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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Jealous of Furloughed Co-workers

251 replies

RollercoasterRita · 08/04/2020 16:36

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?

OP posts:
Potplant · 08/04/2020 19:17

@kobidaisy I was furloughed last Friday and My company said payroll will run as norma (next Friday) but we’ll be paid 80% for the time we have been furloughed.
The idea is your employer pays you as normal and they claim their 80% back at the end of April off HMRC.

Arrowfanatic · 08/04/2020 19:19

My work has been insane the last few weeks as the covid stuff has dramatically increased the workload then today we got an announcement that our employers found out they qualify for furlough so will be doing so for some staff, and still covering the 20% shortfall so no loss of pay.

For a moment I was so jealous as I'm so busy and people in general are being utter arseholes and its super stressful. I'm on total burnout. But then I thought I'm so grateful to have this job, when so many others dont. If that means not furloughing then so be it.

turnthebiglightoff · 08/04/2020 19:20

I have been furloughed and I will not be at the top of the redundancy pile. What a shit thing to say to cheer the OP up. I do a job that affects 20,000 employees but what I do depends on suppliers and they have stopped sending work through. Once we can mobilise and lockdown is over,y work will continue to be as busy as it can be. Please do not cheer the OP up by saying all her furloughed co-workers are at greater redundancy risk. Shake on you.

turnthebiglightoff · 08/04/2020 19:21

Shame. Ffs.

MrsDoylesTeaBags · 08/04/2020 19:31

Please do not cheer the OP up by saying all her furloughed co-workers are at greater redundancy risk. Shame on you.

Yes please don't.

For every liar going on social media claiming to have a whale of a time there's a dozen others worried about their jobs and their income. Jobs offer structure, purpose and meaningful social contact, lots of us have lost that.

NCforthedebtchat · 08/04/2020 19:32

@Notesfromalankywoman it’s shit isn’t it? Double work with no recompense.

I’m a key worker so working front line shifts so concern about his wages do not help!

MollysMummy2010 · 08/04/2020 19:37

I fling if the same.... I am doing the same hours of less pay... but I would be concerned if they didn’t need me to work. They do. And now they really know it.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 08/04/2020 19:39

My youngest lad, that I mentioned in an earlier post, is so exhausted that he’s ready to hand in his notice and he has always loved his job up until recently. He’s also an incredibly hard working young man, so it must be tough for him.

Staypositivepeople · 08/04/2020 19:39

My dh is going to work every day ,mixing with the public Risking bringing the virus home,while 95% of his colleagues are sat at home on their fannies doing sweet fa.
Luck of the draw thou ,his job is essential,the others not so .
It grates ,but what can you do .
We all have a part to play ,some bigger than others
I am so so grateful to everyone in the nhs

Countrygirl38 · 08/04/2020 19:42

I am a keyworker in health and social care going out to work and earning a fraction over the minimum wage. I would quite like to stay at home with my kitchen ds furloughed or working from home. Instead I worry I am going to infect them with the virus. Many working from home or furloughed workers are getting paid more than me to stay in the relative safety if their own houses. But it is my job so I don't think about it too much and just keep doing my job. I understand what you are saying OP but you have a wage coming in and you can stay safe in your home.

Marieo · 08/04/2020 19:44

I don't see why threads always get so competitive, like you aren't allowed to feel upset or stressed or whatever because other people have it worse. Is that what people are like in real life? Adding some perspective is good, but if someone lost a finger, would you say to them ah that's alright though, so and so lost 3.

IDSNeighbour · 08/04/2020 19:44

My dh is going to work every day ,mixing with the public Risking bringing the virus home,while 95% of his colleagues are sat at home on their fannies doing sweet fa

Yes but reframe that and you get:
'My dh is going to work every day, getting out of the house, talking to people and keeping up with colleagues/friends while 95% of his colleagues are stuck at home with nothing to do, no one to see and nothing to motivate them.'

Swings and roundabouts!

bitheby · 08/04/2020 19:45

YANBU but we're all in different boats.

I'm NHS and can't be furloughed. I'd love to have paid time off. But I have an important job and at least I'm doing my bit. I am jealous of them a little right now but who knows in future.

Life is swings and roundabouts. Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down. Just have to make the best of it.

bananaskinsnomnom · 08/04/2020 19:54

I think if you’re not furloughed, you will be further down the list if they have to make people redundant. I’m furloughed, so “lucky” that I’m off, but have this horrible fear in the back of my mind that I could face the chop if they need to cut people!

SoloMummy · 08/04/2020 20:04

About a third of my colleagues are furloughed. Though atm the organisation is saying this won't lead to redundancies, who knows if this goes one for longer than the 12 weeks?
Like others have said, not being furloughed and being more critical, does put you in a stronger position moving forward as employed!
I keep saying this to myself as I'm juggling working, with a doubled workload and teaching my child. Plus I do think the routine is helping maintain some semblance of normality.

FranklySonImTheGaffer · 08/04/2020 20:05

This is one of those situations where pretty much everyone is dealing with something shit; frontline workers have to work and put themselves at risk, people are working from home and taking on more than their usual share of the work, some have children they are trying to home school at the same time, people are being put on furlough and being paid less, some people have lost their jobs. It's crap all around.

I'm at home, unable to work from home as my laptop was given to someone else who was vulnerable (pre-lockdown). DH is a frontline worker who is part WFH and part going out to work.

My company has basically told people who are not WFH to not post things on social media showing this like a holiday and to be mindful of our overworked home workers. We're also looking at a plan to swap laptops etc so people who aren't working can, and those who are can have a break. It seems only fair!

Countrygirl38 · 08/04/2020 20:05

Marieo, I think the thing is is that everyone has stresses and worries at the moment whatever their work situation is. People have the right to state they are stressed etc but I am not sure it is the best thing to say you are jealous to others about this . It is ok to acknowledge your feelings but it is also good if you have a wage coming in and are safe at home to be grateful. I am grateful to still have a wage coming in even if it is a low one. But it will never go down well if someone on higher pay than alot of keyworkers says they are jealous of furloughed staff. Everyone is worried at the moment

victorioussponges · 08/04/2020 20:05

@bananaskinsnomnom - please try not too worry. There are so many reasons why people might be furloughed at the moment - you cannot as a blanket rule assume their roles are any more at risk than the next. Our company is furloughing people in what is typically our best performing division because their customers just happen to be directly caught by the lockdown measures. When our customers start to recover we'll need those people to get us back where we were.

PipGirl404 · 08/04/2020 20:16

I'm the only person in the company furloughed right now.

Downside is that it's made me realise how utterly stressed and miserable my job makes me.

Mydogatemypurse · 08/04/2020 20:19

I'm.exhusted and completely stressed and frightened as a key worker. My house Is a mess and I dread everyday so yes.

mooboy · 08/04/2020 20:23

I don't understand why every SAHM post results in the majority saying they'd rather work - so boring being at home, need a career, need to keep my brain active?

GiraffeInScarf · 08/04/2020 20:28

Employers can rotate furloughed staff, there was some clarification a few days ago I believe. Each furlough period must be a minimum of 3 weeks for each employee.

I work in a small team in a large company, half of us will furlough next week and we’ll swap the working team in 3 weeks time. If the scheme is extended we’ll continue on 3 week rotations. All of us are happy to work, but all are happy with the arrangement as no one is left with an unfair burden of work or fear of being more expendable. I have a good employer, which I’m more grateful for now than ever.

Thoughts with those on either side - regardless of what you’d prefer, it’s a difficult and stressful enough time without adding more.

Marieo · 08/04/2020 20:36

@Countrygirl38 but the title is pretty clear, why some people come on just to minimise OPs feelings seems odd. It's always the same on here though.

ghostmous3 · 08/04/2020 20:40

I am not a key worker but I'm still working in a factory which is non essential. My dp was furloughed even though he works in a similar industry and I went through a stage where I was jealous and I was so angry about it and with him..especially as I brought the virus home to us..I presume it's the virus. It wasnt his fault but I felt so down about it as I went through hell at work and I am so tired and I feel frustrated that he can have the time off and I couldnt. Wasnt his fault but it's not a nice feeling.

I would have ok if I was a key worker but I am not and that is the most frustrating thing

Di11y · 08/04/2020 20:45

businesses can furlough for 3 weeks at a time. I do think businesses should have staff take turns.

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