Furlough Advice Please

[marvellousmaplesyrup]

Hello

DH works in private healthcare but not currently required by the NHS so is on furlough leave.

His boss is insistent that all employees check their emails once a day, sets up regular Zoom meetings to discuss clinic "strategy" and is asking DH to write reports etc. It was my understanding that if you have been placed on furlough then you aren't allowed to do any work for the company at all?

I would say he was at his computer working around 2 hours every day.

DH isn't happy about it but says he has little choice as other employees are conforming. He is worried about reporting the company as because they aren't seeing patients then the boss would know that one of the employees had reported it.

He doesn't want to cause ructions but feels awkward working when the rules are such that he shouldn't be...any advice on what he could do?

Thank you

[chipsandpeas]

if he is furloughed he shouldnt be working

[SpudsAreLife84]

He is receiving pay, but doesn't want to check emails

[marvellousmaplesyrup]

@spuds

The government's advice (on their website) is that workers who are furloughed should not be working at all.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

If you’re furloughed you’re not allowed to do ANY work for your company, at all. They’re really wrong in this and he needs to question it

[Permenantlyexhaustedpidgeon]

I’ve been furloughed, I’m GLAD to check my emails and forward on any / show willing about my part in the future of the company. There’s not being allowed to work, and then there’s being obstinate.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

@SpudsAreLife84 no because if you’re furloughed you can’t do any work for your company at all. We actually cut off work email access for all our furloughed employees

[BuffaloCauliflower]

@Permenantlyexhaustedpidgeon you’re breaking the rules of the furlough scheme

[heartsonacake]

I’ve been furloughed, I’m GLAD to check my emails and forward on any / show willing about my part in the future of the company.

@Permenantlyexhaustedpidgeon It doesn’t matter whether you’re glad to or not, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Your employers are out of order getting you to do so (and if you come on and say you offered, that’s irrelevant; they are breaking the law by allowing you to).

[Permenantlyexhaustedpidgeon]

I’ve just found this on another website, I think actually @buffalo is right, though it’s a grey area as they could say it’s not generating any income?

** An employee who is furloughed must not work for the employer at all to be able to claim the salary reimbursement from the government. The grant does not cover the wages of employees who work reduced hours due to the virus. So, it is in the employers’ interests to ensure the employee does not do any work for them.

Furloughed employees can do volunteer work or training without jeopardising the furlough payment, as long as they don’t provide services or generate revenue for the employer.**

[Permenantlyexhaustedpidgeon]

Cross posts!

[Tonemeth]

The company could end up up shit creek off the back of this.

[Elouera]

Can he speak to colleagues he gets on with about it and have agreed response? Is there an HR department? NO, he shouldn't be working at all! The company are getting some work done- FOR FREE. Its fraudulent.

Can I work or volunteer if I've been furloughed?
You can't work for your employer if you have been furloughed.

[heartsonacake]

though it’s a grey area as they could say it’s not generating any income?

@Permenantlyexhaustedpidgeon No, there’s no grey area. You’re can’t do any work for your employer regardless of generated income.

[marvellousmaplesyrup]

Exactly. DH would more than likely check his emails every few days regardless because he likes keeping on top of things, but the insistence by his boss to do it daily, plus the Zoom meets and reports etc seems like his boss is taking the piss a bit.

Especially as he's getting the 80% wages from the government and isn't topping up to 100% out of his own pocket!

[marvellousmaplesyrup]

@tonemeth

I know, he's doesn't want to jeopardise his job in the long term if it is reported...

Fairly small company, no HR dept and only around 10 full and part time employees.

[Nicksback]

I'm n furlough and have no access to company emails or databases. It is my understanding though that we can be asked to thing like training? As long as no revenue is been generated for the company, they can ask you to do certain things.

[Tonemeth]

No, you can do training but that's it. You cannot provide any service.

Unfortunately lots of businesses are taking the piss with this. I hope they get caught (not your husbands OP, just in general).

[Yurona]

To be fair, it depends which level he is. If its managerial at all, checking emails doesn’t count as work, its more survival...
Problem is, if he says he won’t do it, he is the first on the redundancy list (and 2 hours on computer isn’t too bad really)

[Tonemeth]

Yurona where does the furlough info say that please? Some companies have completely suspended all access to email etc to prevent this happening and them not being able to get the funding. It's very clear. On furlough = no working. Emails are providing a service - no way is anyone just reading them, they're forwarding or replying which is a service. It isnt ok.