Can they furlough me and let my work pile up?

[stoptheworldiwannagetoff]

Im starting to suspect that my employer is going to furlough me. I work in the finance department - well, I am the finance department. I know its critical that they keep the staff that are doing the work that generates cash. I suspect they are considering furloughing me as I am quieter these days, due to a lack of orders and therefore less Purchase Orders/ Invoices / reports to work on. I would say I am working about 50% as much as I was pre-CoVid. So, I can sort of see why they may want to minimise expense on my salary. The problem is, there is no-one else to do my role. And there are critical tasks I complete on a weekly, monthly, quarterly basis that absolutely have to be done, and done properly. If they furlough me, will they (aka management) have to take up that work themselves, or are they allowed to just leave it to rot, thus making my return utterly hellish and chaotic? Very concerned that they would get a family member to take on the work and then ultimately just decide to save themselves money in the long run and get rid of me altogether

Why do you suspect? How long have you been there, and any thought of that there is a family member who could come in?

I've worked there for about 4.5 years now. I suspect it simply because my boss has been regularly querying how busy I am, and whether there is anything else I could be doing. I already do a fair amount of work that isnt finance related, plus I cant pull random work out of thin air, so I am pretty limited to magic up a load more things to keep me busy. Im 100% always happy to take on other work if I have the time. This has somewhat bitten me in the bum, as they say, because they now expect it of me and assume I should be busy forevermore. But, while orders are down, and I'm WFH, its not like I can be cleaning things in the office or microscopically filing some ancient cabinets. It was mentioned in passing that perhaps I could be furloughed but I do think it was more of a passing thought that she vocalised (at that moment, about 3 weeks ago), as opposed to something she had given consideration to.

They have enrolled family members to do some small, menial admin tasks previously. Certainly nothing as detailed as the work I do, but I wouldn't be shocked if they totally undervalued the work I do and just assumed anyone could do it on a "temporary" basis.

I think on the new scheme you can be furloughed and then work part time so they may be looking at doing that.

I should mention that I am someone, always have been, who works at a high rate. I can crack through a workload in 2/3 hours that would legitimately take someone else a full day. That's not a stealth boast, its just a fact. So, the fact I am much quieter isn't necessarily because there isnt anything to do, but because it simply doesn't take me too long to do it. I worked on a list last week of just the bare bones important tasks I complete on a weekly/monthly basis and its +40 tasks. That's not to mention the calls and emails that come in daily.

But because they are used to my work rate, its no longer impressive to anyone and as I say, rather undervalued. I'm quite sure they could assume someone else could easily do it for a couple hours a week but they really, probably, couldn't

If you are completing CRITICAL tasks on a WEEKLY basis that no one else can do how on earth can they furlough you?

It's entirely reasonable of your boss to be asking about your current workload.

As pp has said they could do it part time as and when available

@Burpalot I would obviously highlight this to them if the discussion was officially raised with me. My concern is that my department is sort of just... ignored a lot of the time. I send out my reports, the work is done with no fuss and I can quite regularly go weeks without contact from management. So, and it could be paranoia, there is the fear that they dont actually fully understand what I do. I fear that they assume it is easy enough and that a family member could "give it a go" if needed.

I have absolutely no issue with being queried on what I do through my week. Indeed, I have always welcomed those discussions as it has led to me taking on more work, which as mentioned in previous posts, I have been keen to do. I mentioned these discussions simply to demonstrate why I suspect they may be considering this move.

They might be considering decreasing your hours instead of furlough.

But if they do furlough you, the part time stipulation isn't actually coming in until August. Currently, you can't work at all but furlough is for a minimum of 3 weeks.

how would it work if they furloughed you for 3 weeks off say 1 or 2 weeks on? how many weekly tasks would be critical to do if you weren't there. what happens when you're on leave?

@DonnaDarko Good to know about the part time option not coming in until August. I expect an increase in orders around then so will hopefully be busier.

@Di11y That would probably work from employers POV but would likely have a negative effect on my MH as I would be really busy when I returned after each period. When I go back after holidays etc it takes ages to get caught up again. I often do work while on holiday to avoid that. Part of the reason I have such a high work rate is because I am legitimately quite OCD about things being organised and ahead of deadline. The idea of things just piling up for weeks on edge sets my teeth on edge in a big way. Not that employer would care about that I don't think...

@Di11y I've never taken more than 10 days off in one bulk, and I usually submit reports and work ahead of time so I don't need to worry about them. As mentioned, I often work while on holiday. I was submitting purchase orders on the beach 2 years ago!

Ultimately op they can furlough you and have someone else do the role, or they can leave it to stack up. I suspect the former if it’s financial.

If you’re being paid full time wages, for fifty percent of your normal work load, they may consider it, or they may consider part time, but if business is down then they may need to save money for a temp period.

I doubt they would have a family member do it permanently from what you say, however I guess it depends on how capable and willing the family member is.

It's funny, isn't it - that businesses are so keen on the part of the business that generates the income, without thinking of the person/people who actually send out the invoices and get the customers to pay up. Without them there'd be no money arriving at all.

Most of what I do has reduced quite a bit, but the credit control element has quadrupled, especially as so many firms are shut and/or have their accounts people furloughed, working from home, or just plain hard to get hold of.

How about writing a set of procedures for all the different tasks that you do? It would give you something constructive to be getting on with, and at least if you are then off, they will have instructions to follow so it won't be quite so much of a disaster zone when you get back.

@shookbelves You're so right about that, it's very shortsighted of them. I like your idea of laying out some processes. I will begin working on that this week, thankyou.

I’d be tempted to write up your list of 40+ essential tasks in a bare bones way, with the consequences of not completing each one correctly and on time. Then email it to your manager (politely!) saying they’ve asked a few times recently what your workload looks like, so you’ve summarised the critical tasks noting why they are important. Hopefully she’ll then see the scale you’re dealing with and won’t fancy picking it up herself or farming it out to someone inexperienced.

I’d be a bit cautious about writing full instructions, in case it backfires and they take advantage of your carefully written workflows for their family member.

@Bluntness100 You are indeed correct. They have put us all on short working hours so I'm already working less hours and being 80% of my normal salary. So, I'm not against furlough for the financial side of things. Indeed, some would prefer to be have time as their own rather than still be working for the same amount of money each month. My issue is that I don't want the work to pile up and it to be an absolute nightmare when I return. Plus, the redundancy fear becomes bigger if furloughed.

@Feawen I think that's an excellent point. I wouldn't want to give them a Guide of how to do my job. It would be better to appear helpful but aloof Hopefully I am being overly suspicious about this, but I think we have all learned that it is best to be prepared in these uncertain times.

Also meant to say - good luck. And yes it’s not nice to feel you need to be suspicious of people you work with, but these are uncertain times.