Exam board confirmed no pay

[RainbowBabyDreams]

I posted about this before... and have just had confirmation from AQA that as an examiner, despite having signed a contract to work this summer, as i have for maybe six or seven years, we are not going to be furloughed. It's not self employment so no help there either.

So that's it. Nothing. Aibu to think this is not fair when so many millions of others are being paid at 80%?

But furlough only applies to people who were in regular employment (and on payroll) prior to lockdown. It's not meant to be a catch all for any work that is being cancelled at the moment.

Rosie can you let me know if you get an answer from hmrc? Would love to know what they say.

I too am furloughed by an exam board connected to OCR under the same conditions as myusename2015, which was a nice surprise. Sympathies OP. I hope they are change their minds.

Well the exam board will have the money because they aren't refunding any exam entries. And teachers are doing all the grades themselves now which they aren't paying them for. I mark for ccea but haven't heard from them yet.

I thought once you had a contract, it was enforceable and you could sue for losses?

I'm amazed to read that other exam boards are furloughing, tbh. Those that are choosing to make the 20% payment to retain markers, that's fine, that's up to them. But I cannot see how this work would fit the criteria for the furlough scheme which explicitly requires you to have been working prior to March 19th.

I chatted with my friend about this last night who Mark's for edexcel. The wording suggested that they'd probably be expected to work at anonymity time

I expect there’ll be wording in the contract about what would happen if the contract is frustrated, such as exams being cancelled

Loads of people really on seasonal work to top up their income, which they now can't do as the work isn't available. Should they all be furloughed?

I thought once you had a contract, it was enforceable and you could sue for losses?

It's a contract for service. You get paid if you provide the service. So if you must mark 100 papers, then the payment is dependant upon marking 100 papers. Regardless of why you don't mark the 100 papers, you aren't entitled to pay if you haven't done the job.

And no that would be wrong anyway. You might (as many people have found to their cost recently) have had a contract to start an employment (which is different). But even after you have the contract, the employer can give back word. They are must provide "notice", but if they did it quick enough they wouldn't owe the person a penny. Statutory notice is nil for the first four weeks anyway. Contracts of employment are not remotely as difficult to break as people think.

🙄

furlough scheme which explicitly requires you to have been working prior to March 19th.

Isn't it being on payroll rather than working? Because if yes, then it's highly possible some of the exam boards had people on it with £0 until the exams? Then they might be fitting the scheme's conditions?

It sucks, OP.

Having spoken to some of the people in your position, it might have been helpful if AQA hadn't sent holding emails telling everyone to sit tight and implying that they'd have your backs.

I get that they didn't know what was going on and that to some extent it's out of their control, but my feeling is that if they hadn't been so optimistic in their communications to examiners over the past few months, people might not be feeling the sting quite so much now.

If you need some money and aren’t being furloughed the track and trace people are still recruiting I think. It’s a temp three month contract so might help?

Thank you Longines, and thank you loulou!

There’s loads of people who fall through the cracks

My sister had a contract cancelled, sane thing

Meanwhile, Gregg’s, mcDonalds etc were allowed to open but closed and used furlough.

There’s a lot wrong with furlough. I am anti lockdown and lost my job because of it - so I agree the government should compensate those who lost work due to the lockdown.

But there are so many “entirely predictable” consequences referred to as “unexpected” on the furlough scheme. It’s very annoying.

I feel for you OP.

Most examiners are teachers - who have been paid their full salary throughout. I think you are being unreasonable. This is short-term work that depends on exams being completed and they have not been. As a taxpayer, I don't feel examiners should be furloughed. Yes, teachers may well have planned examinations marking fees into their expectations but they can't really complain. My 16 year old cousin was about to start a summer job at a local theatre in June. It has been cancelled because it is closed. Should the government also pay him furlough? Of course they shouldn't. It is just tough. They can't pay everything.
From my experience as a Deputy Head, teachers dismissed from their posts, or who leave on a compromise deal, are usually either appalling attenders or ineffective teachers. I have never come across one who has been anything else. Many have an astonishing sense of entitlement as well.

Lulujakey

Wow you are implying that I was terrible as a teacher.

The truth of the matter is, my maternity replacement was a lot cheaper than me.

The children begged me not to leave and said they preferred me.

And my attendance, apart from antenatal visits, was excellent.

Thanks for your contribution(!)

Can they pay you for the notice they haven’t given you - might not have a notice period in your contract.

There are many IELTS (English Language exam) examiners who regularly examine all over the world as their main income as well as those who mark other English exams etc, none of these are getting any work.
Many University Pre-sessional teachers who rely pretty much on what they earn in the UK in the summer aren't able to work, not because it's online but because of tax implications.
It's not fair for most people but unfortunately it is the way it is.

Another idea would be if you could do some online tutoring, like teaching as a foreign language perhaps? Again home based and should help top your income up...

I have been working as an exam invigilator for Mocks and actual exams for the past five years. I am an employee of the school and on PAYE. It didn't cross my mind that I would be owed anything for this summer.

Wow. Even are even bashing fellow teachers now!

@OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow
“Isn't it being on payroll rather than working? Because if yes, then it's highly possible some of the exam boards had people on it with £0 until the exams?”

I’m no expert, or know how this all works, but if this is true, I would think that those on Payroll would only be entitled to 80% of the wage they were receiving? Therefore 80% of current wage which was £0, would be £0!

OCR is furloughing.
Look to change exam boards for the future perhaps? I have worked for them since 2006 and they are the best company I've ever had dealings with.