Furloughed but company making up salary

[daffodilbrain]

A friend had been furloughed but her company is making up the balance of her salary - surely this can't be right? And it's big business taking advantage.?

Plenty are doing this.

Yes it’s allowed. It’s keeping these employees in a job when there is no work for them to do or they can’t do their job..

Yep my employer is doing this - seems great - why is it taking advantage?

What do you think is wrong with it? The govt pay 80%; the employer can pay the remainder if they wish.

They seem like good guys to do so.

Why wouldn't it be allowed? If there is no work for employees it's better business sense for the company to furlough than lose revenue or have to make redundancies.

Yes, this is what my employer is doing for our furloughed staff. Why would you be against that? I'm still working and some of my colleagues can't. Why should they lose money? It's really good of our management to make sure they don't lose out whilst they can't work.

How is that taking advantage? My employer is a very small business and my boss has said that for as long as he can he will top up the 20% of my salary the government isn’t paying. I don’t understand how you think paying your employees 20% of their salary when they can’t work is taking the piss.

If the employee isn't working then the employer can claim furlough legitimately, and there's no reason why they shouldn't top up if they wish.

Yes, this is how it works. Govt pays 80 and up to employer to top up the difference, although they don't have to. Friend is lucky to still get full salary, I'll only be getting the 80.

What on earth is wrong with that?

That’s what the government encourage!

My employer are doing it. Everyone is getting full salary but they’ll reclaim what they can for the furloughed people (some are on more than £2500 per month so top up is higher).

The furloughed employees aren't allowed to do any work for the company so it's certainly not 'big business taking advantage'.

It's 'businesses being decent, with help from the government, while trying to keep their heads above the water'

Would you rather they laid these people off?

It's the opposite of taking advantage - not many employers would be willing to pay their staff 100% of their wages when they can only reclaim 80%. (Either because they can't afford to, don't want to lose profits, or both).
The company only gets 80% back from the government, even if theh pay their employees more than that.

Who is taking advantage of what?

The government is paying the 80%; her company are paying the rest, so that they make sure they retain their employees. That's literally how the system is supposed to work.

Loads of companies are doing this. If anything this is the right thing to do.

Are you just pissed off your friend is getting full pay?

Why can't it be right? What are the businesses taking advantage of?

It is done so that employees still get their full salary rather than just 80% that the government is paying out.

What do you think is wrong with it?

The company works for is doing this. I'm disabled and unable to work, so I am truly grateful that I won't have the additional worry of lack of his normal wage on top of everything else.

I think he may not get his profit based Christmas bonus this year, so will have to plan accordingly though.

I think it’s great if the company is able to do it financially, means the furloughed staff don’t have to deal with a pay cut. It’s topping up 20% so still a big saving rather than paying 100%.

My company is doing this too, I haven't heard of many not doing this.

Do you mean the company is making it up to 100% or they’re lying about what her salary is because I cannot possibly understand what the problem is if it’s the former

My org is doing this & I am hugely grateful as a single parent. They are reserving the right to adjust the top up though so it might not be til 31/05 though.
I also expect no bonus to be paid related to 2020 which will offset some of the top up.

What?? Taking advantage of who? The government have asked companies to do this if possible.

Eh?! Have you misunderstood the furlough process?

I’m being paid 80% of my salary (above the furlough freshhold so their topping up), my managers 95% and entry level staff (minimum wage) full pay.

I’m not expecting a bonus this year (couldn’t as annually we won’t make budget anyway)

I think their being more than generous and I’m extremely grateful.