Petition · past parliament
Furlough Key workers unable to work due to childcare issues caused by covid-19
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
Key workers who are unable to work as they have no suitable childcare available - due to the situation with covid-19 - who are unable to work from home, should be furloughed by their employers or be allowed to claim 80% of wages from the government. Instead of being forced to take unpaid leave.
If a key worker is unable to work due to issues with childcare - even if caused by covid-19 - their employer is unable to furlough them.
Many childcare providers are choosing to close, creating a shortage of childcare for key worker children.
This especially is detrimental to single parent families, who have no second adult to care for the children.
Employers have to give parents leave to care for their children but this does not have to be paid. Causing considerable financial hardship.
Many childcare providers are choosing to close, creating a shortage of childcare for key worker children.
This especially is detrimental to single parent families, who have no second adult to care for the children.
Employers have to give parents leave to care for their children but this does not have to be paid. Causing considerable financial hardship.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign these petitions calling for the same action:
Fund paid parental leave for all employed parents of school aged children: Fund paid parental leave for all employed parents of school aged children
Help for working parents with <5yo who can't work remotely as caring for them: Help for working parents with <5yo who can't work remotely as caring for them
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Fund paid parental leave for all employed parents of school aged children: Fund paid parental leave for all employed parents of school aged children
Help for working parents with <5yo who can't work remotely as caring for them: Help for working parents with <5yo who can't work remotely as caring for them
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
Timeline
| 31 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 18 May 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
18 May 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.