Fuloughing the housekeeper and gardener

[namechangedforthisverything]

AIBU to think that furloughing the housekeeper and gardener at your own house is wrong? It seems not legally, but morally? Just because the scheme technically allows it aren't we as civilised animals supposed to aspire to do the right thing?

It's Steve Coogan furloughing housekeeper and gardener at his £4m house. It's in the Daily Fail and the Sun and they've contacted him and he's admitted it and said he's done nothing wrong.

I suppose there will always be dreadful people in the world but I just think this is disgusting. AIBU? Or because it's technically legal, is it ok?

Maybe his housekeeper and gardener couldn't work? Maybe they are vulnerable people who are shielding? Maybe they requested to be furloughed?

SC may be a twat but this sort of witch hunt is shitty. Nobody knows the facts apart from SC and the staff themselves.

My gardener hasn't stopped working so I don't get that , I have a cleaner (although she's much more like a housekeeper and is paid as such) we've been paying her big she's happy with that she comes twice a week then for 1\ 2 full days seasonally and we both organise and deep clean together (her more than me I'm rubbish 😂) she'd just been for a deep clean before lock down and has been back a couple of weeks ago to clean ,we stayed the the garden she used full ppe (mask ,viser , gloves access to hand sanitizer) and we paid her double, if we can stay in the garden we will have her again next week .. I brought a robot vacuum mop at the start of lockdown that's been a God send 😂 x

Also Emma Thompson getting Italian citizenship just moved to Venice but fucking off back to Scotland just before the travel ban is also rich

Emma Thompson's Scottish mother is ill with Parkinsons in Scotland (where the family have always had a home). She was talking about moving into lockdown with her motherto care for her, just like many other adults with ill elderly relatives.

Not sure what taking out dual citizenship has to do with that.

Not saying it's right but I'm sure many other wealthy people have done exactly the same thing. Why is Coogan being singled out?
Could it be connected to his legal cases against the tabloids for their phone hacking and other illegal activities?

I was really shocked when a friend told me yesterday that she's not paying her cleaner and the cleaner is really struggling financially because for self employed people the furlough money isn't coming through till June. So her cleaner has had no income since mid March and can't buy food or pay rent. Friend is in her nice house, with 100% of her wage still coming in and no financial worries.

Whereas here dh has had an 80% paycut and I'm still paying my dog walker because I was worried about her being on universal credit which she has now gone onto...but I'm guessing it won't be a lot.

I think it was the right thing to do. Someone like Coogan could certainly have afforded to do this as well.

He probably pays a hefty amount of tax, why shouldn’t he use a scheme that is available from the uk government?

This is my view. The scheme is open to all, he will be paying for it in future the same way we all will be through increased taxation and fewer services. Until it is proven that he is illegally avoiding paying tax, I have no issue with him using a scheme that is open to him.

Someone mentioned upthread about Katie Price using school transport. Why shouldn't she? He was at a state school. She could have afforded a private education, should she be forced to do that? Should the school system and the NHS only be there for those who aren't wealthy?

I use transport for DD. I could afford to pay for the taxi myself but why should I pay? I could afford to have my bins privately uplifted but why should I? I pay council tax which is where these costs come from so am entitled to use the services.

I choose to give back in other ways. I choose to support people the system isn't supporting and who wouldn't get that support if I paid for a school taxi. Judging people as morally wrong and selfish for using services they are entitled to is a shitty thing to do.

Considering they’re now allowed to go back to work they should be working

Many don't want to return to work. Nobody should be forced to choose health or salary, especially when others have the comfortable option of working from home. But of course, it isn't well off middle class people who are being forced to make that choice so why should they care.

Could it be connected to his legal cases against the tabloids for their phone hacking and other illegal activities?

Shurely not.

I wonder how many staff the tabloid owners have furloughed or sacked and left to the benefits system vs their tax contributions from off shore.

He probably pays a hefty amount of tax, why shouldn’t he use a scheme that is available from the uk government?

Do you really not understand that the Job Retention Scheme is - as it says on the tin - designed to help people keep their jobs? People who would otherwise be made redundant? Do you think it's really intended to subsidise millionaires and successful businesses who may not be able to provide work for their employees at the moment but who nevertheless could afford to pay them anyway?
Do you not think that - if the pigs with their noses in the trough stepped aside, the JRS may actually be able to continue for longer and help those people who are facing unemployment?

But that’s just common sense and morality @Medievalist. It’ll never catch on.

@Alsohuman - Ain't that the case 🤷‍♀️

If you can't claim universal credit or any kind of benefit if you have more than something like £15,000 in the bank then I don't think you should be able to furlough personal staff in the way Coogan has, no.

But I don't think they can be furloughed under the circumstances especially the gardener. Why would a gardener be unable to garden. Is his grass not growing.

I was really shocked when a friend told me yesterday that she's not paying her cleaner and the cleaner is really struggling financially because for self employed people the furlough money isn't coming through till June. So her cleaner has had no income since mid March and can't buy food or pay rent. Friend is in her nice house, with 100% of her wage still coming in and no financial worries

I just don't get this attitude. Cleaners are NOT your responsibility or employees, they are providing a service just like any other business. If you aren't continuing to pay your hairdresser and café whilst they can provide no services, why would you pay a cleaner? It's not their fault, but it's not your fault either. People must have far more money than sense. It doesn't make any sense!

Paying cleaners is only a thing on MN. I don't know anyone in the real world paying their cleaner.

I’m still paying the woman who’s been doing my nails for the last 20 years. My income has stayed the same, hers vanished overnight but her bills didn’t. Hopefully it will stand me in good stead when everyone is clamouring for an appointment in a few weeks.

Never liked him. Always comes across as a total arse and here we are seeing him for the arse he is.

You see, I really, really do like him! I'm so disappointed that he's done this (if it's true).