Unfair furlough ?

[furnooooo]

I work in icu and today my DH has been told by his boss not to come in from
Monday because my job could put him at risk of catching it (no one in our house is 'vulnerable') and there fore he could pass it on to his colleagues.

He is also a keyworker so asked if he could take his files home to work on but he's not allowed back into the office at all because of my job.

I feel horrible that my job has put him in this position :(

Any advice?

[AnotherEmma]

You haven't put him in this position - his boss has.
Is he a trade union member? How long has he been employed at the organisation?

[mumwon]

www.businesswest.co.uk/blog/which-employees-can-i-furlough-and-how-does-furloughing-process-work
this is interesting
I think they may well be on dodgy grounds

[milkysmum]

What job does your DH do? He can't be made to accept furlough though can he? And they can't just not pay him if there is work to be done? I think they need to check their employment law on this one I really do...

[furnooooo]

He's not in a union he's been working there 2
Years just about. I just dont understand it. All this clapping for the NHS and here we are his work furloughing him because I work for the nhs!

[furnooooo]

@milkysmum ironically this is in the justice system. If he doesn't accept it, he can work from home until he runs out of work, and as they won't let him into the office as he poses a risk.. he can't get any more cases to work on. They thought about couriering them to him but they think that's a risk to a courier (because of me)

I feel like a leper I really do!

[KeepWashingThoseHands]

That sounds unreasonable to me. I understood furlough was intended for people who can't reasonably continue to perform their roles.

I have had to do these conversations. Clear business rationale has to be given and furlough is also technically not mandatory in the UK so your DH could decline. I would suggest he puts that in writing to confirm
the reason given is v odd. I will say I know someone who refused furlough (when the business rationale was v legitimate), and it wasn't well received. Cards are now marked whether we think that happens or not.

Consider your response carefully and sorry your DH's boss is obviously a dick.

[SkelingtonArgument]

If it’s the justice system, haven’t they gone over to digital files? Most people I know (CPS, defence solicitors & court service) are working from home. Probation officers still office working though

[SoloMummy]

Are they topping up to 100%?

It may seem unfair, but actually I think the employer is being very reasonable and trying to protect his staff.

[furnooooo]

@SkelingtonArgument no it's all paper files stupidly! He can do telephone hearings from home but obviously once he runs out of stuff to do with his files he's brought home tonight that's it. He'll be furloughed and it feels like it's my fault.

[SkelingtonArgument]

It’s not your fault! Surely the risk to other staff (if there is any risk) would come when he returned files to the office. Would they consider quarantining the returned files for 72 hours?

[KeepWashingThoseHands]

It's not your fault OP and for what it's worth I don't think the decision 'they're protecting other staff' is fair or legitimate. Thousands of people are still working in non-NHS front line roles and provisions have been made for social distancing etc. I wasn't aware furlough was intended to cover the family members of anyone in a key worker role as they're an 'extra risk'.

If everyone goes on furlough for the most tenuous of reasons, any govt support will end v quickly as it's being abused.

Only you can choose what's right for your family. Good luck to you.

[NatashaAlianovaRomanova]

That's not a reason to furlough someone however HMRC are not asking for a reason to be provided so I'm not sure what can be done.

Is there someone higher up your OH can go to & query the rationale behind this decision?