Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask, for those whose employers have furloughed staff...

77 replies

StartingGrid · 20/05/2020 21:37

Is it financially motivated (and there is still work for them) - vote YABU
or is it literally within the guidelines of the scheme and preventing redundancy - vote YANBU

I am just wondering how many other people are working themselves into the ground while large percentages of their colleagues are furloughed, and how widely interpreted (abused) this scheme is? Appreciate it could be in anticipation of revenue shortage forthcoming but that doesn't help those in the thick of it struggling daily to keep up 😣

Sorry for posting here, didn't think you could enable polls elsewhere

OP posts:
DieSchottin93 · 20/05/2020 22:06

I work in a hotel so it's definitely the latter for us Sad

Comefromaway · 20/05/2020 22:12

We’ve furloughed about half the workforce as work has dried up. We are getting some call outs but there are days when no work comes in at all.

Except for half a dozen people who are working on a particular essential contract that has continued. They are working full time.

allthatmalarkey · 20/05/2020 22:17

Yanbu. DH furloughed because company has about a fifth the work it had and doesn't need him.

snackarella · 20/05/2020 22:25

YANBU small companies can't afford to keep paying staff when they don't have any income

In some cases it will still result in redundancies

Hadjab · 20/05/2020 22:25

Working in retail, at Head Office. 50% of us have been furloughed. Our global suppliers have all shut down so there’s nothing for us to do until they open up.

Patch23042 · 20/05/2020 22:26

I know someone who’s been furloughed because of childcare problems and colleagues are having to pick up the slack (her work has not dried up). Difficult all round. Some employers are misusing it like this. Resentment is building up.

8Track · 20/05/2020 22:27

I work for a large accountancy firm. We have nearly 1,000 staff furloughed, including junior staff whose work I now need to do in the same time and for no reward. Not impressed.

ouch321 · 20/05/2020 22:30

We have furloughed some of our staff.

One staff member for example, 50% of her work no no longer exists as the premises is closed, but the other half of her work does so I and others have to do it as well as our work.

ajs88 · 20/05/2020 22:30

YANBU

We have no new work and won't until lockdown is lifted plus a few months, all existing work is being done on reduced staff across a longer period of time to fill in the gap and keep some staff working. I don't think anyone still working is doing more then they should or they usually would.

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 20/05/2020 22:31

@Patch23042 furlough can be used in the case of caring responsibilities such as childcare issues.

We have about 30 clients who are using furlough as a cost cutting exercise. Lots have also increased their wages for February to take advantage of the full £2,500 limit & there is one who I strongly suspect have "furloughed" staff who are actually still working as we process their payroll & I have received emails from the furloughed staff.

So abuse of the system is rife as I can't imagine they are the only ones.

QforCucumber · 20/05/2020 22:32

I work for a small accountancy practice, we've never been busier. Noone is furloughed. Dealing with many many clients who have furloughed staff and thankfully all for the right reasons

justamumof1 · 20/05/2020 22:33

Just wo dering if employers can furlough staff but not pay them. Say Toure on zero hours, but the employer tells you that they cant furlough the because you dont work consistently. Can they still make off with the money?

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 20/05/2020 22:35

@justamumof1 technically I suppose they could but any funds received from HMRC for furlough must be shown on the company accounts as should wages so if HMRC want to they can check this.

QforCucumber · 20/05/2020 22:39

@justamumof1 HMRC have already started investigating claims and have advised you need to keep the furlough records for 5 years so though it is very open to fraud I imagine a LoT who try to get away with it will be caught out. They've also said the full company claim would have to be repaid if fraudulent claims were found so it could cost the business a fortune.

ChicCroissant · 20/05/2020 22:42

I voted YANBU although I think there is a financial consideration as well - DH is on furlough and it's being renewed on a week-to-week basis at the moment. He could work from home for a bit anyway if he is called back, but he works in a production facility which (like a PP mentioned) works with a lot of overseas clients. As the overseas clients return then they call more people back in, although they have separate jobs/projects so they are not covering anyone else's work.

Haffiana · 20/05/2020 22:43

Accountant here. Most of my clients have furloughed many or most of their staff, and all of them are desperately worried about how to keep their businesses afloat so that they can bounce back and keep the jobs for those staff.

I guess for an individual person who is one of the few not furloughed it must seem that they are doing all the work and I guess they get resentful and jealous. I have seen people on here complaining that those furloughed are having a 'great time' doing nothing. They don't see them worried sick about whether they will have a job to go back to. That is just the way jealousy sees things - it doesn't see the bigger picture.

NiceTwin · 20/05/2020 22:44

I only have one employee but have furloughed her.
There is no work and no income, it was either that, or lay her off.

unappreciativeoh · 20/05/2020 22:46

Furloughed here and work for an accountancy firm.

I think it was done as a cost saving exercise to begin with but not sure if that’s still the case. Some have been taken off furlough.

CurbsideProphet · 20/05/2020 22:48

Charity sector. Colleagues in different roles have been furloughed because it's "quiet". I'm now doing things that are above my pay scale to fill the gsps. I'm not thrilled about it. I wanted to be furloughed, as our employer is topping up the extra 20%. It would have just been more annual leave as far as I'm concerned.
I don't blame my colleagues. It's not their fault. Management are making odd decisions at the moment.

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 20/05/2020 22:51

I work for a medium sized employer who has furloughed 40% of the staff and freely admitted this is being done to 'help the business ' even though they are as busy as ever as it's not an industry which has been significantly affected.

KaptenKrusty · 20/05/2020 22:54

Well my nursery I work at only has 3 children of key workers in it - sooo yeah we had to furlough most of the staff because there’s no work for us all!

Ilovecats14 · 20/05/2020 22:55

I know someone who's company furloughed them all but they are all still working. It's a small relatively new business and they told them it's the only way to do it if they still want jobs after this.

ILoveAllRainbows · 20/05/2020 22:55

Directors need to be told that if they make a fraudulent claims they risk going to prison.

TARSCOUT · 20/05/2020 22:57

All management are working along with 2 finance. All other staff, front of house, cleaners and caretakers furloughed. Could have done with a couple of admins not being furloughed as I am bloody knackered. So.maybe.taking "advantage" for 2 salaries..

Flyonthewall01 · 20/05/2020 23:01

I work for a big multinational drinks company. Sales are higher than Christmas every single week but they've furloughed all non production essential staff. I'm currently doing 3 peoples job roles. All roles are still needed and will not be made redundant