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Original poster

Different furlough positions in the same household

53 replies

ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 19:54

Myself and DP work for the same company, and have both been furloughed for the last 3 months, on 80% pay.

In the last couple of weeks, dp has been unfurloughed and is back to work. So on 100% pay again. Ive been going with him most days as our job entails traveling to different sites, am extra pair of hands can help speed the job up significantly so we both get home in good time (checked with management that this was ok while on furlough, they agreed as dp is not doing extra work he could not do on his own, and as we are one household theres no social distancing issues)

Issue is that the lines seem to have blurred over what dp expects of me. Both weeks ive taken 1 day 'off' where ive stayed at home to have a lie in. Both times ive done this dp has come home grumpy and moaning about how bad his day was. I dont think he would ever say he expects me to go with him as he knows its not fair of him, but it appears to be the unspoken feeling.

Im not prepared to stop helping altogether as i would feel soo guilty sitting at home, i just need ideas on how to make clearer the difference in our circumstances.

Because our money is joint its not really as though he is personally benefiting from the extra 20% pay, it just means our household expenses are nore comfortable.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 20:52

Bump for asvice or tips on how to deal with this without resentment building on either side, or from anyone going through the same thing?

Any other households with one furloughed and one working? How is the dynamic there i know its more awkwars that myself and dp actually do the same job...

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 24/06/2020 20:57

You shouldn't be doing any work for your employer while furloughed. If you not being there is making his day impossible to manage then you need to be brought back from furlough.

Original poster
ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 21:01

Its not making his day impossible to manage. His workload is exactly what it would have been working independently before lockdown. Me going just helps him speed up and get done faster. Nature of our work is working on sites om our own, if i was back, i would be working separately on a different site to dp.

Dont think its breaking furlough rules as company arent benefiting at all from me being with dp. No extra work is expected of him.

But im starting to feel like dp is expecting the help from me, which i dont want to be tied to every single day when i am not yet back to work and evidently not as secure in my job as dp is. Im happy to help the majority of the time, but it appears that when i tell dp i might stay at home on a certain day, he seems to get annoyed and grumpy with me. Then plays up how tired he is when he gets back.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 24/06/2020 21:12

You’re not meant to do any fee earning work on furlough. I know you’re “volunteering” to help your DP, but are you even insured to be doing work (albeit your DP’s) whilst on furlough?

StartingGrid · 24/06/2020 21:23

Yeah pretty sure you're not meant to be doing this at all. Regardless of you only "helping", you're still contributing to the company earning which is against the rules of the scheme. Also can't see why on earth you would feel the need to go with him, that's bonkers and seems a bit co-dependent.
We work for the same company, he's been at home months, I go in daily, I'd never dream of asking him to accompany me, nor let him if he asked!

Original poster
ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 21:25

My work isnt technically fee earning though, my being there isnt earning any extra money.

Your right that im probably not insured to be on site no, if the site manager of any site wanted to turn me away then i wouldnt argue, but no one has so far.

Just seems so mean that i would sit at home amd do nothing while dp is out working when i know that i could be massively shortening his day and sharing the workload.

OP posts:
kikidee2015 · 24/06/2020 21:27

I wouldn’t do anything. Apart from blurring lines between you and your partner you’re leaving yourself and your employer in a vulnerable position that could be challenged

merrymouse · 24/06/2020 21:31

Dont think its breaking furlough rules as company arent benefiting at all from me being with dp.

Strictly speaking they are, because your company is giving your DH the perk of a helper so he can go home early, funded by the government.

I don't want to be judgey, (I'm sure people are doing far worse) but this definitely isn't how the scheme is supposed to work.

merrymouse · 24/06/2020 21:31

My work isnt technically fee earning though, my being there isnt earning any extra money.

That doesn't make a difference.

Hoppinggreen · 24/06/2020 21:33

You have been breaking the rules of furlough and your employer could be fined. You cannot go to work

Original poster
ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 21:36

Hmm maybe i do have to step back from it then. Its difficult though as its always been the nature of our workforce in the area, if someone finishes early then you go to help someone else so they get done early too. But i suppose thats when we are all at work.

Surprised at the opinion on this though given that we ran it past one of the company directors who was ok with it. And in all other things they have been very very careful not to take advantage or break the furlough rules in any other ways. Work emails etc all disabled while furloughed, so that there could be no indication of work being done.

OP posts:
SouthernComforts · 24/06/2020 21:42

Of course the company director is happy, he's got two staff working for the price of one!

merrymouse · 24/06/2020 21:44

Work emails etc all disabled while furloughed, so that there could be no indication of work being done.

That is just creating the appearance of not breaking the rules.

Hoppinggreen · 24/06/2020 21:45

They won’t be ok wth it if they are prosecuted.

heartsonacake · 24/06/2020 21:46

What you’re doing is illegal and both you and your company are committing fraud by doing it.

You’re on furlough - you’re not allowed to do any work at all for your company.

merrymouse · 24/06/2020 21:47

The rules change next month so that you can work part time, but your employer can't claim under the scheme for that element of your work.

daisypond · 24/06/2020 21:52

if someone finishes early then you go to help someone else so they get done early too.

This seems odd to me. I’ve never worked anywhere where if you finish the job early you get to go home early. You would have to pick up more work until you’ve worked your contracted hours.

istheresomethingishouldknow · 24/06/2020 21:53

I think you're mad to be going in at all with him.

Get everything done at home, shopping, cooking, cleaning while he's at work. Get some exercise in. And polish up your cv and/or perhaps do an online course or two if you can to stay 'fresh' in your industry ... especially if your company might be in financial trouble based on Covid. jobs may be shed.

Original poster
ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 21:54

The nature of the work is you go to a site amd have a task to do, different site evry day. Some days are longer some days are shorter depending on issues you encounter on site. It all balances out in the end. Pay structures are either salaried or zero hour daily wage, but no specific contracted hours each day. Just as long as you do the tasks to a high standard.

OP posts:
heartsonacake · 24/06/2020 21:54

The nature of the work is irrelevant. You’re furloughed and committing fraud by doing any of it.

Sandybval · 24/06/2020 21:56

I would be staying at home relaxing personally. Of course your OH and your boss is happy that you're essentially still working.

user12699422578 · 24/06/2020 21:57

Just seems so mean that i would sit at home amd do nothing while dp is out working when i know that i could be massively shortening his day and sharing the workload.

"Mean"? Seriously? He's doing the job he's employed and paid to do. Why does he need you babysitting him?

It's weird that you think it's "mean" not to be doing half his job for free (which is what you're doing and why it breaks furlough rules - if you weren't contributing to the business he wouldn't be completing his work in half the time with you there...).

And even bloody weirder that he thinks it's acceptable to be passive aggressive with you for not doing it and that you can't just talk to him about it.

Original poster
ScottishStottie · 24/06/2020 21:59

@heartsonacake i was just explaining to a pp about why we get to finish early sometimes. Not as a justification to why im helping him.

I think i would resent the expectation that i should be doing all the cooking and cleaning while dp is at work. While furloughed so far we have both had a pretty relaxed time. So for me if im not at work my relaxed time should continue. It shouldn't change to all of a sudden being responsible for all the household things that will take up my whole day.

OP posts:
mindutopia · 24/06/2020 22:00

You shouldn’t be working. And if you have no reason you need to be furloughed (childcare responsibilities), you should be unfurloughed to return to work. There is clearly work you could be doing.

Gosh, if my employer could furlough me (they can’t), I’d e able to secure myself an extra few months on my contract and a lot more financial security by having taxpayers pay for me to kick my feet up. Instead I’m killing myself working with 2 dc at home.

Sandybval · 24/06/2020 22:01

They don't have to, he is still an adult who lives in the house and presumably wears clothes that need washing, eats, uses things that need washing up. You are still furloughed which is a decision out of your hands, don't feel like you need to make his job easier through some misplaced feeling mean, or because he might become lazy around the house.