As the Government announces that schools will remain closed until March 8th, at the earliest, employers are putting employees under pressure to work different hours in order to bypass being furloughed.
With the latest announcement millions of working parents will continue to face the challenges of combining work with home schooling with many employers refusing to offer furlough as an option.
A number of employers are looking at options to avoid using the furlough scheme, including the introduction of “sliding hours” where the employee is asked to change their hours to start work early, for example working 6:30am to 9am, before online schooling starts.
In addition, the employee may be asked to work some hours in the evening once schooling is over.
Following the closure of schools at the beginning of the third national lockdown the HMRC updated its guidance to confirm that employees can be put on furlough if they are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from Coronavirus.
If an employee is therefore unable to work (including from home) or needs to work reduced hours, because they have caring responsibilities resulting from Coronavirus, such as caring for children who are at home as a result of school and childcare facilities closing, or because they are caring for a vulnerable individual in their household, they can be furloughed.
In reality, law firm Slater Heelis suggest that various employers are not using furlough, as businesses fight to survive during the extended lockdown period. This decision can create added pressure for parents.
Tracey Guest, Employment Partner at Slater Heelis comments: “It appears that employers are now receiving an increased number of requests from parents with children at primary school, asking if they can be placed on furlough.
“The issue is that an employer is not under any obligation to agree to place any member of staff on furlough or flexible furlough. It is clear that some employers are therefore deciding not to use the furlough scheme going forwards which is creating more childcare issues for working parents who do not fall under the critical care banner.”
Tracey concludes: “Employers therefore need to think carefully about how to respond to applications for furlough from working parents. The ongoing stress of combining working from home with home schooling is likely to continue, with the latest announcement, with people under pressure to agree to different working hours as they fear for their jobs should they not comply.”