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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:
PippaPegg · 23/04/2020 17:54

@opticaldelusion please ask your friends to report their employers. It's taking the piss to get tax payers money to pay wages of people who are still working.

DICarter1 · 23/04/2020 17:54

I’m a bit envious as my husband is working and has taken a 20% pay cut, I’m working whilst trying to home school three kids between 11 and 7 and two have complex special needs. My dh can’t help as he’s busier than ever and thinks if he doesn’t put his all in he’ll be out of a job.

AintNoMaryPoppins · 23/04/2020 17:55

I don't like the tone of the post or some of the replies as if 'the furloughed' are a lesser subset of society that you're having to drag along, 'we're working or we'll have to pay higher tax to pay their salaries'.

Would you rather everyone were made redundant instead? I don't want to see my family, or my friends or anyone I care about, out of a job that was saveable even if that means we have to pull together a bit more further down the line.

You are in the far better position here in terms of security OP. Don't forget that. There will be some of course that don't really need their jobs anyway, maybe they've got a husband who earns enough or savings, whatever. But there are a lot of others who really are terrified and scraping by every month already.

Don't talk as if people, our colleagues, your friends, family or any other member of 'the furloughed' are a burden. It's horrible.

Littlebean0506 · 23/04/2020 17:58

Trust me I would much rather be at work, but I'm currently at home looking after our 10 month old whilst on unpaid leave as I didn't start my new job in time to qualify. Unfortunally it is what it is and hopefully I'll still have a job to go back to.

ICouldHaveBeenAContender · 23/04/2020 17:59

One week, DD was asked to take a 10% pay cut.
The following week (day 1 of being on reduced pay), she was TOLD she would be furloughed at the end of the week, for 3-7 weeks.
Two weeks later, she's now been told her furlough will last till June.

She is livid. She wants to work. She had a full pipeline of work she had to hand over to senior staff. Only some staff have been furloughed, and selection was based purely on grade and length of service - you had to have 2.5 years with the company, and she was a few weeks short.

She's very worried for her future.

"Irrationally annoyed?" Very irrational, I would say. YABU.

tigger1001 · 23/04/2020 17:59

I'm furloughed. It's the first time since I was 18 that I'm not working(as in going to work) and am struggling with it. Yes I have kept busy by homeschooling the kids, catching up with diy/gardening and doing some craft stuff (my usual hobby)but would rather be working than stressing how to make up the shortfall in both our wages and worrying that longer term I might not have a job at all.

catwithnohat · 23/04/2020 18:01

I'm on furlough and not out of choice. That attitude is the one I'll have to go back to work and deal with - the snidey remarks and looks from those who've still got full time jobs (but who had to work)

Thanks for the reminder

opticaldelusion · 23/04/2020 18:01

please ask your friends to report their employers. It's taking the piss to get tax payers money to pay wages of people who are still working

It's a noble notion but what do you think will happen to the employees in this situation?

SabineSchmetterling · 23/04/2020 18:01

Yabu.
I feel very lucky to be able to WFH right now. My job is secure and, even though my hours have got longer, I’d rather be in my position than be furloughed on reduced or even full salary and unsure if I would have a job to go back to. So many of the companies with staff on furlough are at risk of folding. I would imagine it’s a real worry for their staff.

Unworthie · 23/04/2020 18:02

The problems start with being furloughed on 80% of a wage where living on 100% is a struggle. It's costing me more as I eat at work 5 out of 7 for free and DD spends time with other family members. We already just pay essentials, no luxuries to cut. Shops out of stock so I'm having to buy more expensive products of things like loo roll, butter etc when I'd normally buy the cheap stuff. And I'm saving a grand total of fuck all because I walk to work.
The last 6 weeks have been a total nightmare with no income whatsoever (weekly paid normally) because my place of work is closed and there's no money to pay anyone until furlough comes through. I don't even know how much I'll get. Hard to plan to start digging out of the debt I'm now in without knowing what I can feasibly offer.
There's the thought on my mind that at the moment I could quit my job as it is, and get a temp job as a key worker. But what happens to that temporary job when things start to return to normal, I won't be needed then. And I'll have lost the job I have now.
I'm in hospitality, so I might not have a job to go back to full stop if the company doesn't survive.
So whichever way I jump there's a probability I'll be unemployed at the end of all this anyway.
As many will be, reducing the job pool and making it harder to get one.
I've never been unemployed, from 15 to 40.
Oh and some of us are out there volunteering helping others, not just sitting at home doing nothing.
I'm very grateful to those that are continuing to work and keep things going, and realise that it must be incredibly stressful and frightening. I'm also fed up to the back teeth of hearing about how people like me are sat at home chilling at everyone else's expense, like we're just lazy and can't be arsed. Places like mine have been shut by the government, and in my contract while I'm still employed I'm not allowed to work elsewhere.
I've worked hard all my life, never not paid things like rent and utility bills or had big debts. All that is worth precisely fuck all right now.
So thanks for kicking the likes of me while we're down.

Eveknowsme · 23/04/2020 18:02

We’re totally screwed. What people don’t realise is we are going to go on to the biggest recession after this. The government will want all that money back. They will scrape it from already underfunded resources and social funding.

A hell of a lot of people that have been furloughed won’t have a job to go back to. Even though it grates let them have a bit peace because the coming months will be hellish

MorganKitten · 23/04/2020 18:02

they're at home doing nothing.

Am I? Do you know my daily schedule?

bridgetreilly · 23/04/2020 18:03

It's also worth remembering that for a lot of people who are furloughed, 80% of their salary or the maximum amount is barely enough to survive on. I'm sure they'd rather be working and getting their full salary.

opticaldelusion · 23/04/2020 18:05

Expecting employees to report their employers knowing full well that doing so will mean they lose their job is naive.

People are far more worried about their own salary than 'the tax payer'. I don't blame them personally. I totally get that.

TeacupDrama · 23/04/2020 18:05

@Pippapegg furloughing will cause some economic damage as all the money paid for furlough will somehow need to be paid back even if every single furloughed person keeps their job 6+ million people @£2500 plus pensions plus NI a month is no small sum and the money has to come from somewhere
some furloughed people maybe in construction and outdoor jobs might be back within a month some like hospitality I don't see working again before OCtober or later

Abreadsandwich · 23/04/2020 18:07

I am furloughed, and as I'm not paying school dinners, before and after school club, kids activities and train fare to work I should be just about breaking even.....but my DH is SE and also not working. I have enjoyed extra time to spend with DH and kids and a more relaxed life but I'm scared what our income is going to be next month and quite jealous of those whose jobs are secure.

Mummy5hark · 23/04/2020 18:07

People who are furloughed could also be at home wondering if they will have a job to return to. I think you are being unreasonable. I am receiving full pay, but am working from home with an almost 2 year old (single parent) so this isn't easy, but would prefer this than to be furloughed.

Bunionbandit · 23/04/2020 18:08

I think it’s only human to feel some resentment, I’m one of the ones slogging my guts out working from home (with all the challenges that brings) while 95% of the company are furloughed. It’s hard for all of us, furloughed or still working, but someone has to work on to make sure the company survives and there are jobs for everyone to come back to. Some of my furloughed colleagues appreciate what I’m doing & some glory in posting relaxed ‘hot tubing’ photos of themselves enjoying their extra time off on full pay. You should take pride in what you are doing, chin up & solider on 😁

Hadjab · 23/04/2020 18:08

Why are you jealous? I’ve been furloughed - I’m pretty certain this is the first step to redundancy, as I work in retail, which isn’t just going to magically pick up at the end of June. YABU and a bit stupid actually.

Sinuhe · 23/04/2020 18:09

I am on furlough... it's shit! I can't afford to do the fancy stuff you are taking about. I am bored, I'd love to do some volunteering but can't due to having to look after my DC. I am stuck in a small semi with small ovelooked garden. My highlight of the day is going for a walk or bike ride- which can last the whole of 20 minutes because of DC getting tired / bored sometimes longer if I can stand the moaning! and we are outdoor people, but roaming the streets is no fun at all Otherwise I am at home, entertaining / teaching the DC, being bored.
My highlight of the week is a shopping trip to the supermarket.
I grant you, the first week was fine but the decent started soon after! My home is clean, I am on my 3rd epic novel- not quite enough to stop me think of my uncertain future...

englishrosie · 23/04/2020 18:10

Wow do you realise how ridiculous you actually sound. I'm currently furloughed but would much prefer being at work instead of worrying about redundancy! You're selfish.

PhoneLock · 23/04/2020 18:10

The furlough system means that employers have already made decisions about who’s expendable and who isn’t.

Rubbish! They have made decisions about who can do their job at home and who can't.

Amotherof6 · 23/04/2020 18:11

I am going to say something that people don't just get but:

Why don't people have an emergency fund to pay for a couple of months bills...... save that up before buying the iphone/expensive holiday/designer anything/fake nails/anything fake/upgrading the car/laptop etc....

In fact surely an 'emergency fund' of 3 months income is something most people should strive for before having to rely on others....

Now I know I will get flamed because some people have no spare cash but surely.... there are lots of ways people can save slowly for an emergency fund....

CreepyPasta · 23/04/2020 18:13

I have been told today that I will be made redundant once the Furlough scheme ends. YABU

BeijingBikini · 23/04/2020 18:13

I don't think you're wrong at all - I'm furloughed, have savings, bored AF and spending all day drinking in the garden. I feel guilty for getting "free money" for doing fuck all, when I don't even need it.