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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be irrationally annoyed with the furloughed?

550 replies

awaywiththecircus · 23/04/2020 17:28

I know I am but I'm jealous that they have all day to lie in the sun, home educate their dc, bake, sew, watch TV whilst I'm busier than ever trying to do it all whilst working from home.
I heard on the radio it's going to cost £50 billion over 3 months and I feel annoyed that the economy is totally f**d because we're paying everyone's salaries, and they're at home doing nothing.
I also know none of this is anyone's fault and IABU.

OP posts:
oblada · 23/04/2020 21:43

hammeringinmyhead - their access to the scheme is limited proportionately to the public funding they receive. Nothing to cry about. Pretty fair overall (though should have been clearer from the start).

Zoe91z · 23/04/2020 21:45

I have been furloughed and extremely anxious and worried if I will have a job to go back to... some of my colleagues are still working as they can do so from home which makes me feel useless, small and insignificant so cheers for that! You just made my evening better... NOT.

Rebelwithallthecause · 23/04/2020 21:50

My DH is furloughed And can’t wait to get back to work

There’s a stress of the unknown, the reduction in income that’s not sustainable and a worry about if the employment will be there after

Mascotte · 23/04/2020 22:05

I’m irrationally annoyed with nhs workers and police getting free stuff when I’ve lost work and income for the foreseeable. And I work for the government and get no help.

IllegalFred · 23/04/2020 22:06

Genuine question.

Why would you decide to furlough someone and not another? And then make the opposite decision when it comes to redundancy?

At my husband's work, they had quite a few new starters who didn't get furloughed because they weren't employed at the end of February so wouldn't have qualified for the scheme. They'd probably be the first to go in a redundancy situation.

His company is definitely one of those taking advantage of the scheme, they could easily have weathered the storm and been slightly less profitable.

Mascotte · 23/04/2020 22:06

Abd yes, I’m annoyed with furlough but only if people moan about their hard lot

Bluntness100 · 23/04/2020 22:10

I very much doubt they are having a fabulous time being furloughed. No one is having a fabulous time right now. Most people are pig sick of it, stressed, struggling and worried.

I’m still working, I’d prefer that, I simply can’t imagine being envious of someone whose work has shut down and who is stuck at home doing fuck all day after day.

Personally I think your envy is more about your desire not to work, rather than the fact they currently don’t.

Mascotte · 23/04/2020 22:12

Just to be clear..I have no work any more. Overnight

RedHelenB · 23/04/2020 22:13

I've just had confirmation that I'm being furloughed but even though its less money than I'd usually have coming in I totally see your point. And there will be work for me when lockdown lifts
.

Randomnessembraced · 23/04/2020 22:19

The whole situation is rubbish for everyone and being furloughed and worried about your job/company must be really stressful. Instead of comparing ourselves to others and feeling anger/frustration/jealousy etc it is much better for our own wellbeing and that of everyone around us to think 1) what do I have that I can be grateful for - make a list if need be and 2) what small acts of kindness can I do daily for others/1 other person.

Mascotte · 23/04/2020 22:23

Oh that’s so annoying. I was really grateful for my simple old life. I had arranged it to keep myself sane and appreciate the little things and be there for my child.

I’m not fucking grateful to have no income and not be able to see my partner.

caoraich · 23/04/2020 22:24

I do get where you're coming from.

OH and I are both in healthcare, he in particular is working all the extra hours there are with last minute rota changes to cover all the sickness gaps.

Our baby is in a frankly bizarre council-allocated childcare provision (that's more expensive too) as her usual nursery is shut and she's miserable.

I'd give my eye teeth to be furloughed and take the 20% pay cut so I could stay home with her but it isn't going to happen. We could afford it because childcare is so expensive, but obviously not all would be in that position.

My furloughed friends are doing lots of zoom playdates, sharing fun activities to do with kids, sending pics of them all in the paddling pool and I find it hard to be part of the chats.

However I appreciate that many furloughed people are struggling too.

Basically it's shit for almost everyone in different ways and I am trying to remind myself that I'm sure people are jealous of me getting 20 minutes to myself on my commute and getting to speak to adult humans who aren't my husband.

HMSSophie · 23/04/2020 22:27

People on furlough accrue holiday too. It means one scenario is everyone back at work, then those furloughed go off on holiday !

Excited101 · 23/04/2020 22:28

I agree, though I know it’s not as good for some as others. I’ve got a friend in the same job as me, she’s been furloughed with no long term threat to her job, and her business is topping up her wage to 100%. She’s having a lovely time!

I’m knackered, I’m working absolutely flat out with what feels like little recognition of the newer hardships I currently have to deal with.

badboss2020 · 23/04/2020 22:29

Well I'm furloughed AND still working from home for a crook of a boss who is cashing in on this. Yay for me.

Candodad · 23/04/2020 22:31

@Excited101 maybe because it’s not a holiday for them? Muppet.

Reallyneeedhelp · 23/04/2020 22:34

It makes me
Feel worthless
It has hammered my mental health
This is no holiday

And if my work goes under , so does a massive charity that a huge amount of MN use.

Fuck sake OP I hope you’ve learnt something here

FTMumm · 23/04/2020 22:36

My husband and I have our own business, I work part time so will be able to claim about £500 a month. My husband can’t furlough himself as he needs to keep doing quotes and admin to keep our business alive at the other end of this but nothing he does is paid so we now have £500 a month to pay mortgage, bills, buy food etc etc. The furlough scheme isn’t working for us. We’re eating into savings we’d made over the last 10 years to buy a home and get out of our tiny flat. I think on paper the scheme might look generous but in reality it’s not all it’s made out to be.

LettuceP · 23/04/2020 22:40

I do get why you'd feel jealous OP, I imagine I would feel a bit of unreasonable jealousy in your position.

DH and I both work for the same company and have been furloughed, we've lost a fair whack of our income and we worry about our jobs. If the company doesn't survive this then we will both be out of a job. Its really scary, but we are trying to stay positive and appreciate what we do have. We can still pay our bills and put food on the table (fuck all money left for extras but hey ho), we have all this time to spend as a family which we would never have got otherwise, we have the time to home educate so dd's education hopefully won't suffer and we've had time to do a lot more exercise which is helping our mental and physical health so much. But the worry of neither of us having a job to go back to is there 24/7.

Johnbull · 23/04/2020 22:45

If furlough is used for the purpose it is intended for then it's better than the alternative of redundancy but obviously not ideal.

BUT I do believe there are people taking advantage of what has been offered and are choosing not to work or employers who have also taken advantage to reduce outgoings.

This will increase the economic impact on us all long-term and I hope those who have battled on, key worker or not, will be recognised by their employers and companies taking advantage will be shamed.

Monstermissy36 · 23/04/2020 22:48

It is unreasonable but I do understand...

My brother is furloughed and enjoying his time off and earning more than I do working from home (which isn't really how my job works and is ridiculously stressful, whilst trying to get the kids to do school work etc etc)

My neighbours who have just bought a hot tub and are sunning themselves everyday with the music to match are both being furloughed and I overheard him telling a mate he was loving it too. Again probably earning more than me too.

But I just keep reminding myself it's no ones fault and it won't be forever! I like it's fairly natural reaction tbh for those honest enough to talk about it. I'm sure these people would rather be at work...

autumnmum · 23/04/2020 22:50

My workplace is taking advantage of the scheme to protect our reserves so I get where you are coming from OP. I've not been furloughed but having to cover work of those who have. My employer is making colleagues saleries up to 100% so I am really annoyed as they are being paid full whack to sit at home and accrue holiday whilst 40% of the staff are doing 100% of the work. I am desparately sorry for those people worried about their jobs and on reduced incomes, but there are lots of organisations taking advantage of the scheme and putting absurd amounts. Of pressure on remaining staff.

Thefaceofboe · 23/04/2020 22:54

Yeah because I wanna he sat on my arse doing fuck all most the day.

GlummyMcGlummerson · 23/04/2020 22:56

YABVU. It's not my fault I'm furloughed, and I'm more at risk of losing my job. I'd rather be working.

AnneTwacky · 23/04/2020 23:07

I'm getting pissed off with this now.

You can't choose to be furloughed. Being furloughed is stressful both because of the loss of income and loss of job security.

Most people who are furloughed would much rather still be working, secure in the knowledge that they'll still be employed come July.

This situation is hard on everyone and making it into a "them and us" situation isn't helpful.