Furloughed, still working for 20% less pay while furloughed colleagues get same with no work?

[ditherwood]

I work for a small school, we were told a couple of weeks ago by email that all staff were having a pay cut of 20% which would take effect this financial month (April) and last until September. This was a huge blow as our salaries are already very low. A week later the company then sent an email around stating that some employees would be furloughed so would also be paid 80% by the government but wouldn't have to work.

Today I found out that two people in my team of five have been furloughed. They are thrilled, said they are looking forward to catching up with gardening and DIY etc. While I am running the course online, having to use my own resources, laptop, wifi, printer etc, develop new course material, manage a body of students who are all livid about having to go online for learning etc. We haven't been supplied with any instructions, resources or materials, were initially asked to consider being available for extended hours to facilitate student zoom calls etc (I said a firm no to this).

What would you do in this instance? It feels massively unfair, I can't see how I can manage financially on 20% less income, so am hugely stressed about that, having to figure out a new way of working and my direct team mates are getting the same albeit reduced pay and nothing is expected of them. Should I demand that I work 20% fewer days?

Sorry title should read 'Not furloughed'

Can you refuse the paycut? Is it union approved?

Have you tried applying for universal credit to make up the difference?

Flaskmaster I work for a private college so am not sure if there even is a union to approve. Our HR department have closed ranks so am feeling in the dark about how to proceed.

Nameofchange I think I will have to

It isn’t really fair is the answer but the r laity is that the company is entitled to do it and unfortunately under the circumstances I’d rather be seen as needed than not if it comes to redundancies later down the line.

It is much easier than you would think to apply. They don’t seem to be asking you to meet any obligations.

It still seems very unfair that you have all this additional pressure and your colleagues do not.

Yup up and down the country people are feeling this me included.

I have taken a 10% pay cut so am now working full time for 90% of my wages while furloughed colleagues are watching tv and enjoying the weather on 80% of theirs'.

When I first thought this I thought I wouldn't want it as the cap was £2500 but my company are topping this up so people are getting the actual 80% of their wages, no cap.

I guess the other response is "those furloughed will be the first made redundant when that starts to happen" but I don't think that will happen to those furloughed in my company.

It will breed resentment, no doubt. But at least we have jobs and are being paid, better off than a lot of people.

thewinkingprawn you're right, better ins work and needed that extraneous and out of a job.

You are not supposed to work if furloughed. Did they make people sign anything for the 20% pay cut?

You shouldn't be out of pocket for working from home. I'm pretty sure you can claim something back for that. It's not fair, but knowing how small private schools sometimes operate, there's not a lot you can do unfortunately

Nameofchanges thanks I will checkout out. My colleagues who have been furloughed also have additional income streams, working partners and are home owners. I am none of the above and the pressure is massive

Iamblossom sorry you're going through similar. you're right, we are luckier than many.

Is it possible to charge up some expenses to the school so they contribute to the broadband, heat light power etc. Increased costs to you of having to work from home? If you were self employed there are certain expenses that can be offset against your income, it's similar. Likewise if you need to travel to and from the school, charge them the mileage for doing that. It might be worth asking an accountant for advice and hopefully you can claw back most, if not all of the pay cut in expenses.

froggybiby sorry I wrote title poorly, I'm not furloughed, my colleagues are

To qualify for furlough, employees have to be furloughed for a minimum of three weeks.

Can they come off furlough after this period and you (and anyone else still working) go on it to even things out a bit?

Failing that I would be asking for a pay rise to cover additional duties.

CrotchetyQuaver I'll start looking into expenses and what's chargeable, great idea thank you

I would be emailing my manager and asking that the 20% paycut is reconsidered now that X amount of staff are being furloughed (surely offsetting what the 20% was going to save?)

Wonder how they decided who to furlough or not?

Cottipus I didn't realise there was a minimum, it's an interesting idea to see if we can swap in and out, I will find out thanks

I and some colleagues are being paid normal salary to do normal hours but extra duties, while other colleagues are being paid normal money to do 15-25% of their usual work with no extra duties. This is due to not enough equipment to go around for the foreseeable future and is causing a lot of stress and resentment as you can imagine.

Your situation sounds totally unfair too.

Crunchymum good idea, I will do that. The furloughing seems random. Their management of the whole situation has been appalling.

Scootingthebreeze gosh this sounds like a really odd, massively unfair set up!! What on earth are these companies thinking??! It breeds huge resentment amongst colleagues.

Is your 80% pay the same as £2500 less tax because furloughed staff only get up to £2500 (if they earned that) and then it is taxed.

Do you do the same job? Support staff in my company have been furloughed but I don't do the same job.

If I was furloughed, I would be very worried about not having a job at all at the end of this. Businesses will be in deep trouble even when this is over and they will be looking to cut costs. If someone can be furloughed and not missed, I'd guess they'd be first for the chop if needed.

Some say that two thirds of people may lose jobs if shutdown lasts for 3 months.... maybe the furloughed sitting at home gardening but being paid the same as you will go first?

It does seem unfair though for you.

The whole situation is unfair but lots of people are having to accept the unfairness to keep their jobs or make sure their employer's businesses survive. No harm is asking for your situation to be reviewed or furloughing to be shared around.