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Covid

Furloughed people- what do you think your business will do?

17 replies

ky07 · 30/05/2020 16:26

Now we know the full details of the rest of the furlough scheme, I'm curious as to how it's worked out for people who are furloughed and if you think redundancies will still happen in August or October etc or if you think your business will pull through with all its staff. Sorry if it's a depressing topic. I'm currently furloughed too and its something I've been thinking a lot about for obvious reasons. I'm still not sure what will happen with my company. I feel like we might all scrape through August at least, but I do think some redundancies will be coming.

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ky07 · 30/05/2020 16:27

Also has anyone furloughed actually been asked to go back part time?

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Waxonwaxoff0 · 30/05/2020 16:29

I'm 50/50 currently. My employers are brilliant and are desperate to keep us all on but with about a 60% drop in business at the moment it might not be possible. I know that of anyone will be made redundant it will be me, as I'm part time and the most junior staff member in the office so I'm mentally preparing for it.

There's no way that my employers can afford to pay the pension and NI of all the employees from August if business doesn't pick up soon. I expect I'll hear in a couple of weeks if they're planning on redundancies.

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MynephewR · 30/05/2020 16:36

I work in a big chain restaurant. I think they will open as soon as they are allowed (hopefully June), keep half the staff on furlough or do the part time furlough and gradually have more people working through July and August. If it is really slow during those months then I would imagine that they will lay people off at the end of August. We are all wanting to come back to work ASAP so crossing our fingers that we can all come back when it opens and be on part time furlough. They won't be able to have us all back working our normal hours straight away.

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MynephewR · 30/05/2020 16:38

Sorry I meant to say hopefully July not June, that's just wishful thinking, would be amazing though Grin

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TheoriginalLEM · 30/05/2020 16:44

I've been furloughed since the begining of April, my company (large) wants all staff back by end of June and we are expecting to start back in next couple weeks, on staged return but also on full hours. I would be happy to drop hours but that is something I've been considering for a while now.

They say they are doing everything they can to avoid redundancies, however my contact ends next year and whilst it was always going to be extended I am now not certain that will happen.

It's shit not knowing.

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Elephantonascooter · 30/05/2020 16:59

My company have said they don't plan any further redundancies, having made a few already. About 80 people are still furloughed until end of June. I asked to be furloughed for childcare reasons so i think I'll be one of the first to go if needs be. Which is shit, Because I'm expecting again

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Winnipegdreamer · 30/05/2020 17:59

Currently furloughed and at risk of redundancy, orders are about 80% down from normal and they think it will take months if not years to recover. I feel permanently in a state of anxiety that I will lose my job Sad

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BunsyGirl · 30/05/2020 18:03

I am currently furloughed and have no idea what’s going to happen. My firm’s financial year has just ended and we were less than 1% behind target so it’s not performing badly. It would also be expensive for them to make me redundant - as I am on three months’ notice.

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StatisticalSense · 30/05/2020 18:03

We're all on zero hours contracts so I imagine they'll just stop paying us in August (and not offer any work in all probability) but won't officially end any contracts. Many of my colleagues would have left by then in any case (students going back to the family home) and most didn't consistently get any hours in any case so it would be nothing new to go several weeks without pay.

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buckleten · 30/05/2020 18:06

I have been on furlough, but went back to work last week. My employers are being extremely flexible and kind, so I can take any time I need to off for schoolwork help etc.

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ky07 · 30/05/2020 18:13

My company has been very quiet on whether they a considering further redundancies - they made some in March in a panic, but they are very financially cautious. They have put up a positive front since, but acknowledged that they have lost a huge amount of business. Our customers and clients are businesses from a really diverse range of industries, but none of them have been working, and even when they go back to working (I know some of them will go under), I don't think our services will be an immediate priority. My best guess currently is that as a cautious company they will be looking at scaling back their operations to the key areas and making some pretty deep cuts in August. Obviously I don't know their financials though (they were previously doing very, very well) and the fact that they are keeping it quite positive means I don't know what to expect!

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myfurloughedfriend · 30/05/2020 18:14

I'm furloughed. The company I work for is in the entertainment industry so as all events, festivals, theatre, TV & film has ground to a holt as have all our orders.

We've had radio silence since lockdown apart from the two letters detailing our furlough, first one till May and then another extending it till the end of June. It's extremely stressful. I just cannot see the company being able to carry on before the industry starts up again, it's bloody scary.

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Oblomov20 · 30/05/2020 18:26

August is dead-as-dodo in our business. Normally. Half if France closes down. So how are businesses going to get going? By August? To pay the NI, and then pay more by October?

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OfUselessBooks · 30/05/2020 18:59

No idea...communication has been less than satisfactory!

I do know that income is down. My role is important long-term, but not to the immediate survival of the business. I'm probably 70% sure I will keep my job but planning for the worst. I think I will lose most, or all, of my team. I'm beyond stressed thinking about it all, I know I will look back and wish I could enjoy this extra time with my kids but there's a huge cloud hanging over us. I think they may possibly get me back part time in August or September...it will be the bare minimum. I just want to know so we can move forwards!

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Twisique · 30/05/2020 19:22

My company is going to make people redundant, I assume as I am part time I will be high on the list, but who knows!

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imsooverthisdrama · 30/05/2020 19:30

The thing is those that jobs impact the industry's not yet open , how can they know if they can and cannot afford to bring all the staff back ? .
What I mean is say pubs open July 4th what if the capacity is 30% that means they don't order as much stock so that impacts suppliers etc .
How do we know when it will get to 70-100% capacity, we don't so it's quite difficult for a lot of employers as until they have a confirmed date and they know what they will earn how can they know if they will need all the staff back or not .

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LudaMusser · 30/05/2020 19:39

I spoke to my manager yesterday, he's at work and I'm furloughed. I've been off ten weeks. I might go back in August part time, won't know until nearer the time

I've been off so long now it feels like I've retired. I think the weather helps me feel better as I was beginning to get depressed when it wasn't so nice

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