Furlough grant misuse

[Righteouswarrior]

I believe that my employer is misusing the grant. We were going to get laid off unpaid but then they ema to say they had claimed and are now in receipt of the 80% salary grant from the government to pay wages but they will only be paid to those who go to work. I believe they are using this money this way from the wording of the email 'as the government are now paying your salaries you are to work as usual'. They had full staff in yesterday (apart from myself and others isolating) so not even practicing social distancing either.

[Righteouswarrior]

Do I report to Hmrc?

[Tiredmumno1]

I am sorry I have no idea but it doesn't sound right.

Maybe you should post in the Coronavirus topic too, you may get more people to advise over there.

[BilboBercow]

That's definitely wrong. I'd report to hmrc yes.

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

So they want you to work for 80% wage at no cost to them? Fuck that.

Report to HMRC also ACAS for unlawful deduction of wages should it happen

[prh47bridge]

That is wrong. The government is clear that employees only qualify for the scheme if they are not working - see www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees#furloughed-workers and look at the section on furloughed workers. Point this out to your employer. If they continue to say that they expect people to work, report them to HMRC.

[Righteouswarrior]

I've come to realise that as the sche is not properly up and running yet, despite what the email they sent states they could not be in receipt of it. I think they assume its to pay staff to work. I really don't think my manager quite knows what furlough is. Going to phone hmrc anyway to clarify they can't claim this money, ie they will have to prove the furlough and not just take their word for it. Not going to bother correcting my employers as the come across as the sort of company that don't like being told they're wrong.

[Tumbleweed101]

I believe staff are not meant to be doing any work during this period to claim the grant. It is there to ensure people whose workplace is shut or has reduced productivity still stay employed at the end of the crisis.

[SunsetYorks]

You will never get through to HMRC.... all the info is in the link above. You cannot be working & in receipt of it and there is nothing in place yet to claim so your employer is talking rubbish!!

[SpunBodgeSquarepants]

I was furloughed on Monday - the company can only receive the 80% if the employees are NOT working, so yes, report him!

[nomdefuckit]

Report

Do it be email

This is fraud and is no better than looting or burglary

[zsazsajuju]

Yeah - as you say the scheme is not up and running yet and many of the details still not given yet. So basically they’re talking rubbish

[Righteouswarrior]

It seems they have finally understood what it is or it was just my department who had no clue. Now had email correspondence that is factually correct and are too furlough some staff who won't be working. Thankfully I won't need to worry about this anymore.

[Bigfoot17]

I think there will be widespread misuse of the grant. An employer I know is to apply for it and is making staff do voluntary work (for the business)