Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 09/04/2020 14:05

There are no winners in this op. I don't think comparing ourselves helps. Many of those furloughed might not have jobs to go back to plus I know people who are finding being away from work and isolated really tough mentally.

Rover83 · 09/04/2020 14:23

No one is enjoying this realistically though are they. I'm an ITU nurse and my DH is a keyworker too, all my local nurseries have closed even for key worker children so all we have been offered is a nursery a 25 minute drive away. Occasionally I think of the nursery staff getting paid to sit at home but no doubt they are worried about their jobs, I worry about picking up COVID-19 and bringing it home, I also worry about the effects on all of our mental health as we struggle to care for our kids with no outside help which means we are often not sleeping for 2 days and getting grumpy

KocktaleKween · 09/04/2020 14:31

I'm furloughed along with everyone else in the company because we're hospitality. It is a reality that the business may not make it through this and we've been told as much, though if they do, there will be cuts and I may be one of them. It's a slightly different scenario to companies partly furloughing their workforce because I don't have colleagues that are having to work and do my share. I would feel bad if I were in that situation if I'm honest, and I'd feel jealous too if I were still working and colleagues furloughed. But I'd be also thinking that it's not their choice, not really even the company choice, it's through necessity. I say that because most workplaces have an ingrained culture of presenteeism and frown upon that good old fashioned idea of being human and getting sick (with anything, not just Covid at the moment) and therefore if the rules allowed it (in jobs like mine where we are mandated closed) or if they could, I think most employers would be demanding people turn up for work. Some of my friends have told me the only reason they're working from home has been pressure applied to the company that the work can feasibly be done from home and they are flying in the face of all the advice about staying at home and saving the NHS by forcing people into their workplace.
My sister is working on Covid wards at the moment.
Neither of us made those choices for ourselves, our respective careers and this situation has done that. I have not chosen to 'sit at home and get 80% paid for doing nothing' no more than my sister has chosen to be right in the face of this illness.
I really hope furloughing isn't going to become a reason to start shouting free money at people and treating them like scroungers as happens so often with benefits. But unfortunately I can see it going that way already.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 09/04/2020 14:36

YABFU

Would you like to be looking forward to redundancy OP? Angry I’m not.

myself2020 · 09/04/2020 14:38

Of course there will be consultations before redundancies. but - having bern through several big reorganisations over the last 10 years - they are pretty much a formality. it was always clear in advance who stayed, and who didn’t . and jobs that are not essential now are a lot easier to get rid (plus loads of companies will fold completely )

lennyhenryslaugh · 09/04/2020 14:46

OP, it's understandable to have these feelings. But I look at it like this, I have a job, I have a wage, I have routine, I'm wanted, in valued. I can say when this is all over I did my bit. Keep going, it will be a short time but it will be worth itSmile

Devlesko · 09/04/2020 14:50

Of course there will be consultations before redundancies

Please tell me you're having a laugh. I've seen a whole level of management hear on the day that they are redundant, came as a complete surprise. Do you remember the 90's or any other time of recession before this.
Businesses go bust, you are made redundant, that's usually it.

myself2020 · 09/04/2020 15:16

@devlesko if the business goes bust, that was tgat. otherwise-if enough people are involved- there is a consultation, but that’s a complete formality and will only change some minor details if anything

fivesecondrule · 09/04/2020 15:28

I wonder what would happen in a situation where someone who was furloughed kept their job if redundancies were made in say July and someone who has worked throughout this period was made redundant?

fivesecondrule · 09/04/2020 15:30

... assuming they did the same job/ same pay grade etc.

Pjsandbaileys · 09/04/2020 15:44

I work in a key role that can't be done at home, I have been told by HR I have to remain at home because I'm medically vunerable. I feel shit that I can help my colleagues as I know they are being overworked but relieved I and my family get to stay safe. I do however expect to be let go once this is over but we will cross that bridge when it comes

beautifulstranger101 · 09/04/2020 15:45

I'm jealous of you OP working from home. I'm a key worker and having to go out into the community to look after the vulnerable. I'm happy to do it and take care of them but if I had the choice i'd rather be "working from home" and able to be with my children......

Rowgtfc72 · 09/04/2020 15:51

Another keyworker on minimum wage. Work 530am till 130 pm in a factory with an awful lot of other people. Would much rather be at home safe, my line of work doesn't generally carry health risks.
Some furloughed workers will be picking up more money than me on 80% of their wages, than what I earn a week.
My biggest bug bear is trying to shop after work, everyone else already in the food queues and cant get the things I need.

VideographybyLouBloom · 09/04/2020 15:59

My institution have specifically said Furlough will have absolutely nothing to do with selection, if and when they have to make decisions on redundancy

Solina · 09/04/2020 16:35

My DP has some of the same feelings which is fair as they are getting paid for not working whilst he still has to do his job and cover theirs. But in reality if redundancies come it will be most of those furloughed going as he can do their job but they can't do his (he is more senior). So he would rather keep working than be furloughed at the moment.
My job is relatively safe so we are all still working and I am very glad of it.

catwithnohat · 09/04/2020 16:39

I'm on furlough (despite having plenty of work to do) and not remotely happy. I'm the only one in my team and I strongly suspect I'll be given the heave in the round of redundancies which are almost certainly likely to happen

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 09/04/2020 16:51

I'm working from home, DH furloughed on 80% of pay. I'm a wee bit jealous of him, he's jealous of me! But I'm working to help keep my company going, while he's not working to do the same. It's just the way the cookie crumbles really.

The lockdown is rubbish for everyone, and there will always be someone worse off than you. I think 'yay, loving furlough-life' style posts on social media are a bit insensitive though.

glitterwobbles · 09/04/2020 16:51

Although I understand how awful it is to have your wages cut to 80% and the worry of redundancy. I am a nurse and we are working flat out doing 12.5 hour shifts often without breaks. Only had 2 drinks last shift. Am walking 3 miles to work so I dont have to use the bus.So yes at times I feel jjealous. My husband and I are working more hours aswell as trying to support elderly parents and ourselves. Everything seems like hard work eg shopping nurses need to eat. To top it all looks like my annual leave is about to be cancelled

Bojheybuddy · 09/04/2020 16:57

VideographybyLouBloom I think we work for the same place Grin

glitterwobbles · 09/04/2020 17:19

Yes good old nhs. I'm not really jealous but really dont appreciate people thinking I'm lucky working. Just spare people who are working extra hard a thought. And anyone who feels like having a party over the weekend don't

VideographybyLouBloom · 09/04/2020 17:23

@Bojheybuddy did you just have an email
From your ‘chief Executive’ (not called that)?

BunsyGirl · 09/04/2020 17:27

I’ve been furloughed despite having work to do and my team is currently meeting its financial targets. Others in my team doing the same job have also been furloughed. We have one thing in common; we all have young children. Really not happy about the situation.

Waferbiscuit · 09/04/2020 17:28

Our org is offering special leave, at 100% pay, for anyone who CAN work from home but finds it too tricky if they have caring responsibilities. All you have to do is volunteer yourself forward and that's you, off.

Frustratingly virtually every woman in my team with children has said they need this leave . Their husbands/partners? Oh yeah, they are trying to WFH in an 'important job' so can't help with any caring work.

This system is merely flagging up how ridiculously gendered caring is.

OhNoNoNoNotThatOne · 09/04/2020 17:31

I'm furloughed and I hate it, I'd much rather be doing work than being at home not being able to go and do anything, especially as dh is furloughed too.

I only returned to work from maternity leave at the start of March, 3 weeks in and I was working from home, a week later I was furloughed. Easiest to do me because I have no responsibilities as I hadn't been back long enough. As there isn't enough work coming in at the moment one of the others has been furloughed too because she works part time and it makes more sense to keep the full-time team members working over part-time.
I really hope neither of us get made redundant at the end of this. We're the longest standing employees bar the business owner and being such a small company (6 people) it would be heart breaking.

Hunstanton · 09/04/2020 17:36

We’re about to enter a massive recession so I would think you’re in a good place in a business if you are considered vital enough NOT to furlough