To think there is a divide forming between furloughed and non furloughed workers

[FuckingFu]

I've heard so many people talking about how they are jealous of their furloughed colleagues. I've a friend who is furious because her company is making up the 20% and so her colleagues are 'sat at home doing nothing' and getting full pay whilst she's still working.

Whilst I do understand the jealousy and even frustration, I really am starting to hate the way it's being spoken about.

There seems to be a lot of talk about 'they'. They are sitting at home doing nothing, we'll be paying higher tax to cover their wages as if furloughed employees are some form sort of seperate, less superior group and a burden on the rest of us.

Personally, whilst I understand those feelings, I have had to say to myself well what would I prefer? I don't want my colleagues, friends and family being made redundant if that can be avoided. And if my company can afford to top up wages to 100% then good, I don't want people suffering financial hardship when it's unnecessary just so I don't have to feel jealous about it.

I want to say to my friend does she not realise that it could have been (and still could be) her being furloughed and not the person at the next desk over. This is something completely out of people's control, no one wants this (perhaps a minority are okay with being furloughed) but certainly no one chose it.

It's as if people think furloughed staff are all lazy bums who want to sit about and have everyone else fork out higher tax to cover them.

I don't want to pay higher tax either but if the alternative is thousands of unnecessary redundancies then what choice do we have.

Just seems to be a very them and us situation going on.

NHS here, and despite the really hard work, I am so grateful to be in a secure job, but I know what really gets to myself and other colleagues is seeing others who have been given shielding letters and supposed to be at home, out in the shops, putting up fb photos of being out with the kids or friends showing off suntans, decorating, (where do they get the stuff if in the house?etc even being in the hot tub with a cocktail. It just seems to be making a mockery of shielding and a bit of a smack in the face when we are all working so hard

The furlough doesn't bother me, I'm glad my colleagues are getting paid. What annoys me is the general assumption that we all have oodles of free time now and all the amazing things we should be doing with it. My husband and I have less time than ever, working full time, preparing meals and homeschooling a child. I cannot wait for summer holidays.

It's definitely exposed how badly managed the staff are at my company - they have made a balls up of furlough, nothing I can do about it, but yes, I am jealous of all the people being furloughed - most of which will be re-employed as soon as furlough is with drawn. Especially with this amazing weather!

I'm still working full time. It's all the posts on Facebook from people on full pay or near enough full pay saying how much they're enjoying furlough, spending the day in the garden, going out for lovely walks or bike rides in the country or doing all the jobs they never have time to. As I was driving in to work the other day, the presenter on the radio was asking for people to phone in to tell him about all the great things they were doing on furlough, as I was driving to work, where I have had to take on extra roles and responsibilities for the same pay. That's what grates a bit

I'm puzzled you can't see where the resentment comes from. Most people appreciate that most employees had no say in this. Not in every case though, has it been done honourably by firms.
If you'd been left to pick up the slack, and was working all hours, you'd be resentful of people swanning around their back gardens in the sun, as if they were on holiday. Not all, but some are treating it like that, so no wonder there's resentment.

I must admit to feeling jealous this week and I'm not proud of this.

The kids are on half term and DH and I have the week 'off'.

We've both been wfh flat out, all hours, stressed out, with all the meals to do, kids learning etc.
It's got to the point my marriage is very strained. We've been clinging on for half term.

This week, we got to sit in the sun, chill and it made me feel envious of the people that do this all the time.

My relationship has not been strained through stress and I got to spend time with DC.

We got off the wheel this week and it's been incredible, just being able to relax without my work phone going off or deadlines looming.

Every week my phone's pinging with pictures of relatives in the sun, or people ringing during work hours to tell me about the baking, crafting, gardening, how lovely it is (forgetting I'm at work - so then I call back when I've finished work, dinner, exercise with kids and just want to flop on sofa with exhaustion) when we are busier than ever.

Notice also how a huge proportion of the people not wanting to come out of lockdown are the ones doing nothing on full, or almost full pay.

Drop their income to 40% and then see them wanting to stay in lockdown!

Someone askedm e why I think those who get a second job in furlough which might even double their pay they shouldn ot be paid in effect twice at tax payer expenses many of which tax payers are getting zero stte support?

I agree with this. I think getting another job while on furlough should have been prohibited.

I know a couple of people who are furloughed and are actually better off. For a standard rate taxpayer, the 20% cut is only about 14% net, and for them the travel costs more than cover that. One is saving more because she's not paying for after school care.

I think the resentment has got worse since the lockdown rules were eased. When people were pretty stuck at home, there wasn't so much to be jealous of, now they can go out and about more and actually have fun, while their colleagues are still slaving away, it's easy to see how pissed off that makes people feel.

I was working since lockdown then my boss gave me a three week furlough block and unfurloughed a colleague so I had a chance for a break. Has been a lovely three weeks and a long overdue break in general but I think I’ve enjoyed it more knowing it is a fixed period and not uncertain how long it will go on for. Plus my boss can’t afford the top up so as a single parent I wouldn’t be able to manage an indefinite amount of time at 80% pay so I feel fortunate I got a break but will now be back to work.

I’m totally envious. Keeping my income but not having the stress of work would be so nice. However, I know that this is what it will take to prevent unnecessary deaths. So I get over it pretty quickly.

If it saves jobs, it’s a good thing.
Personally, I like having the routine and sense of fulfilment that working affords. I wouldn’t want to be furloughed.

None of my work colleagues have been furloughed as we are classed as keyworkers but able to work from home rather than office based. I don’t feel resentful of furloughed workers though as I wouldn’t want to face a loss of income either temporarily or long term it must be terrifying thinking you may lose your home, car, lifestyle etc

If I’m honest I do feel a little annoyed that those who don’t work are being given an extra £20 a week benefits and £155 reduction to their council tax. I know living longterm on benefits is not great and I wouldn’t want a disability but I think frontline corona staff eg nurses on Covid wards should have had a tax break or the council tax reduction as they are the ones overworked and risking their and their families lives. Those with children entitled to FSM are still receiving support with that and have had no change in their incomes.

But ultimately I feel very lucky that I can continue working at home. Partner is teacher so on a rota and if anything we have saved money through travel expenses and not spending on non essentials outside eg takeaway coffee etc