Who’s been at home unable to work but not furloughed?

[Sittinonthefloor]

How many people does this apply to? The message was if you can’t work from home go to work - but ime this is what’s been happening anyway?

Yes, this is basically what’s been happening anyway. I work in public health and reading between the lines, I interpreted the message as, “the R is only just below 1, it’s too soon to make drastic changes, schools will probably open to some students after half term, but those who can’t work from home should continue to go to work as they have been.” I think there may be a population of people who are staying home out of fear (even though they need to physically go to work in order to actually work), and it’s a vague wave in their direction. But the reality is that no one can go back to work unless social distancing measures are in place. The people who have always needed to go to work are being told to keep doing it. Those who don’t need to, should still work from home. Everyone else should stay home except for essential travel as always. Not much has changed.

But some people who are grumpy about being at home may psychologically feel we are moving in the right direction so more likely to generally tolerate the ongoing restrictions to see how the R copes with those who don’t.

I don’t think there has otherwise been much change though.

Furlough can't last forever unfortunately.

I am at home. Unable to WFH due to nature of work. My office is closed. Due to number of employees social distancing will be next to impossible. It will be interesting to see what happens this week

I don't see this as a change - it's already happening and has from the start. If you couldn't wfh and you were not employed by a business that was specifically closed, then you could continue to go to work, unless furloughed.

It’s not already happening.
I work in a hardware store which has been open all along, but they have furloughed 30% of us.
I presume this means that we will be going back in.
My boss is finding out tomorrow.

The fact that your employer hasn't closed means it has happened all along. Furlough still exists and companies can still have staff on furlough.

Furlough was there to stop staff being made redundant. It will depend on whether your employer needs you to return to work as to whether you will be back this week. Tonight's announcement doesn't change that - you could have been called back to work anytime after the initial 3 weeks of furlough.