Childcare posing challenge with return to work
(CNS): Childcare issues for parents physically returning to work present a real challenge, Premier Alden McLaughlin has acknowledged. Some 6,000 more workers went back into the field last week and another 8,000 may be added to that next. But helpers are still not allowed to return to work and nurseries are not yet able to open.
McLaughlin said at Friday’s pres briefing that with 5,000 helpers on the island, it would not be practical to test them all in an effort to hasten their return to work. And taking anyone back into your home at the moment was still very risky, posing a threat of spreading the virus until more tests have been done than the current 4,300, he said.
The premier indicated that, while testing is being ramped up, he would not be happy about saying domestic helpers could go back into homes until the number of tests had more than doubled.
“If that number was around 10,000 I would be a lot more comfortable,” he said, especially if the negative results were around the same. And so far, he said, the issue of opening early learning or childcare centres has not been discussed, but it will be raised during Tuesday’s caucus meeting.
But the premier said he was conscious of the challenge posed by the problem of childcare for parents as increasing numbers of people return to work. In the meantime, he urged employers to allow people to continue working from home wherever possible.
“Obviously, if you are a construction worker you can’t work from home, so I do understand the challenges,” he said.
CNS has received numerous questions and comments about this issue, but so far government has not been able to provide a solution other than for at least one parent to remain working from home. However, some parents have found that very difficult to manage.
Single parents have genuinely struggled, especially if they are in lower paid jobs with just one laptop, working from home and trying to home school their children, without being able to rely on family members or helpers.
As restrictions have been lifted, government has been urging employers to allow their employees to continue doing their job remotely where possible. Many people now also believe that, having demonstrated that they and many others can successfully work from home, this should be continued.
Even those who are able to still work from home say that once helpers are allowed back, their productivity will improve. Many have also said that this would help to address traffic issues.
Prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the shelter-in-place order, traffic congestion on Grand Cayman had reached unmanageable proportions. Infrastructure Minister Joey Hew, who is responsible for roads, had stated on numerous occasion that while his ministry was embarking on a road expansion programme, Cayman could not keep building roads to solve the problem.
But the last seven weeks have given a clear indication that remote working can mitigate the problem. Combined with flexible working hours, this could bring about a more positive and permanent solution to our transport problems if government finds a way to encourage, promote and reward such a shift in workplace culture.
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Category: Jobs, Local News
Personally, I believe that the children are our future. We should teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all of the beauty which they possess inside. It will give them a sense of pride to make it easier. We should let the children’s laughter remind us all how we used to be.
Well that’s definitely a MJ song. But in this country the children are thought of last and their education none at all. Proof is in the pudding.
Alden is more worried about Bush’s job then yours. Deal with it. CIG is too busy to help you.
What about seymour?
His jerk chicken is overrated
Not everyone had helpers or could afford school fees and helpers. Child care/schools need to open on a part time, small group basis as soon as it is safe. Essential workers have not been supported in the slightest. What are doctors, police, supermarket workers supposed to do? Single parents will be forced to keep their kids at home alone.
Couples who have one main bread winner going to work means that the other risks losing their job, income, career progression etc. That is unfortunately usually the woman. Women who have worked so hard to get a place at the table will lose it, and all because the people at Alden’s table are men. He made the comment ‘all of aldens men’ This is not some feminist rant, this is a concern that until CNS asked the question Alden hadn’t considered the issue of child care at all. If there was a working mother at the table I’m sure things would be different.
Let’s hope for some answers tomorrow.
You do know that there is no plan, right?
As for the police, the starting point is they need to work harder! 4 days on, 4 days off, during a period of national emergency? You have got to be freakin kidding me! Try and defend that with a straight face to a hospital ER nurse!
Mental health is becoming a serious issue, I for one am struggling with zero break from kids, school and work….it’s hard, very hard…..something has got to give
Have you tried alcohol? It’s essential you know.
A joint helps too
Prefer that actually. Or a nice thc/cbd mint.
Share!!!
We’ve tried that, the hangover makes it 10x worse the next day.
Don’t give up, the hangovers cease to happen after a little while. You can do this!
Crazy people, alcohol don’t drown the stress ,there good swimmers. Try reading a psalms , it will help ,how can you encourage someone to drink alcohol,smoke weed while they have children dealing with,,,,,God help us ,wish I could give you a break with the kids .God bless you and give you strength and courage.
Your God sent the virus don’t forget
You read so much of the bible you don’t even recognize sarcasm. I read the bible too among many other books. Stop judging others. Point was being made that alcohol was deemed essential. Or did you miss that from the beginning. Plenty people who don’t drink or smoke weed who molest their kids and also beat their wives.
Church is closed my love. Liquor store open though. Bet that burns.
“But the last seven weeks have given a clear indication that remote working can mitigate the problem. Combined with flexible working hours, this could bring about a more positive and permanent solution to our transport problems if government finds a way to encourage, promote and reward such a shift in workplace culture.”
Exactly…..!
Be careful what you ask for…..
People with children are clearly more of a liability to businesses than those individuals that don’t have children. Additionally, the cost to the government to provide care, education and other direct and indirect services for children and parents is also a major financial burden for the country. The expenditure is especially worrying because, despite the expenditure, the children are failing in school and are largely unprepared to take on the jobs of the present or future.
As the local economy continues to contract it will be import for the government to insist that parents pay their way.
WARNING: People with children are clearly more of a liability to businesses than those don’t have children.
Women are already facing this discrimination in the workplace and as it stands, there is no protection. Employers can terminate female employees, pay them more than is required by the labour law and voila, go hire adults with no children. Expect a steady replacement of Caymanian employees with new childless expat workers.
MLAs ARE YOU PAYING FREAKIN ATTENTION?!!!!!!!!!
Do you agree with equal work for equal pay?
No.
Exactly! Equality has never been the objective. The objective has always been about preferential treatment and having the ability to freeload at the expense of other people.
What discrimination are you talking about? Unless the company that someone works for has asked them to have children the children are not their responsibility. Also, if someone with children is not able to perform their duties at the same level as someone that does not have children then you should expect the individual without children to be paid more and to be given preferential consideration for advancement. Why blame companies for wanting employees that will be more productive and will have more time to focus on the business of the company?
A female small business owner once told me that she will never hire another woman that is able to have children as her small business was suffering with the majority of her staff out on maternity leave. Once again, why should this be the problem of the business or the business owner?
8:09 Thank you!!! If you cant do your job to the full and balance a kid at the same time expect to earn less than a man/women who hasn’t got kids. The self-righteous BS that comes from mums is nauseating. Screeching about the gender pay gap gets tiresome pretty damn quick.
Kids require a lot of attention and it isn’t fair for your employer/place of employment to receive reduced effort just becuase you wish to procreate. Most contracts allow payed maternity/paternity leave for 3 months and 6 months in some cases. Why should others have to foot the difference if you make the choice to spawn. Kids are a commitment and you cant have it both ways.
As an endnote I am female. If I’m going to have kids im going to make sure as hell I can afford the little buggers. No one else should have to foot the bill or cover my shift.
I am sure you will be a great Mum.
She’ll probably be smart and not have them
You do realize how you came about to be in this world right?
Of f-ck off. That is not the point. The point is that childcare was available at the time that the woman chose to work and commit to a job. The childcare has now been suddenly deemed illegal.
I agree, my wife and I have decided not to have children. We are telling them at dinner tonight.
LOL!!!
Haha! I hate to tell you this but the most promoted and higher paid in a company is a married man with children. They are considered more stable and will stick around.
I have heard of a guy that made up a wife and kids and saw himself promoted well before and beyond his single colleagues.
Fact.
Because they know full well that those people need to get out of the house as much as damn possible!
Or that they are married so they can lean on their partner to help with kids if they need to work longer sometimes???
Businesses are also responsible for training employees. Despite degrees and experience everyone has a learning curve when they join any organization.
“The expenditure is especially worrying because, despite the expenditure, the children are failing in school and are largely unprepared to take on the jobs of the present or future.”
CNS – is it true that the total CIG education budget includes a total staff count with 1:1 ratio teachers to administrators? It was once remarked that there were as many staff in management as in classrooms.Gasp!
Someone with insider information says that teachers in the public eduation system are the HIGHEST paid in the Cayman Islands. Regrettably, the teaching and learning is not taking place. COVID is the perfect storm. Cayman must dissect, understand and solve the complex, multifaceted problem with an effective, multifaceted solution. Blaming poor or misdirected parents isn’t the solution. Casting aside bright children because they are poor or come from less educated parents is not the solution.
Caymanians deserve to be able to access an affordable, high quality education in a safe environment without having to pay CI$1,000 per month to send their children to private school.
But if we educate them properly, we give them knowledge, therefore, we give them power and then they will question those in the LA. And why on earth would MLAs want that? Turkeys don’t vote for Xmas.
When you say “we” are you talking about parents finally taking responsibility for the education of their children? Are you talking about parents finally engaging with their children and their teacher’s to ensure that their children are achieving at an acceptable level? Are you talking about parents taking an active role in organizing and directing the education system to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children? Are you talking about parents not freeloading but instead paying their way?
The true cost to provide a child with an education (and other related services) should be calculated and published. Whatever that cost is per month (CI$500, CI$1000, CI$2000, etc.) it should be directly debited from any salary earned by the parents. There should be no more abuse of the system.
It is important for parents to understand that when they don’t pay for the children’s education someone else has to pay for it.
The most valuable asset you have is your people… The children are the future of our people.
Fine our children are a liability, a liability that will carry us into the next 60 years!
Govt should pay it forward, $25, 000 kyd for each Caymanian child would probably cost $150 million out of a $700 million dollar surplus.
The money in the coffers belong to the old and the young. Not the political class or the childless who will not be around to carry or worry about the future.
And predicting a rant about parents not planning for their children… Why have you the purposely childless been so selfish as to not plan for the future of this country? Who will buy your house when it’s time to downsize..? Are you going to sell it to the iguanas or shall we bring in Eskimos that still value children?
You think your smart for not having kids but the truth is your either selfish or lack foresight.
I don’t need the money, 3 kids and six figure bank balance mortgage paid off, l autos x 2 My child care and consumption put more money in those coffers and I say give it out. All of this by God’s device not mine.
In fact, I am sponsor of this public service new organisation and so I contribute again so I make these comments.
I can see from your post you were very angry whilst writing. But please try to calm down so your opinion can be understood instead of a rant that was spit out as you heard it in your head. Had real difficulty understanding it and I do want to try to understand all peoples viewpoints.
Your takeaway from the discussion is that the freeloaders should continue to be freeloaders and that they should receive even more money from the government. Amazing! Just amazing!
I’m 34 and single with no kids. Does that make me a selfish, stupid woman?
I was taught to be able to afford my standard of living. I can’t afford a kid right now, so should I just say to hell with the obvious financial burden I am bringing upon myself and my unborn child, the government will take care of me??
Sorry, I don’t believe in becoming a dependent and having a child in such a state would encourage him or her to act in the same manner one day. Essentially a self perpetuating cycle. What future would this bring about?
3.24pm I can only assume you are either 1. the major local distributor for contraceptives,2 a troll, 3 are unable to conceive.
4. Telling the truth that you are unwilling or unable to accept.
There’s already childcare services starting to open up next week. China STILL has child services closed up to the age of 12…makes you wonder if we are a little too quick considering how far ahead China is in the progress of this thing.
Chinese Communist Party are criminals. Looking for war now.
Public Servants are still being told they have to come into work so how am I to stay at home?
Servants work for free anyway
There are nannies and helpers already forced back to clandestine work, braving fines, arrest, and infection, to serve rotten households too cheap to pay them during furlough.
Or worse. Forced to live with their boss.
Did you report this to the authorities?
Well did you ? If you didn’t, just shut your pie hole….please
I don’t think they’re wrong
Afraid of being found out?
Helpers employed by single parents should be treated as essential workers as well as the single parents. They can then receive priority for covid testing and if they both test negative along with the children and those with whom the helpers are staying, there should be no risk.
There will still be some risk as you’re not absolutely sure where you helper has been.
Do you know where your husband has been?
Yeah but he’s loving with you right? Helpers aren’t unless they’re a live in and then there’s no problem
I don’t know how anyone can work a 9-5 from home if they have young children who need attention. Guess I’m lucky my job no longer exists so I have time to take care of them while my partner works to help us make ends meat. Then CUC came along and took what was left.
It’s not 9-5 anymore, it’s anytime from 6am – midnight. Whatever it takes to get the work done
It is completely unrealistic to expect one parent to continue to work from home, provide childcare and teach. I am extremely disappointed that this is considered to be a practical approach. Parents are doing the best they can, are under significant stress and almost at a breaking point. While public health is of the upmost importance, balancing the appropriate childcare approach is just as important and should not be ignored or brushed off as something that parents are just going to have to deal with and figure out. That is not helpful.
Given the situation, I would expect your employer to be more accommodating. Sorry to hear this.
Helpers also need a bus to get to work.
But your not supposed to be working
* you’re
Kids are overrated. Should have stuck to cats and dogs. They love you unconditionally, eat what you give them and are a F#@k load cheaper!
Sadly, your parents didn’t have the same opinion.
4:10 it’s a joke. Has humor completely vanished from this planet in the wake of this pandemic. Lordy
I very much appreciated your humour.
*humour, you ain’t in ‘Murcia now ol’ boy.
5:51 But alas autocorrect thinks we are. Didn’t realize the spelling police were out in force..
“I didn’t realise…” Spelling and grammar police… lol…
Thanks but I’m a girl and humour is spelled the proper English way as we are a British Territory and Im Caymanian born and bred.
Apostrophes are English too… I’m Caymanian too…
Jesus christ guys. The pets over kids thing was a damn joke. Not a spelling B.. You people need a sense of humour Lay off it FFS
I’m sure you meant to capitalise “Christ”. Also, it’s a spelling bee.
And aren’t selfish and ungrateful
Where is Marty McFly and a box of condoms when you need them – could go back and save us from you…
Hilarious that people still believe that nannies and helpers aren’t working on a regular
Not so hilarious for those of us that are sticking to the rules, trying to hold down jobs while raising a child. We’ve continued to pay our helper throughout, too, seeing as we’re both fortunate enough to still be employed. This situation isn’t their fault. Shame on those people acting like Victorian-era factory owners and cutting their helpers off because they can’t come to work, whilst still being paid themselves. Hope they find employment with less unscrupulous types in time.
Big believer in getting what you give.
Lol, she done got a side job and getting paid twice.
Nope, they’re part of the family and we fully trust them to act as such for the sake of our child. They’re playing by the rules, too, because they’re still being fairly paid and are able to.
So when she does come back to work, you’re going to insist that she gets tested everyday, right?
Nah, she just won’t be permitted to see anyone outside of our household or go anywhere except to our house.
yeah good luck enforcing that! LMAO you’re being too trusting
What difference would that make? It’s moot. She might be positive but you won’t know until days later. The test might come back negative days later, but here’s the problem, one minute after any test she can become positive (especially in her 2 bed apartment that she shares with 11 others)
That was the friggin point Bobby.