Schools out for the summer....
a.cousineau • March 26, 2020
SCHOOL CLOSURES – WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MY BUSINESS?
On 18 March 2020 the Government confirmed that from the end of the day on Friday 20 March all schools would close until further notice.
Advice was also given for nurseries and pre-schools to close in line with school closures. This decision took effect for all children apart from children of ‘key workers’ i.e. those individuals working in health care, food delivery, some production sites etc.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY BUSINESS?
Unless your business provides essential services your employees with children will no longer have fixed childcare arrangements in place. This means that there are likely to be disruptions to your business by way of your employees being absent from work.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
In the absence of updated guidance from the government we are left to apply the laws that we have in place. Presently if parent’s or carers experience childcare emergencies, they are entitled to take a reasonable amount of unpaid leave. The purpose of this leave is so that the parent or carer can make alternative arrangements for their children.
The difference in terms of the current situation, is that there will be very few options available to parents – particularly given that the government have expressly set out that grandparents (who usually fall within the vulnerable group) must not look after their grandchildren.
Arguably the reason for school closures is to isolate children from one another and from gathering in large groups. Therefore, any alternative arrangements will need to be bespoke and are, like toilet paper, going to be in low supply.
It would be welcomed for the government to provide an updated indication of what should be considered ‘reasonable’ in these circumstances. It seems likely that the definition of what is reasonable will need to be stretched and employers need to be prepared to be flexible.
At present any leave taken to look after family and dependents is usually unpaid leave – although some employers may offer enhanced terms, which will need to be considered on a case by case basis.
WHAT CAN I DO?
The best things that an employer can do are 1) prepare to be flexible where possible, and 2) keep lines of communication open with employees.
If employees are able to work from home and can do so effectively whilst caring for their children, then this may be a workable solution. If the children are quite young or need a lot of care then perhaps the employee’s working hours can be shortened and shifted around to accommodate this, for example once the children are in bed.
As always, it will be important to keep in contact with your employees and make sure they understand your expectations and business requirements
WHAT ABOUT PAY?
At present, time taken off to support family and dependents is unpaid, unless as an employer you have enhanced contractual terms.
If an employee is at home caring for children but is able to work and you agree to them working, you would need to pay them in the usual way or in line with any agreement made between you i.e. if caring for children will only allow part-time work, then you could agree that the employee is paid part time hours.
As an alternative, you can seek to agree that an employee take paid holiday instead of time off for family and dependents.
Remember, if you have an employee who is at home caring for children but they become sick or need to self-isolate, they will be entitled to statutory sick pay (or company sick pay if you have enhanced terms) and new rules mean that statutory sick pay will start from day one of either isolation of sickness.
If you have any questions on the impact of COVID-19 on your business or any other employment related questions, then please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help you.
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We are delighted to share that Woodstock Legal Services has been shortlisted for Conveyancing Firm of the Year - South of England at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2026 . We are also proud to see Bethany Hudson , one of our Consultant Licensed Conveyancers, shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year. With our head office in Poole, Dorset, we are proud of our roots in the South West and the relationships we have built within the region’s property community. These shortlists recognise both the strength of our Residential Property team and the people behind the scenes who support our clients throughout their property journey. At Woodstock Legal Services, our focus has always been on building a conveyancing service that works for both our clients and our consultants. By bringing together experienced conveyancers with dedicated back-office support and the right infrastructure, we aim to make the process of buying and selling property as straightforward as possible, while giving our lawyers the flexibility and support to deliver excellent client care. Our connection to the South West remains an important part of who we are. Through relationships with local property professionals and organisations such as Poole Property Club , we continue to build connections within the property market while supporting clients across England and Wales. Over the past year, our Residential Property team has continued to grow, supported by investment in our people, processes and technology. Our dedicated back-office teams play an equally important role, helping keep transactions moving so our conveyancers can focus on their clients and the legal work that matters most. Being shortlisted for Conveyancing Firm of the Year in the South of England is a recognition of the collective effort behind our service, from the conveyancers working directly with clients to the teams supporting them behind the scenes. Car Jermyn Managing Director of Woodstock Legal Services, added: " I’m incredibly proud to see Woodstock Legal Services shortlisted for Conveyancing Firm of the Year and Bethany Hudson recognised as a Rising Star. Both awards reflect the quality of our lawyers and the commitment of the wider team supporting them. It’s great to see the work happening across our business recognised, particularly in the South of England, where our roots are firmly established. " A growing modern law firm As we continue to grow, we are always keen to speak with experienced lawyers who want to work differently, be properly supported, and be part of a collaborative community. Behind every successful consultant is the right firm. Click here to see why consultants choose Woodstock.
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