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Stressed out trying to cover for furloughed

12 replies

turintimes · 16/05/2020 03:41

I work in a small company which has luckily kept trading all through the lockdown.
About 1/4 if the staff have been working FT while the rest have been furloughed.
However the 1/4 that are in are now getting burnt out and just generally exhausted trying to do the work of all the furloughed staff.
Is it fair to ask the boss if we can swap with the furloughed staff, so we get a break and they can keep in touch with the business?
We could take it in turns (1 week on, 1 week off) we all do the same work and our boss would be there to oversee everything.
At the moment the people who were originally furloughed (and have been for 8 weeks) mostly chose to be furloughed.
I chose to come in, I believed the company would go under and we would all lose our jobs if I didn't.
The people who are furloughed jobs are safe because me and the few others who are in are keeping the company profitable, and they will be coming back when they want to (eg when the gov ends furlough).
I don't think that's right, but that's how the scheme has been designed.
Now I am starting to regret my decision, work is extremely stressful, and the workload is ridiculous.
My boss doesn't care about my health or wellbeing, but I do.
The company is in good shape and doing very well during lockdown, hopefully we can ride out the recession too when that hits.
I'm neglecting my health, my family and the sacrifice I feel is not appreciated.
Shall I ask my boss to timetable us so we all get a chance to work & rest?
The people who are furloughed won't be happy with this because they believe they get to choose, not my boss.

OP posts:
turintimes · 16/05/2020 03:44

I can easily afford to live on 80% of my salary if I was furloughed, especially short term, as my commute is expensive and my partner has been working too in a secure job.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 16/05/2020 03:53

Furlough has to be for a minimum of 3 weeks at a time but otherwise that’s a good idea.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 16/05/2020 03:56

Actually why are they furloughed if there’s still plenty of work??” That seems like an abuse of the system.

turintimes · 16/05/2020 04:17

Unfortunately, yes I believe furlough in general has been subject to widespread abuse, I think that's fairly common knowledge isn't it?

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 16/05/2020 04:26

I don’t know I’m not an employee. You don’t seem bothered by that though? As long as you get to abuse it too? You should all be working.

SquashedFlyBiscuit · 16/05/2020 04:30

If there's more work than 1/4 can do shouldnt some of them come back!?

TimothyTerrible · 16/05/2020 04:31

If there’s too much work for the people currently working, they need to bring some back from furlough.

turintimes · 16/05/2020 05:12

I'm not breaking the rules.
I'm not the boss, I don't have any power to decide the policy on furlough, just wanted to know if anyone would sympathise with me or not, I could get signed off with a Doctors note with stress instead I guess. But that doesn't seem fair as I will only get SSP and the furloughed staff will get 80% of pay.

OP posts:
turintimes · 16/05/2020 05:16

Believe it or not, a lot of workers are scared to question their bosses actions and have to just toe the line. It is not a professional job and there is no HR department.
I was just wondering if it was a good idea to ask to share furlough, I'm not going the legalities of what my boss is doing to my boss. Life is not like the movies, I know my place, I just don't want to run myself into the ground.

OP posts:
gavalaaaaaa · 16/05/2020 05:21

My husbands company have enough work for half the staff as of their contracts have been stood down.
The staff are 'sharing' the furlough half off for 3 weeks each on a rota.
Bit selfish of your bosses and colleagues not to have this system in place already

LouMumsnet · 16/05/2020 14:52

We've moved this to Chat for you now, as requested, @turintimes Smile

MonkeyJunk · 16/05/2020 20:38

Furlough isn't about workloads, it's about the financial ability to pay for staff.

Currently furloughed and I am not sharing my furlough time, although no one else can do my job so it is just not being done (going to be horrific when I go back). Rest of our company are sharing furlough time if furloughed - three weeks each.

I'm pretty stressed out on furlough as I have daily training targets and set courses to do (more than a working day's work), and, I don't feel I have any job security now.

I am looking to leave due to being furloughed. I have lost all trust and it is going to be impossible when I return.

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