Here to help working parents

During the coronavirus pandemic, many parents and carers have adapted to working from home. School closures have added to this challenge, with parents finding themselves responsible for their children’s home learning. 

Most schools across Manchester have now returned to a version of normal, with full attendance expected from all children. However, many parents are dealing with the balance between work and home life, particularly where their child’s school ‘bubble’ has closed due to a confirmed case of the virus.

In this blog post, we at Citizens Advice Manchester will help you to understand your rights as a working parent, so you can feel prepared if your child is unwell or asked to self-isolate.

Flexible working

If your child is unwell or asked to self-isolate, you may be worried about the impact on your work and income. In the first instance, you can speak to your employer to find out whether you can work flexibly around your caring needs. For example, you may be able to work from home temporarily, if you don’t already.

Even if your employer doesn’t usually offer flexible working patterns, it’s worth approaching them to find a temporary solution that works for you and your employer. 

Taking leave

If you can’t work from home, you can consider taking leave while your child is not attending school. You could take annual leave - some employers will allow you to ‘buy’ additional days, which may allow you to cover the time your child is out of school.

You can also ask for unpaid leave. It’s a good idea to consider how this may impact your household finances, even if it’s just temporarily. You can speak to our advisers about the impact on your benefits and income. It’s a good idea to put your request in writing so that you have a record of what is agreed.

You may be able to take unpaid parental leave if you have worked for your employer for at least a year. You can take 18 weeks for each of your children until they’re 18. Your child’s other parent can also take 18 weeks. If you’re unsure of your legal rights to take parental leave, contact our advice team for more information.

If your employer doesn’t agree 

The law says that your employer must consider letting you take some unpaid leave, but only for a limited period of time. If you’re having difficulty communicating with your employer about your need to care for your child while they’re off school, you can contact us to find out more about your rights.

If you need further help or advice on understanding your rights, you can contact our Adviceline free on 0808 278 7800 or explore our website to find out ways to get advice online.