What happens if you refuse to go back after furlough?

[Daffodil101]

Just idle Sunday morning musing, really.

Doesn’t apply to me, but two friends in two days have said that their employer wants them back and they aren’t going.

One is an estate agent - manager asked her to start back this week, she’s said no. The other works in a nail salon, meeting with manager suggests he is looking to open early July. She wants to wait until October.

Both furloughed on 80% though I think the nail bar owner is actually making up the other 20%. Where would you stand if you said no to going back? Could they ask you to pay back your furlough or would they keep you on at 80% until October?

What about a colleague who's been working from home....whos now refusing to come back to the office? Despite all other staff who've been working from home now having returned. Plenty of room in the building for social distancing. Would you be pissed off if you'd come back and said colleague refused?

The advice is still to work from home if you can so why would you be pissed off with them?

Yes they can both afford not to work, though I’m guessing they would have a drop in standard of living

What... forever?
They can pay all their bills without working ever again??

Their husbands work. The older one has no mortgage. I can’t claim to know their financial situations in detail. Neither seem worried.

Daffodil

I can see why they don't want to go back, there's lots of people who don't.
If they can afford not to work and they prefer to be shielding at home, I suppose they'll have to give notice in the end.
We're not looking for more work and have lost all my income and 70% of dh's. I'm furloughed by my dh, so not sure what we'll do when furlough ends.
Hopefully it will last until the hospitality are making money and can afford to pay out for extras, or schools don't have to socially distance anymore and kids can sit together.
If they stop furlough before this, we'll just have to manage.

Hike you’ll be ok, Devlesko. I’m hoping that the hospitality industry can benefit for as long as possible.

I've not RTFT so ignore me if I'm repeating anything.

When their employer got their agreement to being furloughed, was an end date for the furlough given?

If yes, then they have to return to work after that date. If they fail to do so they may be dismissed, and will not have a case for unfair dismissal.

If no, then they have the right to remain on furlough. The employer may chose to take them off, and dismiss them, but if they could challenge this.

The employer has to add each employee to the furlough list every month. If you really piss off your employer they may just choose not to do that.

*This is what I have been told I have not read the legislation myself. Please refer to the gov website for the facts.

Daffodil

We are fortunate to be able to live on next to nothing, it's part of our industry. But thank you.
Our move to Wales is still going to happen, we'll just live off some land. in a much smaller home/van.

🌷 back to you, I hope this is over soon

well, i that case they should resign. instead of costing their employer money to have rthem on the books...