To ask, if you are furloughed, are you contingency planning?

[HackAttack]

I was wondering if people furloughed are looking for other jobs or changing their businesses?

It must be such a tough time 😔

Think is, the jobs just aren't out there.

I have one dc just finishing university. Can't get anything - not even temporary shop or bar work, let alone a "career" type job she'd been hoping for
One dc just finished school (and had Summer work lined up - now all cancelled)
One dn who is a singer songwriter / musician who had loads of gigs and festivals all Summer, all cancelled
One dc's gf whose lost all her hours both in the pub she was working and also been made redundant from the shop she was working in as they've gone bust
One dn who manages a pub

etc
etc
etc

My ds is furloughed and is confident his job will be there when "things go back" but everyone else can 'plan' all they like, but if the work isn't there, it isn't there.

*Thing, not think

My job (as was) is completely undoable under these conditions. I was gently preparing to ramp up my freelance work ready for redundancy, but we've now been told that they are pivoting the entire company to be online only, and we will go back at the start of July to train on and test out the new systems.

So I'm kindof relieved, but at the same time, one of the reasons I took this job was that there was a lot of meeting people, travel and incidental exercise....which is now all disappearing.

Nope. My whole industry is shut down and from the looks of things will not be reopening any time soon, I think it’ll be the last to get back to normal. Trouble is, I’ve been in this career for the last decade and I really don’t have any experience in anything else, I have retrained, got a degree and been applying for loads of different types of job for the last 3 years and got nowhere so I’ve got next to no chance now. The only available jobs at the moment are not things I can do and I have no chance of saving anything so I am very worried. All I can do is hope I can hold on until we reopen.

My DH is furloughed from a job he has done for 28 years - looking highly likely he will be made redundant but doesn’t want to look for a new job yet because then he would lose redundancy pay. It’s horrible situation because he wants to work !

I have been looking for the past month but no luck so far. Competition is more fierce now. It is going to be worse than 2008 that is for sure. Praying for the best but expecting the worst. I am still furloughed but no reply from employer on when to return

I've been furloughed since the end of March and really didn't think I would have a job to go back to but yesterday I had a call and I'm back next week. Some of the others furloughed at the same time aren't....

I can't look for other work until DS is back at school/childcare provisions are open as I'm a single parent. I've got no qualifications either so I can only get minimum wage jobs.

My boss told me not to look for other work, that I'll be coming back. I really hope so as I love my job and the hours were perfect. We are open for business but there are so few orders coming in that there is only one person in the office when there are usually 5 of us. There's just no work.

If I lose my job then I'll probably look for factory work. There's an Amazon warehouse local to me, they're probably busy right now.

I'm pretty sure I'll be made redundant, I'm terrified as have debts I'm desperately trying to pay off. I've spent my furlough restricting all spending, getting out of my overdraft, we've cancelled our holiday so the money saved for that will tide me over for a couple of months. I'm looking for other jobs but not seen anything yet, also have childcare issue- have DC 4 & 6 so if schools don't go back I'll need to find something to fit round that. Absolutely terrified- wish I could enjoy furlough in the sun but spending the whole time worrying about money! I'd go back to work in a heartbeat, even though I really don't like my job

Was furloughed, went back. But yes, saved like crazy when was off and still living very frugally as expecting serious inflation and rising costs over next 12-18 months.

Not yet. I’ve updated my cv, keeping an eye on the job listings. I’m lucky my job is specialised tech and I have a mix of experience.
My boss has been supportive through Corona so I don’t want to leave him in a hole if my job has survived.
If I have to take the autumn off, I can probably manage, and the whole house needs redecorating so it won’t be wasted time.

I’m in aviation too, currently furloughed indefinitely.

For all those saying there’s no jobs out there, this week I’ve started a job at a supermarket and they were crying out for workers. Yes I’ve gone from being a senior manager to customer advisor, but needs must in this situation, it’s keeping me busy until I can hopefully go back to work. Or, most importantly providing me with a safety net if made redundant.... I would urge all those who are on long term furlough now (as in have been furloughed since 1st April like me) to try and look for another (hopefully temporary) job.

Both DH and I work for the same company, he is about to be Furloughed, but I am not. We could manage on one salary but if we both get made redundant we are screwed. We have reduced our outgoings (not massively difficult right now!!) And we are both looking to get chartered to make us more appealing. But i am currently taking each day as it comes. No point stressing (and for a life long anxiety sufferer this is a new feeling for me!!) And I am actually feeling pretty pragmatic about it all.

Its shit and I miss everyone, but currently there is absolutely nothing I can do but keep going.

I'm currently furloughed & as a single parent feel sick at the prospect of having no job at the end of this. Haven't been there long enough to qualify for any redundancy payment if it comes to that. Have applied for all supermarkets & Royal Mail but heard nothing back. It's a very worrying time

Anybody looking for work in manchester there's one day left to apply for HMRC in London and manchester. it's on the job board if anyone is interested.

this week I’ve started a job at a supermarket and they were crying out for workers.

Must be localised. I know 3 people who have applied to several supermarkets. 2 of them in my home City, one in another, smaller City in a different part of the country. They've got nothing.

I'm fortunate enough to still be working, so haven't really taken much notice of the small detail, but surely if you are getting Government money because your work isn't available, then you can't start working for someone else? Do you resign from your job ? In which case, what will you do in 3 months or whenever a lot of people start to go back ?

I’m currently furloughed and my employer (HE) has just announced a voluntary severance scheme. I’m 90 percent sure I want to apply for it but terrified that I’ll be making the wrong decision. The scheme is very generous and I have been there for over 10 years so the pay out will be substantial. But 10 percent of me is terrified that I won’t find another job (even though I am well educated and skilled). Also frightened that if I don’t take voluntary severance I’ll be made redundant anyway before Christmas with a comparatively crap pay out. Being furloughed doesn’t bode well.

I have got about another 30 years of work in front of me and young children. DH is working and so far all ok with his company but we definitely need two salaries.
I am already looking at the job market and preparing applications.

Ive worked for Royal Mail before. It's agency work on a zero hours contract. They take on loads more staff than they need, a text goes out at the beginning of the week with the hours available and the first people to ring on get them. If you miss the text by even 2 minutes you don't get the work, it's gone. You can't rely on it. Most RM agency workers have 2 or 3 jobs just to get by. Taxi driving or McDonald's were popular second jobs, obviously not available now.

Core employee Royal Mail work is secure hours, but these jobs are rarely available. And usually go to people who've done months of agency work first.

I imagine that when furlough ends that employer will use this chance to get rid of the workers who didn't pull their weight.

Answering your question it's difficult to contingency plan but important to weigh up the options eg if getting 80% pay and not spending as much clear high interest debts. Look at saying money/cutting back as much as possible.

Look at retraining and maybe self employment.

Some will be entitled to redundancy pay and depending on amount will help out a bit or might help clear some loans/debts etc.

There are opportunities for going back to education and retraining as well.

Hell Yes.

I have been "advised" to by people on our board. I was having a rubbish time before furlough but suspect I am mainly reccommended for furlough so I have the time to apply for other jobs, update CV and LinkedIn etc.

I did not want to stay there long term but I am still finding it stressful.