especially one as stretched as the NHS is pretty unlikely to furlough people for childcare reasons. Do you know of any other parents in your place of work who’ve been furloughed in order to be able to provide childcare?

Mrsn

I have to say I agree it’s highly unlikely furlough would be offered with the childcare circumstances. 

Employers at the moment aren’t really doing much to help in regards to furlough for that reason and I see less of a reason for them to help once the scheme starts to change. Not only that but the anticipated end date is only a month and a half after you are due to return to work anyway.

You are a key worker so as it stands at this point the nursery part should definitely be available to you if not I would enquire with local childminders who can accept children of key workers.

September is a very long tome away in terms of what will happen with this virus, although I know that doesn’t help when you are trying to sort out the practicalities of a return to work. Could you perhaps apply for some unpaid leave if your circumstances allow this?

LilElvis

By giving eight weeks notice you can change your return date from maternity leave. You could also ask your employer if you could take some of your accrued holiday at the end of your maternity leave.