Jealous of Furloughed Co-workers

[RollercoasterRita]

70% of my company have been furloughed, on 95% pay ( 80% from the government and 15% from our company) I have been sitting at home, working all day for 3 weeks now, for 5% more pay. It's hard and I haven't been able to spend hardly any time with my children. Whenever I look on social media, all I can see are my furloughed co-workers having fun with their children, sunbathing in their gardens, catching up with chores. AIBU to feel so jealous, given that when this is all over, hopefully my job will be safe?

I’m considering putting myself forward for the next round of furloughing. Work are putting a huge amount of pressure on us as the minute and they’ve cut our pay by 10%.

I really can’t be fucked with it anymore.

I'm jealous of people who can work from home and people who are furloughed from work, as I am a key worker who is paid the nmw and has no choice but to work and risk bringing the virus home to my ds after every shift.

I understand however I would see it as they see you as vital. When it comes to redundancies in a few months, hopefully you will be bottom of the list!

I understand why you feel like that, OP. However I feel better being in a more essential role so although it is hard at the moment, rightly or wrongly I feel more secure than my furloughed colleagues.

If 50% of a company is on furlough and the other 50% are seen as essential and now working from home - when it comes to redundancies at the end of the government help/funding it will be those that are furloughed that are more likely to be made redundant. Think it of as keeping longer term job security.

I'm jealous of furlough staff too

YANBU. It's hard however furloughing is done. The people in my company who are furloughed are unhappy, those of us still working are tired, all of us are hoping that there'll still be work once this is all over.

And as hard as it is, it's still 100% easier than key workers having to go out to work have it - my perspective is that I don't have it easy, but I also don't have it rough.

I also think that if redundancies are made then it most likely will be furloughed staff they'll look at first.

Furloughed employees are much more likely to be made redundant when the furlough ends. I would choose (and am choosing) to remain actively employed as long as I can.

There is now the option to be furloughed to care for your children. Perhaps enquire with your employer as to whether they are willing?

I agree @Chattycatty, me and DH both key workers risking catching it and bringing it home to our DS. We would love to be safe and able to work at home and be paid or furloughed on 80% pay!

In my mind Furlough is a quick track to bring made redundant when all this is over. I’d rather keep working.

If 50% of a company is on furlough and the other 50% are seen as essential and now working from home - when it comes to redundancies at the end of the government help/funding it will be those that are furloughed that are more likely to be made redundant. Think it of as keeping longer term job security.

I was telling my son something similar, last night, but I can understand the OP’s frustration. My son is in a similar position and he said he feels exhausted by the amount of work he now has to do and is working much longer hours at home to keep on top of it. Profits are down (fashion) due to the current situation and he thinks he might not get his bonus as a result. I’d be seriously pissed if I was in his position and didn’t get a bonus as his role is extremely important to the business. He’s going to tell the boss he needs a break, though I doubt he’ll get very long.

I'm sure this is no comfort to you, but I'm jealous of you.

My maternity leave finished the day that lockdown was announced. I was politely told that I couldn't be of much use and I was asked to stay at home, paid (my company laptop had been allocated to someone else in the company). I'm extremely grateful for the fortunate circumstance I find myself in, but I'm also missing a sense of purpose in that, I want to help, but I'm useless to them.

An NHS nurse friend of mine has just told me she moved out and left her baby and husband at the beginning of the week to protect them - it's just put it all into perspective. There are no winners in this situation, but some people certainly have it a lot worse than us.

I'm jealous too. I'm a key worker on min wage. I want to be at home complaining I'm bored

I know all of the reasons to want to be actively employed, but a bit of me would love to be furloughed. I also know that it would be best not to express that too loudly irl.

husband has been put to 80% and the furloughed workers are on the same with 0 pressure

I don't blame you feeling jealously - perfectly understandable.

However, social media posts of people having fun don't show the entire picture. Some will show a portion of their day and the rest might be anger/frustration/boredom... social media..... less said.

It would be nice if some companies rotated things a bit... some work, some don't and rotate... etc... can you speak to your employer about this?

@RollercoasterRita are 30% of you key workers?

That's tough.

I'm WFH for a large company and it's pretty much BAU.

On furlough, And probably being let go in May. And I have my mums care to pay for, rent, bills I’ll just have enough for noodles and basics next month. Not sure what is to be jealous of.

I wouldn't be envious . I would assume those furloughed are at high risk of redundancy next.

DD has been furloughed. She's raging. She earns money for the company, she was already over-committed and had to hand over work to higher-paid colleagues who don't want it. They used a brutal measure of 'grade x and below who started after date y' were all furloughed. No common sense applied whatsoever. YABU.

I've been furloughed and it's starting to wear thin already. It's been a week. I am supposed to be completing a professional qualification in July but that will now not be happening. That puts me right on the front of the list for redundancy ina job which is pretty specialised.

I'm trying to enjoy the rest , but honestly you aren't missing much. I am stressed to fuck! I'd go back to work tomorrow if I could. My colleagues that are having to hold the fort are stressed to fuck as they are having to do my (and others) jobs on top of their own. Putting in extra hours and not getting paid.

It's shit from which ever way you look at it.

I'm on 80% of an already low wage and my partner is on 0% with no indication we will qualify for government support.

I get why you feel the way you do and I'm so fuck ing grateful for key workers holding the fort but i want this over as much as you do. I hate it.

DH is in the same position but it hopefully means he's not in the redundancy pile when the furlough scheme finishes. The most annoying part is that the person that was given the promotion instead of him a few months ago is now furloughed (couldn't wfh) and with the 90% is taking home the same as DH.

I get your frustration but I think YABU because there are so many people that have now lost their jobs - and would probably give anything to be on full pay right now