Shielding- furlough or ssp?

[uhoh2020]

If you have been sent a letter from the nhs telling you to isolate for the 12 weeks due to a health condition, do you get sick pay or can your employer furlough you?

Small company and classed as a key worker so would normally be working during this time.

[TheTruthAboutLove]

You would get sick pay, unfortunately furloughing isn’t available in this scenario.

Your job is still there for you to do, so there is no risk of redundancy due to the virus. Furloughing is only for employees who would otherwise have been made redundant as a direct result of COVID-19.

[LuckyMarmiteLover]

I think you could be furloughed if the company itself is at risk of collapse

[topcat2014]

Afaik employers can put any staff on furlough

[TheTruthAboutLove]

Furlough is for ‘employees who would have been made redundant due to the effects of COVID-19’.

If the company was at risk of collapse and furloughed everyone, that is a different story, but from the post it looks like the business is still operational and running as normal due to key-worker status.
Anyone can ask to be furloughed, but for the reasons given above the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme would not be applicable in this circumstance, it would be SSP. For the following reasons.

-The OP would not have been made redundant because of coronavirus
-The OP still works for an operational business with work to do
-The OP is shielding which again means they would claim SSP, not furlough.

[uhoh2020]

Thanks guys it wasn't for me I was asking for a friend

[SweetMarmalade]

It clearly states on the government site that shielded employees can be furloughed.

[SweetMarmalade]

I’ve taken a screenshot of this info.

[Nonagoninfinity]

It clearly states this now but as of 4th April this wasn't the case. Thankfully the position has changed.

[Soontobe60]

My DHs employer furloughed two employees right at the start in March as they both have chronic health issues. They thought they would just get SSP.