Advice re Return to Work

puppetmaster00

… Post resolved.

74jax

Whilst others can answer the majority of your thread I can add a little about my previous position and my husband's. 
I worked for a FTSE100, most people office based are at home. Each month, male and females, were asked their childcare arrangements for the month. Initially the company were flexible as we all had no choice, as wfh became the norm it was clear you couldn't do your work whilst looking after /home schooling children.  My old company offered unpaid leave, flexi hours etc to help. 
My husband is asked (and he asks his team) weekly if childcare is an issue for the foreseeable - he doesn't even have kids, but everyone is asked. 
I just wanted to add this so you don't feel singled out. It's possible it's a new way of working, and you being out of the system for a year wouldn't know. There is nothing wrong, when asked this by your boss, if everyone is asked this. 

anmarj

be aware, even pre covid, they could reject your request for fleixble working, so when you do put in the request make sure that you can explain good business reasons for allowing it. asking about how you manage childcare is reasonable in a sense, children don't know boundries, even my son, who is 7, still comes in and asks if i can go and play with him.  Glad you have spoken to the union, but we are in strange times, and business are learning. before you ask, I have been working from home for year, and dealing with major illness at the same time and felt loss in the whole team working process due to absence.