Frustrated with furlough situation

[Cyclebird]

DH and I are both keyworkers. I'm WFH (normally office based), he's out and about. Our 2 DCs (13 and 11) are both at home as we can't get them to their schools easily and happier to have them at home (our choice). DS (11) timetable is following school. He has aspergers so the routine is good but he's disorganised and easily distracted - it's almost a full time job to keep him on track! Most of my colleagues have been furloughed including those with no children or dependants. There is a skeleton staff left and we are incredibly busy, taking on new work, managing our own work and moving forward with colleagues work. Files are in the office that I'm not allowed to visit, I can't print anything (not allowed due to confidentiality) and so on.

I am finding the daily catch up with furlough colleagues (started to ensure they had someone to talk to daily, for the good of their mental health) increasingly depressing as I wish I had been furloughed. Perhaps if my boss had explained the positives as to why I haven't been furloughed I may find it easier? The newly written WFH policy says we have to stick to our working hours - tricky when you're also managing everything else. I'm frustrated at the inflexibility.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Needed to rant a little... . I appreciate I am lucky to have a job, wages coming in, roof over my head, healthy kids etc but I am finding it hard to stay positive about work and dislike the resentment I feel building towards my colleagues, that I know isn't their fault (although one more photo of immaculate gardens, freshly baked bread, tiktok videos may send me over the edge!)

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I'm the opposite. I've been furloughed and I wish I hadn't been. Being furloughed means you're more likely to be made redundant if the business starts to struggle. My job can easily be done by someone else if their own workload is small so I'm expendable. It's not a good feeling.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

If there's still lots of work to do though why have your colleagues been furloughed?

[gingergingerginger]

This is such a uniquely weird situation, isn't it, where for some people 'doing their bit' amounts to having loads of full-paid time off to take up new hobbies, and for others it means having to not see their own children for months so they can work 12 hour shifts in ICU. And, like your family, everything in-between.

I don't know what the answer is. I'm not sure I could come up with a better scheme than the furlough one (UBI?). But it sure is building resentment between colleagues. For what it's worth, I think it's understandable that you're envious of furloughed colleagues (particularly if they're on full pay) but you also might find some solace in having compassion toward them. They may well be worried about job security after the three month furlough, for example.

And if compassion for them doesn't come easy (understandable sometimes) just spend a little time each day counting your blessings. I'm not saying you can't complain because there are people worse off than you. I'm just saying it's good for our mental health to practice appreciation if we feel up to it.

Nobody knows what position we'll all be in in six or twelve months' time.

[Ginseng1]

Sounds like the company are to blame why furlough so much staff if there's so much work still? Some companies def taking advantage I feel trying to squeeze more out if fewer employees

[Sparklingbrook]

I have said this on other furlough threads but some people have not chosen to be furloughed. Some are furloughed because they are shielding or live with someone who is.



How this makes them scroungers @Katykitten2 I have no idea.

[Discobar]

@katykitten2 - Congrats on the most muggy post I've read on Mumsnet. Don't go to work then. Quit. One less furloughed person being made redundant then.

Are you aware furloughed staff still pay taxes yeah?

[Meredithgrey1]

The newly written WFH policy says we have to stick to our working hours

That's really shit. Anyone with children will probably find that difficult and some will find it impossible. I have a 10 month old DD, there's no way DH and I could both keep working if we had to stick to normal working hours

[ScottishStottie]

Ive been furloughed. As have 99% of my hospitality based consultancy company. Its not a nice feeling especially with the talk of winding down the scheme, but no end in sight for hospitality to reopen. Without the scheme i would not have a job and i still might not on the other side. Dp works for the samd company so in the same boat. So i spend my neverending time at home worrying about my situation. Sound fun?

[Lifeisabeach09]

There is a thread about furlough causing resentment amongst staff.

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

I'm currently furloughed and it's just depressing! Worried about redundancy, bored and demotivated. It's not like normal annual leave at all.

The most double edged double edged sword ever.