To think that as I am furloughed, my employer shouldn’t be expecting me to be spending my time doing training courses?

[Anquin]

I’ve been furloughed for 8 weeks and am likely to remain on furlough for another few weeks. My boss wants me to pick online courses to do which will benefit the Company if or when I return to work.
At the same time, the senior management are sending weekly updates that are increasingly negative about the future of the Company.
I find it extremely difficult to self-learn, and I’m becoming more worried about the future as I think I might be made redundant. My immediate boss keeps asking how the training is going (we have meetings weekly to catch up) and I’m getting really upset and anxious about it.
AIBU to think that if I’m on furlough I should be able to spend my day at home doing gardening etc. without worrying about training?

[Moondust001]

@itswonkylampshade

So unless they are paying you the National Living Wage, they should not be asking you to undertake any training. Furlough is a leave of absence so OP is perfectly entitled to want to do her garden or whatever else she chooses whilst furloughed from her role.

Please stop repeating untrue information. Furloughed employees - every single one of them - can be required to undertake training whilst furloughed. The NLW has nothing to do with it. Your advice could lose the OP their job!

[haveyoutriedgoogle]

I would presume that someone who was worried about being made redundant would be working on their deficits during this time (ie self learning) and undertaking whatever training my employer requested, 1) to show commitment and 2) to make themselves more desirable in the job market if it came to that 🤷‍♀️

[Anquin]

Thanks for the perspective. I’ve been finding it difficult because it seems so unachievable to do full-time training by myself, online.
I guess I should have mentioned that I HAVE been doing some training, but only for about 40% of my working hours - and am anxious because I feel guilty about not doing it for 100% of my normal working hours...
It’s the constant “How’s the training going?” that’s getting to me... is 40% of working time reasonable? Or what percentage would be reasonable in your opinion?

[ScarfLadysBag]

As long as the furlough amount equates to national minimum wage, you can be asked to do training.


'If furloughed staff are paid 80% of their wages through HMRC’s scheme, this might mean they get less than the minimum wage. This is allowed as long as they’re not working.
But if someone does any training for their job during furlough, they must get the current minimum wage for those hours'

Source: Acas

So unless you are earning less than minimum wage on furlough, OP, your employers are perfectly entitled to ask you to do training

[VenusOfWillendorf]

From the gov.uk website -
Furloughed employees can engage in training, as long as in undertaking the training the employee does not provide services to, or generate revenue for, or on behalf of their organisation or a linked or associated organisation. Furloughed employees should be encouraged to undertake training.

What is it that you are finding difficult? Is it the format or lack of courses that interest you? Would requesting something more ‘hands on’ such as a zoom-led instructor course help? I’d suggest talking it through with your manager to help identify where the problem is and how they can help you.
It’s quite natural feel removed from work and work related tasks when you away from it for so long, but the longer you remain removed from it, the harder you are going to find it to get back.

[Redwren]

I started some training, I wasnt asked to but wanted and I'm glad I did, I got made redundant this week so want to start improving my CV. I dont think they're expecting you to do it all day every day are they? I just do 2/3 hours a day. Usually once the kids are in bed so I've still spent the day doing what I want. You could also take the laptop into the garden

[luckylavender]

Training is written into the rules of furlough, it's not fraud as one poster said. So yes they are perfectly entitled to ask you to do it, whether you're on 80% or topped up. Seems reasonable to me.

[NoHardSell]

Well, as someone working 150% of their normal hours I would say working 100% of your normal hours would be totally reasonable. I guess if you are only paid 80% I can see how you might want to work 80%

Why don't you just book annual leave and have some genuine time off? It might help.

[Joinaunion227]

Honestly, OP, I would be doing as much training as I could cram in. It is good for you and in your own interests in a number of ways. Are you also refreshing your CV? Strengthening those contacts (virtual coffees) while you don't have to rush from meeting to meeting? (In my head virtual friendly coffees with friendly contacts doesn't count as work).

I am in a different situation (still working) but have been spending those hours not commuting doing more training and online catch-ups. And it got me a new job which I will start in September - all being well, of course.

[Growingboys]

If you're worried about being made redundant you do what your boss wants.

Surprised you don't understand that.

I have had a pay cut but have never worked harder because I want to keep my job and make myself indispensable.

[BananaSpanner]

Are you struggling with the actual training or do you feel that the amount of time they are asking you to spend on it is unreasonable?

If it’s the former, they are asking how it’s going so discuss with them the difficulties and see if you can work with them to resolve your difficulties.

If it’s the latter, well, don’t be surprised if you’re first out of the door when redundancies are made.

[user2085375632]

Sounds like you just want to have a bit of time off and resent having to do the training. I suspect they are emailing and asking how it’s all going because they know you aren’t doing it.

It’s your choice, but if I was an employee and had one member of staff getting on and doing the training and another morning about doing it on their own I’d choose the diligent one doing the training.

[TryingToBeBold]

Companies are going to struggle and a lot of people who work for companies that have furloughed people have recieved emails to say cuts will have to be made
We all know they're hunting redundancy.
Try not to put yourself at the top of that list.

[TryingToBeBold]

*hinting

[AriadnesFilament]

I suggest you familiarise yourself with the information on the Job Retention Scheme on the gov.uk website ASAP. Doing so will serve you well.

YABU.

They are perfectly entitled to ask you to undertake training, and the wording on the website makes it clear that it is actually encouraged.

[Anquin]

Thank you all again for all the comments. I think I’ve been over- thinking it tbh - I hadn’t taken into account that I’ve actually had quite a bit of holidays during furlough so I’ve put in more hours than I’d been panicking about...

[Joinaunion227]

Also, OP, if you are worried about your role: get in touch with recruiters and head hunters, brush up on those old contacts. Make sure you are at the forefront of their mind when a suitable role comes along.

[sheregone]

I think if your getting 80% pay use this time for a second income or something

[Pinkyyy]

This is why the Furlough scheme has been given an end date.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

So... You're getting 80% of your salary paid by the tax payer, have an option of training that will improve your employability but think that 60% of your time should be spent gardening?

It's hard for everyone to focus, but since I know a lot of people who are doing the same full time job as usual but with a 20% paycut and no flexibility to manage around childcare etc, I have incredibly little sympathy.

[StealthPolarBear]

Have people read the ops update?
I was under the impression that some employees had been furloighed because they couldn't work due to childcare commitments. Is it reasonable to ask them to do full time training?

[wherestheotherone]

Yes they can and they should make use of the time they have now.

YABVU.

Alot of us have been working flat out with kids and vulnerable people to look after. Pull your finger out and do something!

Furlough does not guarantee a job at the end of it and you will need all that you have to get another job. Life is going to be very hard for a while yet.

[Rainycloudyday]

@Stuckforthefourthtime

So... You're getting 80% of your salary paid by the tax payer, have an option of training that will improve your employability but think that 60% of your time should be spent gardening?

It's hard for everyone to focus, but since I know a lot of people who are doing the same full time job as usual but with a 20% paycut and no flexibility to manage around childcare etc, I have incredibly little sympathy.

This.

[BananaSpanner]

Are you on 80% or 100% pay. Why don’t you think you should be working to reflect your pay?

As a key worker who has worked throughout, I find your apparent attitude appalling.

[leckford]

Two of the well off people I know are worried about their future employment one self employed, highly trained, no jobs coming up for the foreseeable future. The other in property, businesses going bust, industrial units empty, no rent coming in. And they are not the only ones worried.

You need to due the training, or you will be top of the list to go when the redundancies are announced.