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?

Marieo maybe we aren't trying to minimise the op feelings but trying to reframe it for her .

What I wouldn’t give to be working or even to be furloughed with cash coming in.

No job, no state help because of a pretty unique set of circumstances. I feel utterly fucking worthless right now and can’t see myself being back in employment for months.

@Newschapter I didn't dictate, I asked them to consider their colleagues. My industry has very high attrition to compassion fatigue, out suicide in ordinary times is horrendous let alone in the current working conditions. Fortunately all my furloughed staff absolutely got what I was asking them to consider.

Nah if I’m furloughed it’ll be a max of £2500 gross which is a big pay cut and I’ll lose my car allowance. I’m the higher earner and dh is more likely to be furloughed which suits us.

It’s hard with the kids but we finding a new routine that’s working

@victorioussponges thank you, I do know that furloughing isn’t a simple process and ultimately it’s about trying to keep businesses afloat, the whole situation is just nerve wracking!

I proxy feel you OP. DH's company has furloughed half the team and expects the remaining staff to take on additional work for free because they have furloughed staff they technically need but are cutting costs. So DH is doing work covering 3 people whilst I home school eldest and try not to developmentally stunt the 4 month old twins.
HOWEVER I'm glad he's less likely to get the sack in theory and I'm glad he's not a key worker. My friend is a nurse in A&E with a 3 and 5 yo at home. It puts most things into perspective for me

I work for a clothing retailer, we have been furloughed and trust me I’d rather be at work. With nothing much to do the time off is unexilarating. As far as I’m aware we will be getting 80% but there was talk for those that are on the older contracts we will be getting 100% (that’s only me and 6 others, I’ve been there 11 years) . According to our area manager (a close friend) they are still waiting for the legislation to be written. As soon as that happens we get confirmation of our salary. I’m hoping the lockdown doesn’t last too much longer, my mental health is gonna take a hit.

I'm furloughed. My finances are shit. My mental health is fucked. And I'm terrified I won't have a job to go back to. Would give anything to still be working.

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

Absolutely this!
I will be furloughed next week for three weeks and am lucky enough to be on full pay but my first thought was ‘why me?’ and ‘I’ll probably be made redundant at the end of this’. Once I’d calmed down I realised that the institution was not in danger - we just genuinely don’t have the work to do from home and the institution is taking advantage of the cash injection to make sure we have a job to go back to.
I spoke to one of my colleagues, furloughed last week and she said it also made her feel really shit and useless initially - similar feelings to actually being made redundant. So please don’t assume everyone is having a grand old time. I’m probably as depressed as I’ve ever been in my life but trying not to show it for the sake of my family.

dannygreen, if your employment contract does not prohibit it you can get a full time job whilst on furlough working for someone else eg Tesco has lots of jobs going which would mean you would not be bored at home and finances might be helped. Some people are getting most of their normal salary plus a full time supermarket wage which seems a bit unfair on the poor old tax payer.

I’m jealous of furloughed workers and work at hone workers , working full time as NHS critical care frontline Covid 12-13 hours a day wearing PPE . 4 kids at home including a baby , husband also in emergency services . We are trying to work , looks free the kids , can’t have any family help just now . School them as well and all other household stuff on our own . And people are moaning about being at home 😟 . I’m grateful about it I’m on full pay though the option of staying away from this on 80 percent of usual pay would be snapped up I’m sure if it were even an option ...but hey .

That was school the kids not Looks free .

I'm fine with people taking extra supermarket jobs. I need them to give me food!

When you are furloughed, there is No guarantee of getting your job back at the end of this. We have kept our most reliable staff working for this reason - we don't know if the business will survive or whether we will need to make big cutbacks. The people who are still working will be the ones to keep their jobs

I know that at our company furlough means “next to be fired“. most of them won’t come back to a job, so i’m quite happy to work.
i don’t think most of them have realised that/want to admit to it quite yet.

I couldn't be jealous in this situation. I'd rather have my jo b secure.

Employers should also not expect you to deliver as you would in the office, while you're also looking after your children. Flexibility is required all round in this situation.

I feel the same, I'm working from home and had to take a voluntary pay cut while taking on additional work to cover colleagues who have been furloughed so working longer hours for less money.

Only thing I am thinking like other people have said is that if the company takes time to recover after furlough has ended it will have shown that we can still operate on a reduced work force and those furloughed will be the first ones to be made redundant so I would not volunteer to be furloughed even if I had the chance. As jealous as I sometimes feel I am grateful that I still have a job.

I've blocked people for now who over post on social media to stop seeing the posts of them enjoying sun in the garden with a glass of wine or baking cakes with their children which helps so maybe try that?

When you are furloughed, there is No guarantee of getting your job back at the end of this. We have kept our most reliable staff working for this reason

There is no guarantee you’ll keep your job even if you’re not furloughed so that smug statement is bollocks. Thousands of companies are going to completely go under after this so it’s best not to be thinking you are an invaluable employee.

As for making furloughed workers feel worse by telling them they aren’t a reliable or valued member of staff - have a word with yourself.
I’ve been furloughed because we’re being kept on 100 percent of salary and I’m the cheapest because I only work three days a week not because I’m a shit member of the team.

I admit I’d like a few weeks furlough.

NMW support worker in sheltered housing. We try to stop people coming in and out but people don’t listen! ‘If I don’t visit my mum she won’t see anyone’ they won’t accept we’re all in the same boat, and when she’s gone I have to go look after her mums personal care. Up close sharing breathing space.

I’m exhausted.

@Nodancingshoes
@myself2020

All the furlough statements that dh ,ds and I got from our individual companies all claimed that being furloughed would mean there would be no redundancies and that our jobs would be safe

I really wish I was WFH or furloughed. I’m on 3 months unpaid leave. It is horrendous and I haven’t slept for a week worrying about everything. Not in the UK so no government support at all.

There are far too many sweeping statements on here. If there are redundancies at the end of the furlough period there will need to be a consultation period. It won’t just be a case of don’t bother coming back unless the business folds entirely

There are far too many sweeping statements on here. If there are redundancies at the end of the furlough period there will need to be a consultation period. It won’t just be a case of don’t bother coming back unless the business folds entirely

Absolutely right.
This thread is typical bloody MN majority living in ivory towers (or at least pretending to, so as to make someone else feel like shit) and thriving on mass hysteria. Not to mention making up their own employment laws.

SunshineInMySprocket hang in there

Everyone who works where I do has been furloughed most of our chain has at the minute we have 43 places open hopefully going up soon this is for key workers and housing needs ,we all agreed with furlough to keep the company running but everyone of us have said we would rather be working and if we get called in I'd volunteer first as have no children at home ,my oh is still working but head office today decide who is staying and who gets furloughed and they have been told there may not be a job to go back to