The Trades Union Congress (TUC) states that working parents with children, who struggle to balance their work-life and childcare, should be put on the furlough scheme whilst schools are closed during lockdown.
According to the union, many employers may be unaware that they can take advantage of the scheme to support their employees who have children.
The TUC states that employers should “do the right thing and furlough mums and dads”, as many parents will already be “frantically” looking for a solution to the schools’ closure.
Following the announcement of a national lockdown in England, schools are set to be closed other than for vulnerable children and the children of key workers until mid-February.
General Secretary of TUC states that due to the small amount of time that parents have had to find childcare support, “many will have no choice but to cut their hours or take unpaid leave from work,” which will lead to “further hardship and will hit mums and single parents hardest.”
First introduced in March 2020, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) states that firms can place parents on this scheme if they cannot work due to lack of childcare.
The TUC has stated that one in six mothers reduced their working hours because of nursey and school closures during 2020.
As a result, the union is calling for the Government to give employees the right to paid parental leave and flexible working beyond the current crisis and, for self-employed parents, access to the self-employed income support scheme.
A spokesperson for the Government states that it would be “socially responsible” for employers to consider an employee’s childcare responsibilities and individual circumstances.
“We encourage both employers and employees to be as flexible as possible during this difficult time to support colleagues with childcare responsibilities.
“That includes providing flexible working and home working arrangements, as well as considering requests from parents to be furloughed, which is at the employer’s discretion.”
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