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.

My grown up DD is living alone in a big city; she is between flat mates.

Where she works there are four people who normally do the same job as her; one is vulnerable, one had major childcare problems and one had hysterics over having to catch the bus to work in these dangerous times. So they are all on furlough while DD is trying to do the work of four.

What is really pissing her off is the happy Facebook updates they are all posting while she is working really hard, coming home to an empty flat and spending every weekend alone. It’s very tough on her.

JustAnother Good point. After all, the public have been actively encouraged to look down on and resent anyone on benefits for years now. It's completely unsurprising that that attitude has overflowed into other situations where some people are perceived to be both fortunate and lazy.

I’m furloughed and I’m scared to death about losing my job

I’ve seen memes shared by people on fb about people who are furloughed should be grateful that those who are working are propping the business up for them.

If people think furloughed workers are going to swan back in to work when furlough is over then they are very naive.

If my job survives, l’ll be amazed and very grateful.

I know still being at work isn’t easy, especially with children. Bring furloughed isn’t great either.

Even worse us being NHS frontline.

This is shit for everyone, we are in different boats, but the same storm

My husband is working still, of 4 people in his dept he is the only one in. the other 3 are being topped up to 100%, he doesn't mind the working but he is not please when those other colleagues are complaning about being bored and making references to the fact he should have no more job stability than him after this.

You can either drive yourself crazy perceiving injustice everywhere or you can roll with it and accept that this sucks all round for the majority, it's something that won't be forever and as as long as your family is healthy and you are bringing in enough money to get by, then you are okay.

I totally get why there is resentment (DH has had 20% pay cut and lost his very much earned bonus and still working his arse off) but you just have to choose to not be pissed off or you just ruin your own life.

A lot of companies would have gone bust, either quickly or later, without the ability to furlough employees.

Unless you’ve got a lot of very recent recruits, redundancies take time and money.

So non-furloughed people may well only be in jobs now, or have jobs in the future because some of their colleagues were furloughed.

No one at my work is furloughed so I can’t know how I’d feel. I can imagine a bit of resentment if people were showing off about it, and sending happy photos etc.

But if I was furloughed I’d be worried about being the first in line for redundancy.

The happy photos and posts etc are even more insensitive to those who are ill or who have lost someone ffs

I Am working but have taken a 15% pay cut so would only drop another 5% by being furloughed. Is still rather be working though as as much we have been told furlough is not a pre-cursor to redundancy in reality it probably is.

I haven't RTFT but: approx. 25% of the workforce where I worked is furloughed. It's generally the more operational roles, ie work that can't be done at home. However my employer is generous and is making up the 20% shortfall, so no one is worse off financially.

But I would HATE to be furloughed, even on 100% pay, because what on earth would I do all day? I have an interesting job, I'm managing to do it quite well from home, and at least it fills my week days. People should be careful what they wish for.

Actuaries are being furloughed @SimonJT? Blimey. DH (contractor) is as busy as ever.

People should be careful what they wish for.

People comparing the outside of other people's lives (particularly social media) with the inside of their own.

@MinnieMountain It’s just greed, my colleagues who are still working are being bullied into doing 12 hour days with no additional pay. They have made sure to furlough all the higher paid staff to save money. I’m a chief risk officer, so my team are in work but can’t do certain things without me being there.

This pandemic is a horrendous situation world - wide for health, for the economy and for socialisation of the human species. This situation impacts on everyone, non more so than those who have sadly died. I find it incredible that in the midst of this, people are so focused on other people's situations and the perceived unfairness. There is a much bigger picture to look at.

OP how about those of us who cannot work and also can't be furloughed? I'm self employed, moved from a limited company to self employed just over a year ago. So I am entitled to no help whatsoever, but I'm also not allowed to work.

I have been furloughed and I feel really lost without work. I was working from home for 3 weeks and my husband and I worked round the clock like alot of people to make it work as we have a young child. I am really disappointed to be furloughed but unfortunately there wasn't enough work in my place we are an industry badly hit and about half of us are on furlough. I understand there being a little bit of resentment but really what is the alternative? So many people would be made redundant as I believe I would of been if the gov scheme wasn't there. So many would struggle and not be able to pay mortgages and bills. Everyone is going through a shit time one way or another. I think the chances of me being made redundant are very high still. People posting good times on Facebook or wherever are probably trying to be positive in this massively shit and uncertain time. Honestly work is a welcome distraction.

I thought furlough was 80% UP TO £2500. So some furloughed are not ‘sitting in their arse getting paid 80% of their wage’ but have actually taken a pay cut to ‘only’ receive £2500.

@Sashacat don't be so patronising, of course we are all devastated by what is happening but that doesnt mean we can individually be upset at our own situation. My colleagues who are not furloughed are sat at home doing nothing because we can't work from home, enjoying their families and posting endlessly about bike rides, bbqs etc whilst the other half of us are going into work every day in an environment where social distancing is incredibly difficult, pulling our hair out making childcare work as although schools offer places for primary kids for key workers nursery places are few and far between meaning some of us including myself have had to hire a nanny to the tune of £1400 a month - almost 2/3 of my salary- to be able to make it work. Can you honestly tell me you wouldn't be a little bit irritated?! If not you must be a bloody saint. I love my job, but the stress the childcare situation is awful and I'm sick of having it shoved in my face how much fun they are all having.

Since I see HR looking at my linkedin profile my prediction that I'd be made redundant may come to pass.

You're more than welcome to swap my furlough for a long term job!

I have days when I want to be furloughed

But the. I realise I will have NO excuse for my weak and abject home schooling

So yeah .... work it is !

This is really hard @TinklyLittleLaugh I'm still working from home fulltime (no immediate colleagues furloughed as yet) but also living alone and it is really lonely and starting to feel like half the world is on an extended holiday of walks, bike rides and BBQs. I'm glad of the work otherwise I'd be going out of my mind but i do think some people maybe need to be a bit more sensitive about what they're posting on social media.

I only feel a stab of jealousy when they say all the fun new things they are learning. Other than that I am glad they are ok, I am glad I am working even if I haven't found a fun new talent. :-)

Absolutely.

Yes it’s hard, for everyone.

Focusing on the different situations others are facing, honing in only on the benefits rather than the difficulties, is helping no one.

We should be doing our best to support each other.

I suspect some resentment is because some people who have been furloughed were probably not the most diligent of workers in the first place.

So those left at work may feel they have been punished for actually being productive.

Not true in all cases of course.

It's hard to believe there are so many people who haven't twigged how insecure jobs are right now. Your furloughed mates, that you're so resentful of, posting about BBQs in the garden are almost certainly more likely than you to be out of a job in a few months.

People need to screw their heads on and look at the reality - this isn't just a couple of months off in the sun. For a lot of people, it'll mean job losses and redundancy in the long term.

Non-essential retail here. All shop floor staff furloughed. Furlough contract prevents me from seeking any other paid employment.

I check online every day to see if we are next to go under. If so, then at 50+ I am under no illusions that I will find it easy to get another job.

I have no one else to rely on financially. My pension would be in question if the company went under.

I'm trying to keep busy looking after vulnerable family members and not catastrophising too much about the future. I know that I am better off than some but, believe me, my situation is nothing to be jealous of.