Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has explained a furlough rule which could help parents who are having an issue with childcare during the third national lockdown.
Schools have been closed until February half term at the earliest to help stop the spread of the highly infectious mutant coronavirus strain.
Only the children of key workers and vulnerable children are now allowed to attend school, meaning many parents have been left with a childcare problem.
Parents have had to return to homeschooling or find someone else to look after their children while they work - reports the Manchester Evening News.
But speaking on 5Live on Wednesday, Martin revealed that parents can request to be furloughed if their firm is allowing that as an option.
He said: "Schools are shut for most. It is important to understand that employees can be furloughed if your firm is furloughing to look after their children so if you can't work from home, but can't go to work due to childcare responsibilities, I've had it confirmed that it's legal and I would say desirable, though not compulsory for employers to furlough you.
"If you can't be furloughed, or they won't furlough you, then legally you have the right to take time off if needed to look after a dependent, so you can't be disciplined for that as long as it's organised.
"But sadly, you don't have the right to be paid for it. It's worth remembering too that furlough these days is flexible."
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He added: "So, whether it's your following for childcare worker just because you can't work, if there is some work that you can do, let's say you normally work 35 hours a week, but you can only do 10 hours a week, you can be furloughed for 25 hours on 80 percent of your pay up to up to the limits and your employer will then give you your full salary for the hours that you work so there are ways that you can work this around."
Chacellor Rishi Sunak extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until April 2021 last year - prior to any new restrictions being announced.
