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.

I can understand the individual difficulties you face. We are all facing our own difficulties. It is the 'them and us' that I find frustrating and I am not sure how jealousy helps.

At the very least the law should say that the furloughed should not get a second jobs (many can and do) if that takes them over their normal pay

My husband is finding it hard. A lot of his colleague are furloughed, he’s working for 20% less salary and is still massively busy. I’m tying to work and also look after the kids.

Not heard a single person going on about this in real life. Only on MN.

There are so many threads on this.

It's obscene that people are treating furloughed people as some sort of underclass, a burden. We all pay taxes too, and at my age, I reckon I've probably contributed more to the Exchequer than a great many of you sniping.

It's no picnic, it's stressful and unpleasant. But for all sorts of reasons, the people that are furloughed may not be those involved in any redundancy.

Stop being so unpleasant, words have consequences.

My wife is furloughed but I'm probably busier than ever. I don't really care.

What I don't like, is radio/TV etc all constantly talking about how much free time we all have - some of us have hardly any difference so can you please stop suggesting we all do??

I really want to get furloughed. It would make life a lot easier at the moment. I don't have enough work to do so it makes sense. DH is working more than normal and I am trying to home school 2 kids, one of whom has emotional/behavioural problems which we were just trying to get support for before the schools shut. He is doing really well considering but I think we are going to have a massive battle when we get near schools reopening.

I'm a bit jealous of my furloughed colleagues and also really glad they are getting paid!

It's just luck of the draw, really. Also I know a couple of my furloughed colleagues are actually quite nervous and worried. I'm sure it can feel weird if others in your organisations are working full pelt and you can't help or join in. Swings and roundabouts really.

You get serious resentment in the work place for far less than this so I'm not surprised. I know life long friends who have fallen out because they both went for an internal job (a promotion for both) and one got it and the other didn't.

Regarding furlough and second jobs, if my place is anything to go by, rules of furlough are no other paid work is allowed. Furlough pay (at 80%) is also taxed. So I'm gonna be on a lot less money but with the same outgoings. Gonna be entertaining to say the least to cope financially.

I got really angry with the radio yesterday. This jolly woman was laughing that if you haven't started a new hobby or business in April 2020, you never will because there has never been a better time.

I'VE BEEN IN WORK!!!!

So yeah, muttered some expletives and switched it off. I'm trying not to be jealous, but I am definitely am.

Some workplaces are swapping staff on furlough about rotationally for this reason. It seems like a fair way to do it.

What I don't like, is radio/TV etc all constantly talking about how much free time we all have - some of us have hardly any difference so can you please stop suggesting we all do??

Precisely that! It's like there's an assumption that we are all pottering in the garden. I've had the busiest month for years! Argh!

MidnightCircus its decided by the employer not the scheme.

I get that people wish they could be furloughed, especially when they have kids and juggling a lot. But genuinely think anybody who is angry AT those who have been furloughed is a selfish idiot.

People don’t choose to be furloughed, being furloughed is hard for a lot of people, and businesses NEED to furlough people for the best interest of everyone in the business. Furloughing people should help everyone in the business keep their jobs (or give the business the best shot possible of achieving that). The fact that people are too self absorbed to see these things is pretty depressing.

Of course I realise a small number of businesses are probably bending the rules etc but most wont be. Just trying to do their best to get through.

I am resentful, but I understand it is not their fault.

Our office- in their wisdom- furloghted all the support staff. 70% have gone, So we have to do our own support and admin and it takes up ridiculous amounts of time.

This is my daily schedule- for the past couple of weeks:

work - 6.30 - 8.45
work 9.00- 13.00
work 13.30 - 5.00
work after dinner (tbf in front of the tv) clearing inbox and sorting out next day for about 40 mins or so.

So i am doing an extra 4 hours a day roughly. Just to try and keep on top of things. I am failing, and am falling further behind.

I am literally on my knees with exhaustion. Our reward? Management said that we will get 'first choice' when it comes to timetabling holidays. Big deal.

Xenia why?!

Apologies if this has already been pointed out, but of course there will be some people for whom the £2,500 cap isn't 80% of their salaries though and they have taken a huge financial hit to be furloughed. So some people will be on a much smaller monthly wage than usual.

So i guess I resent senior management. Not my colleagues. (Particularly our department secretary who is BEGGING to come back off furlough and keeps being told off for dipping into her work e-mails. Bless her).

So if people who are ill are supposed to be able to survive on £94 a week, why is the furlough scheme paying 80% up to £2500pm necessary? Why can't furloughed employees all just be paid £94 per week if that's an adequate and reasonable rate?

People don't choose illness either. If you're severely ill that period of absence could last as long or longer than people are being furloughed for.

You say the employers made the decision, but that's not the impression I've always got. I think a lot of employees put pressure on, some for validly having zero childcare but then they weren't all single parents, they have another adult in the home who may have been able to do some childcare (that they don't trust? Or they wanted the break from work?)
Others didn't want to use public transport to get in to work, didn't feel it was safe, mounted pressure and made it difficult. These were easiest to get off the work floor first.

So ther is some direct resentment to be had, y and s.

I've been furloughed and trust me, whilst I appreciate it is easier with a one year old and I'm lucky my husband's job is secure, I have had many a sleepless night worrying about redundancy if this carries on and the furlough system stops before my role is relevant again.

I would rather be juggling everything and have that security especially as I'm so soon back off mat leave.

Indeed. For some people furlough is less than their mortgage is.

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? Because furlough means you are not working. That is what the word means.If you are off earning mega bucks for someone else whilst keeping the £2k a month that ish ardly fair but is sadly lawful. In fact 1 man company A and company B could swap their own director/employee and do the other's work , claim £2k each furlough and B pays A £6000 a month for his services and vice versa.

That is partly why we need an end to this very expensive financial help which is even organised crime is apparently wanting to get into given how much free money is involved.

*yes.

We need a bloody edit button!

I’m glad I haven’t been furloughed , I work a shift pattern and not really enjoying my days off as I would in normal circumstances. Dc are getting bored now , I don’t live with a partner so limited adult conversation as well. so am glad to be at work tbh enjoy my job anyway and work with good people who I consider friends .

No resentment here ! Most people I know who are on furlough have young dc and would love to be able to get out the house more themselves ! Plus financial worries of 80 percent pay .

more generally I see furloughed people being concerned about redundancy while I in no way think being furloughed is a reflection of being more likely to be made redundant I can see how people would worry , I think I’d be the same .