Boss wants to claim furlough 80% but make us work anyway

[badboss2020]

I've name changed just in case.

I work in a very much effected industry and we've seen most of the business crumble over the last two weeks.

But because of the nature of the business there is still a lot of actual work to do.

My boss is a bully and always has been. My colleague and I have been wanting to leave for a long time and intended to start looking around now.

Basically my boss has now made us all sign the furlough contract that we no longer will be working but that we will get the 80% pay that he will claim from the government.

HOWEVER he has rung us all and told us that he'll only do it if actually keep working throughout that period but pretend not to be.

I don't feel comfortable at all with that. Plus it's surely downright fraud?

What would you do?

Yes we are meant to work full time.

I'm going to discuss it with my colleague and I think I'm also going to call the HMRC line. Find out where I stand.

I just read that in Australia companies HAVE to keep their staff on. I hate that the UK has put all the dice in the company owners hands.

Basically boss can just sack us if we say we don't want to go along with his scheme

OP and the rest in this situation there is no harm in letting your MP know this is going on. While they are on Easter break they still have to work.

I’d text and say I’m sorry I’ve thought about it but cannot go ahead as it’s fraud. See if he replies. If he does you have your evidence. We will all be repaying this for years in taxes so we certainly don’t want even more to pay that’s been claimed fraudulently. Assume if you sign it and know you’re working your complicit in the fraud

Report him. I think defrauding a system that’s on its knees trying to help people who are desperately poor / at risk of being broke is beyond disgusting. He’s a piece of shit.

An email or a text message is a good idea, get it in writing from your boss that this is what he wants from you, then if he does try to sack you, you can then go down the legal route of unfair dismissal. Plus it covers your back somewhat. Tbh OP, it's not worth the possible risk to go along with it. I know it's tough, but you can claim some benefits and you're more likely to get a job out the other side if the lockdown. If you're being done for fraud (I don't know if that's possible in this scenario, but I'd not risk it), then you've no chance of getting another job

So I tried to call the HMRC fraud line and they aren't taking calls at the moment.

Boss sent us all a message yesterday saying we had to lie if someone asked what we were doing.

Two colleagues including my manager intend to quit (and therefore not even get the 80%) as they can't cope with the stress.

I'd make damn sure I had a copy of that message and any other evidence in case it gets 'accidentally' deleted somehow.

Then I'd report it to HMRC (when you can) and I'd also be talking to someone like ACAS.

Oh my, so he wants to risk his own company we well as get his employees in trouble!!

I've been reading up on this and he has to pay you the full amount, and then claim it back, so he'll claim the 80% back from HMRC, and only pay 20% of his wage bill the cheeky fucker. So it's not like he CAN'T afford the wages, as he'll have already paid it out.

I'd also keep his messages in this, forward to a personal email address and screen shot or copy rye message, tell him you're not doing it. So if he does sack you, you can take him to court for unfair dismissal

I’d report as well. I can’t stand that type of behaviour.

It’s illegal to work If furloughed

link

Thanks for the link. That's pretty clear.

I feel really down about it all today.

It crap isn’t it. I hope you sort something out.

My boss is furloughing me too but wants me to do some work ‘behind the scenes’ he offered to drop some paperwork off at my house and wants me to be available to help colleagues over the phone. I feel that if I don’t I won’t have a job to come back to.

@BerthaBear err not sure how that relates to OP’s problem!

Any updates OP?

Yeah, keep that message as evidence!! The CEO of the company I work for has sent out a mass video message highlighting that if we are furloughed we are under no circumstances to work, and they have switched off VPN access to anyone furloughed so we are unable as the consequences to a business are huge if they're caught.

@Bakersdelight if he wants you to work then he needs to pay you full pay and not furlough you

Unless you want to be in the dock yourself, then you need to report him.
Don't do as he asks OP, or you will be aiding and abetting his crime.
Which is a crime in itself.

I wouldn't do this OP. Don't report him if you don't feel comfortable about it but you have to tell him that you don't want to get in any trouble, so you'll either stay employed and work or furlough and don't work.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53080428
update op you need to report please read