To have not much sympathy?

[WelcomeToTheNorth]

Acquaintance on Facebook. Big ranting post about being made to take annual leave whilst on furlough. Not fair, either furloughed or we’re not, not in the spirit etc etc.

I mean clearly this is to prevent the furloughed employees from coming back to work with a huge stack of annual leave to take. Therefore it is exactly in the spirit of the scheme i.e. ensuring there is a workforce in place when things get moving again.

For background - I am working full time (for 80% pay) with two under-6s. Many of my colleagues have been furloughed (also at 80% - equal contribution and all that 🤨) and we are working flat out to cover it all. My mental health is shot. So yeah do you know what? I am bitter.

I completely understand that people didn’t ask to be furloughed but to be honest (I’ve had a wine or two so forgive me) I feel like people moaning about this sort of thing can do one!

It can be carried over, but for many employers that just extends the problem in to next year.

Being realistic many businesses will also need to reduce headcount once furlough ends. This will be cheaper if staff have already taken more leave

We are only a small company of 18 staff including me. Half of those are furloughed on 80% and many have cancelled holidays they had booked during this time. They haven't been asked to take annual leave but one person is taking a week as he can't cope on the 80% and will obv get full pay for this week.

When everyone is back, we will ask everyone to take ten days hols before the end of November with priority on dates being given to those who have worked over the past couple of months. Then they can carry over 5 days to 2021 and 5 to 2022 so will have 25 days to take when they like for the next couple of years instead of 20. (They normally get 32 days including bank hol and company shut down over Christmas/New Year).

No idea how it will all work - some of those currently working think everyone should sacrifice their hols this year and just keep working . Can't see that going down well with the rest somehow!

Also regarding to holidays being allowed to carry over. There’s no law that states companies MUST allow it. So mine for example won’t allow it.

@grisen

Also regarding to holidays being allowed to carry over. There’s no law that states companies MUST allow it. So mine for example won’t allow it.

From the article I linked.

Workers are entitled by statute to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year (which may include bank holidays), however of that total, the basic 4 weeks’ statutory leave has always been subject to “use it or lose it” provisions under the WTR, which prevent it being carried over into another leave year. That has now changed with immediate effect.

I don't think that says companies must allow carry over. They have been given the flexibility to do so but are they obliged to? Especially where the staff could take holiday - albeit during furlough

@trappedsincesundaymorn I did read your article but thank you for assuming I hadn’t. But companies don’t have to allow you to carry holidays over, and mine won’t. It simply states that they can let you carry it over. We can take holidays now, working or furloughed, NHS workers/supermarket workers and the like might not be able to.

I'm not accruing any annual leave whilst on furlough!

It became law on 27.03.20.
If your company refuses then they are breaking the law and should be reported.
They cannot ask you to take payment in lieu of leave either.

Nowhere does it state that applies if you have the ability to take holidays. If you are working in a front line role without the opportunity to take leave then this applies - I don't see that it applies if you just don't want to take your leave at the time it's offered/available

I own a business- a cafe bar- I have had to furlough 2 members of staff and I unfortunately can't top up their pay to 100%. I am getting less money than they are as I've had to claim universal credit.
When we are allowed to open again I will have to speak to them about the annual leave issue as if they use the leave they've accumulated it could tip me over the edge.
I know that when I open I will have a significantly reduced income because of social distancing. I've only owned the business for 14 months. People can think whatever they like but if my business goes under I'll lose everything. Not just a job.