Furlough bashing

[PTW1234]

Why is this even a thing?

I am working from home but my DH is furloughed, he gets the set amount from the government and doesn’t begrudge it, buts it’s much less than what he would normally get.

My work have furloughed about 5% of staff but haven’t claimed the wages from the government. Not all workplaces are doing so as the cheeper wage is enough incentive not to.

He may not have his very hard earned career after this is all over. All similar jobs are also being furloughed and made redundant, all over the country.

He is going back part time in 2 weeks at works request and can not wait. However it’s only to forecast the rest of what will be a dismal year in his industry and what he forecasts will seal the fate do his job..

His mental health has suffered as a consequence and he doesn’t know what to do if he loses his job, and neither do we as a family.

What the hell is wrong with people who say that furloughed people are taking the piss? It’s not their choice!!!

[QuestionMarkNow]

@2kool4skool

I just had to let someone go who had been furloughed and the person in question actually complained and said I should have furloughed them til the scheme finished in October and then have given notice, and also paid them accrued holiday all the while. It is taxpayers money and that sounds like fraud to me, I said no obviously, so you can see why some people who are on furlough are taking the piss. Not all obviously.

Actually @2kool4skool, the furlough money was designed to do exactely that - avoid people been made redundant during the covid period in the hope that complanies would be able to still keep them once things get started again.

So I would say that your employee was right there.

[OntheWaves40]

@2kool4skool that does seem a bit mean but I can only assume you’ve done it now before you have to top up.

[OntheWaves40]

Those who have had to continue working full time in work, without PEE and social distancing etc and often twice as hard due to staff shortages, obviously it feels tough when others are strolling in the sun etc so I can see why they are envious.

[SkelingtonArgument]

Actually @2kool4skool, the furlough money was designed to do exactely that - avoid people been made redundant during the covid period in the hope that complanies would be able to still keep them once things get started again.

So I would say that your employee was right there.

No, because the business is still losing money by continuing to furlough someone who is going to be made redundant anyway. Holiday continues to accumulate and has to be paid. Employer contributions to furlough pay will have to be made. Businesses are not charities!

[MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly]

How is the business losing money other than a few days accrued holiday? If that's an issue then you could do what my company did - they asked people to book 2 days holiday per month while furloughed while those not furloughed could take the odd day without using holiday days.

You've needlessly put someone onto the crap benefits system when you could have continued to pay them 80% of wages with very low or zero cost to you. I hope they don't have children to support. Charity? Hardly.

[TARSCOUT]

Do people who havent been furloughed assume that their jobs are safe when it comes to redundancies.

[NothingIsWrong]

From 1st August companies will have to contribute to the furlough scheme. If there is literally no money coming in, how are they supposed to do that if they've used all their reserves to get through to now?

[Mintjulia]

I’m with you OP. I’ve been on furlough for 3 months. I’m grateful for the support but I’d far rather be at work. I’m on about 60% pay so money is tight, my job is at risk, and I haven’t been to the beach, I’ve been homeschooling.
It’s the feeling of helplessness, being in limbo that is the worst. At least if I knew I was redundant, I could work at finding another job,
I see why those still working might think it’s a walk in the park, but it really isn’t.

[poupeediop]

Do people who havent been furloughed assume that their jobs are safe when it comes to redundancies.

If your job is busier then ever & the company has been just as productive its not unreasonable to assume that your job is fairly secure. Obviously again industry specific but medical, tech, fintech, education, etc are safer than hospitality & travel.

Do you think surgeons, barristers, teachers, etc will get made redundant?

[poupeediop]

Obviously Im talking about companies where no members of staff have been furloughed.

[TARSCOUT]

@poupeediop
Sorry I was meaning only where there were staff on furlough. What I was picking up on this and a quite a few other posts is that employees who have not been furloughed whilst others in their company have seem to think that should any redundancies happen they won't be part of the process, which isn't the case.

[poupeediop]

@TARSCOUT that makes more sense

[poupeediop]

How have companies that have furloughed some staff but not others decided who to furlough? Surely a rota would have been fairer although I acknowledge that won't be practical for all.

[bashcrashfall]

MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly at one point that wasn't how it worked. The rules about holiday and furlough have changed twice since the scheme started. There are administrative costs to keeping staff on furlough that some small businesses can't meet.

[bashcrashfall]

@poupeediop in my company posts are furloughed not people. So my department pretty much closed and I was furloughed for a few weeks. 2 others in a similar role but different departments could work. You could also be furloughed if you had young children. You have to be furloughed for a minimum of 3 weeks to meet the criteria of the Job Retention Scheme.

Rotation of furlough would cost the company more in admin costs (payroll/HR time) and it would cost more to ensure all staff had equipment to work from home. Much cheaper to just furlough some longer term.

[TARSCOUT]

@poupeediop
We are a relatively small company and furloughed our cleaners, caretakers and front desk staff. Their duties obviously couldn't be done from home. We topped up all our staff wages to 100% No managers were furloughed and we have incorporated some of the furloughed staffs duties into our own. We are one of the last industries to return (non essential office). I appreciate lots of people are enjoying WFH however all I can see is that this just means that more and more people will be unemployed. WFH means there are less cleaning jobs, it reduces custom to cafes, reduces use of public transport and the manufacturers of it. People will drive less so car sales will be less, so less jobs and less cars being made, less insurance being sold. It's all relevant. All jobs need all sectors to survive. The economy is worrying me way more than CV.

[poupeediop]

@bashcrashfall I had to work & homeschool/supervise young dc, it was tough. Furlough just wasn't an option but luckily I'm p/t.

@TARSCOUT I completely agree about the impact on the economy by the huge switch to remote working. DHs city firm are looking at Sep on a reduced rota & I know many other people in similar positions. However I know lots of these firms are surprised that the productivity hasn't changed & they will be quite happy to save millions on leasing huge swanky offices. I'm not sure what the answer is.