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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To message my boss to say thank you

56 replies

KatC9 · 24/04/2020 09:37

I got paid today. The full amount... I was put on furlough at the beginning of the month and I haven't been doing any work. I did catch up with my colleague a couple of times the past month but nothing work related really... I feel ashamed and sad and greatful at the same time. The thing is I stated this job in February so I barley been with the company a month before this all kicked in... it's a fairly small company, there is only about 15 of us and I know some of my colleagues who can work remotely are still working... I feels worthless and useless, but I thought I send an email to my employer to say thank you for getting the extra 20% from him and also just to say if there is anything I could do from home, any kind of help I'm happy to do it ! Is this stupid?

OP posts:

opticaldelusion · 24/04/2020 09:39

No, it's lovely. But remember that you can't work for your employer whilst furloughed. Technically you might be able to 'volunteer' provided you're not making the company any money but that's really hard to quantify.

An email saying thanks would, I'm sure, be appreciated though.

Fifthtimelucky · 24/04/2020 09:42

If you've been furloughed you shouldn't be offering to work, but I think it would be a nice gesture to contact him to thank him for paying you the full amount and to say that you are very grateful, especially given that you have been there such a short time.

Spied · 24/04/2020 09:42

I think it sets a precedent that you are bit too grateful and eager to please.
I don't personally think it gives a good impression.

Original poster

KatC9 · 24/04/2020 09:44

Yes, I know that so I wasn't going to offer tho jump on emails etc rather than doing some research, ideas for future events for the company, how we could grow, what new products to introduce etc ... the thing is I'm ever so slightly worried about suggesting stuff as I haven't been with a company for long but I guess I could just try... in so upset, I was so excited about this job and now this... I'm greatful and I know I'm extremely lucky but I worked my balls off to get this job and one month into it I was furloughed 😔

OP posts:

TrickyD · 24/04/2020 09:46

Your boss will be delighted to be thanked. Maybe tone offers of help down a bit.

Fanthorpe · 24/04/2020 09:50

I think you should say what you just said, that you were pleased and excited when you got the job and that you’re looking forward to getting cracking again. I think it’s nice, shows you as a thoughtful person.

Helen18 · 24/04/2020 09:53

I would email your boss and query the amount as it may be a payroll error ( especially if not everyone had been furloughed). If they respond to say that the company has topped up your salary to full pay then you could say thanks.

MimiLaRue · 24/04/2020 09:55

Yes, thanking them would be a lovely gesture OP- i say go for it

Original poster

KatC9 · 24/04/2020 09:57

Well, it is on my bank account so I don't think they'd go back on it, also when I was put on furlough I had a chat with him on the phone and he said he will match it up to 100% but didn't say it with great confidence so I thought we shall see.. I would have been more than happy with the 80% too to be fair...

OP posts:

wonderrotunda · 24/04/2020 09:58

I would maybe do the research in the background until you have it and then present it ... just in case it’s not as forthcoming and then you’ve not got their hopes up. But a thank you message is a lovely idea!

PianoTuner567 · 24/04/2020 10:00

Don’t make a meal of it, just a quick email to say thank you and that you’re looking forward to going back when the time comes.

BoingBoingyBoing · 24/04/2020 10:00

Go for it, you boss is human being and anything we can do to give people a lift at the moment is a good thing.

Chillipeanuts · 24/04/2020 10:00

“I think it sets a precedent that you are bit too grateful and eager to please.
I don't personally think it gives a good impression.“

? Don’t understand this attitude at all. If I had such a decent employer, I would be grateful and eager to please!

Medievalist · 24/04/2020 10:01

I don't think you should be suggesting ways to improve the business when you only started in February. Especially when you've been on furlough for some of that time. It can really get up people's noses when newbies bounce in with lots of 'good ideas' before they've taken the time to get to grips with the organisation. And if you're on furlough you shouldn't be doing anything that could be classed as work.

Personally I would keep my thanks until I was back at work.

YeahWhatevver · 24/04/2020 10:02

I think employers are feeling the stress as much as employees in terms of worrying for the welfare of their staff etc.

I'd certainly appreciate a note of thanks

Redcherries · 24/04/2020 10:03

I think a thank you would be ideal, but I’d say that I was looking forward to getting back to work when it’s possible. I’m bending over backwards trying to ensure all our teams are earning and receiving payments, it’s hard. A thank you goes a long way.

That said, my team will be receiving thank you today for their work this week. I’m likely to furlough myself next week as the bank and work is running dry but my business partner will continue to operate with a small team so we can hopefully make it through to the other side with our work family intact.

A thank you goes a long way.

MartySouth · 24/04/2020 10:05

“I think it sets a precedent that you are bit too grateful and eager to please.
I don't personally think it gives a good impression.“.

This is such an odd response. It's the kind of thing my DH would say. He is convinced that's the kind of thing 'winners' do. He has no friends and people think he's really strange though.

returnofthecat · 24/04/2020 10:05

You can't do anything that might be construed as earning revenue for the business.

If you send in a bunch of 'good ideas', you are only going to cause your boss problems. Don't.

If you want to send in an email to say 'thanks', that's fine, but don't offer to work, don't present your boss with work, and don't ask your boss to arrange for your salary to be rechecked if you're sure it's correct. As I'm sure you can imagine, your boss will be busy enough already.

As noted above, you can say you're looking forward to getting back to work, that's pretty much it in terms of 'extra' stuff!

Qgardens · 24/04/2020 10:06

I read the opening op as massage your boss to say thank you. That might be going a bit too far, but I'm sure he would appreciate a quick email to say thanks and you are looking forward to returning. Just polite and business like.

minisoksmakehardwork · 24/04/2020 10:12

I know how you feel @KatC9. I started work one week and 2 days before our school closed. I got full pay at the end of last month and for now am only in 1 day every 3 weeks but will be receiving full pay.

I would couch the email as an 'has there been an error with payroll' and that you look forward to being able to return to work as soon as is practical.

Medievalist · 24/04/2020 10:15

I would couch the email as an 'has there been an error with payroll'

Op has said that her boss already told her in a phone conversation that he would make her salary up to 100%

ANoiseAnnoys · 24/04/2020 10:17

This is such an odd response. It's the kind of thing my DH would say. He is convinced that's the kind of thing 'winners' do. He has no friends and people think he's really strange though

I think a quick note of thanks would be appreciated. DH runs his own business and I know he’d appreciate it (he too is paying full wage). And he knows which members of his team really enjoy their work and the ones who just treat it as a job and do as little as possible.
Obvs the latter would be the first ones to go if he needs to downsize!

Original poster

KatC9 · 24/04/2020 10:18

Thank you everyone for the comments. I'm a bit worried now if I should have got 100% pay but I'm pretty sure that is correct however my boss is extremely direct and will tell me if there was an error so will cross that bridge if we get there.
I'm 100% aware I can't do any work and wouldn't be bombarding them with emails. It's more like prep work/research/ideas etc for when things get back to some kind of normality and we can crack on again...

OP posts:

TooSadToSay · 24/04/2020 10:18

A thank you email would be nice. You could perhaps do some relevant training online if you wanted to skill-up a bit? This seems to be allowed on furlough.

PrinnyPree · 24/04/2020 10:21

Saying thankyou is lovely but I wouldn't offer to do any work, it's illegal for those furloughed and might put your boss in a bit of an awkward position (the company could be done for fraud if he takes you up on it, even in a diminished capacity)

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