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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have not much sympathy?

235 replies

WelcomeToTheNorth · 31/05/2020 01:11

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!

OP posts:
Original poster
WelcomeToTheNorth · 31/05/2020 09:08

I’m sure I’ll lose sleep over it

OP posts:
Original poster
WelcomeToTheNorth · 31/05/2020 09:10

Do you know what, I am a nice person. I am. I’m just pushed to my absolute fucking limit.

OP posts:
GreytExpectations · 31/05/2020 09:10

@WelcomeToTheNorth you actually are happy about people losing their jobs aren't you? I imagine it's some sort of "victory" for you because poor you has to work in your secure job.

GreytExpectations · 31/05/2020 09:10

Do you know what, I am a nice person

I doubt it.

Original poster
WelcomeToTheNorth · 31/05/2020 09:11

Of course I’m not happy about that. That’s a ridiculous leap.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/05/2020 09:12

But most of us are pushed to our limit, not just people at work. Everyone has a different situation. We are all facing our own problems in this pandemic. Being on furlough doesn't mean you don't have your own stresses.

We all need to have a bit more sympathy for each other and recognise that this situation will affect all of us.

GreytExpectations · 31/05/2020 09:15

We all need to have a bit more sympathy for each other and recognise that this situation will affect all of us

This is so true. Its awful the lack of sympathy I've been seeing on Mumsnet. Very much a lot of entitled attitudes and it isn't coming from those who have been furloughed or redundant....

NuovaMoi · 31/05/2020 09:15

I am a nice person. I am. I’m just pushed to my absolute fucking limit

I respectfully suggest that if a social media post is what pushes you to your limit and renders kindness unnecessary you might use less of it in future.

SoloMummy · 31/05/2020 09:17

@GreytExpectations

I didn't ask to be forever paying off this free ride they've had. And impacting on my future, my retirement, my child's future.

Oh get a grip. Stop being so dramatic and selfish. Must be so horrible for you having a secure job during a time like this. You must be one of those that also hates anyone in benefits?

No I am not a benefits hater. In fact, my perspective is that these furloughed should have lost their jobs and claimed benefits.

How long do you think we'll be paying off £298bn? £123 from furlough scheme alone. To put it into context, before the crisis, the government was expecting to borrow about £55bn and we were still struggling as an economy and country. So nearly 6 times that level and you think that's being dramatic? Hmmm look at the macro, not micro economics.

NuovaMoi · 31/05/2020 09:17

And honestly OP - I do mean that with kindness myself. I see why you're bitter. It's just unhelpful is all, including to you I suspect Flowers

Ylvamoon · 31/05/2020 09:21

WelcomeToTheNorth, have a Brew and enjoy the sunshine on this lovely Sunday morning.

If it helps, I'll be going back to work tomorrow. Yes, I have enjoyed my 9 weeks off. The weather was lovely and I have spent a lot of time with my DC. Time I normally don't have. We had some fun and we had some tears.
I wasn't made to take my holidays. This was my companies decision. But as my whole department was put on furlough and we have to kick start processes we are not allowed to take AL in June/ July... we also have settled on a 7 day week rota rather than 5 set days due to social distancing in our small office. My job can't be done from home. I commute. The virus is still out there...

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/05/2020 09:21

In fact, my perspective is that these furloughed should have lost their jobs and claimed benefits what a ridiculous idea, not everyone who was furloughed will lose their job but had they been put on benefits millions would have lost their homes- who do you think will have re- housed them ?

AIMD · 31/05/2020 09:22

Why has your pay been cut?! Surely if you’re still working, and working more you should do so at full pay. I wouldn’t be happy with that situation.

I can see both sides of the annual leave argument. It would be difficult to manage a lot of staff coming back and then all requesting weeks of annual leave when they return. Surely there is a happy medium, if they’re on furlough until Oct I would have thought using their entitlement up until that point would be reasonable and they’d be payed full pay for annual leave weeks. Do t see their issue. It’s not different for people working...I’m working and have been asked not to store up annual leave as there is concern we might all want leave late summer when restrictions. Reduce.

Original poster
WelcomeToTheNorth · 31/05/2020 09:25

Pay has been cut because they’re trying to avoid redundancies really 🤷🏻‍♀️ Greater good apparently. To be honest I am fortunate enough that I can live with a 20% pay cut (there are plenty of my colleagues who can’t) but what I can’t live with is the ongoing pressure, anxiety and stress of trying to work full time and look after my children (one of whom is 2.5)

OP posts:
Pacmanitee · 31/05/2020 09:26

Most people have others that they feel are getting a raw deal, or a great deal. Their annoyances are as valid as anyone elses, I've been working throughout whilst other colleagues are on full pay and doing not even half, can't find it in myself to be annoyed at them though.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/05/2020 09:27

They are basically just competing incompatible thoughts we have to live with 🤷‍♀️

  1. This is NOT a fucking holiday
  1. We have to take our leave now or economy is proper fucked
Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/05/2020 09:27

@SoloMummy if the 6 million people currently on furlough had been put on benefits we'd still have to pay for that. Benefits are paid for by tax, so tax still would have gone up. We're fucked either way. At least this way some people will keep their jobs. It's better than suddenly having 6 million people unemployed.

Heronwatcher · 31/05/2020 09:30

Your issues with your employer are separate from the general position- so many people seem to take the view that because they allow their employers to walk over them everyone else should be treated badly and be made miserable. For many people with caring responsibilities every single minute of annual leave is accounted for at the beginning of the year, and it’s hugely difficult to change dates if you’re tied to school holidays etc. Maybe try to interact with people and try to find out the backstory before you judge.

2ndtimearound2020 · 31/05/2020 09:31

Yes I agree with you.

I think most people are reasonable furloughed or non furloughed but yes there are the entitled ones who cannot see past their own selfishness and how many will lose their jobs .... I imagine employers could not have people return to immediately say oh I want 3 weeks holiday.... can you imagine the chaos!

sunrainwind · 31/05/2020 09:35

I'm furloughed and going back back tomorrow after two months off. I didn't have to take my planned annual leave but be leave entitlement is applied on a pro rata basis so I will only get 10/12 of it this year.

2ndtimearound2020 · 31/05/2020 09:36

WAXONWAXOFF0

Yes but benefits pay much less than furlough and not everyone would qualify so if people were pput on benefits instead of furlough then most of those with a partner working wouldn't get Universal credit... savings over £16,000 wouldn't qualify etc.... etc... so the overall bill to the country would be cheaper INITIALLY

I think the furlough scheme is good in that many people keep a sizeable amount of their income, employers can attempt to keep businesses afloat whilst closed since one of their largest costs (staff wages) are covered.... that is the point of it.

When the dust settles and many people return to work it will be easier to see which businesses collapse or lay off staff etc and the recession starts.... this is a holding meassure IMO

halexanderamilton · 31/05/2020 09:37

I feel your pain OP. Had to sit through a lecture on Friday about how the furloughed staff are feeling vulnerable and out of the loop. Had to bite my tongue as I'm doing the work of half a dozen in my department plus have been seconded to a second department two days a week. I'm working 50 hours to cover them, my mental health and sleep is shot to pieces and I'll also have to prepare back to work training for them when they return. Saddest part is that I'm on a contract and will still have to leave on December 31st after keeping their jobs afloat for 3 months. Am I bitter? Yes. And I do know it's not a good look but I'm tired and fed up and I don't have much sympathy for them.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/05/2020 09:42

@2ndtimearound2020 yes but in this current climate if someone lost their job they would likely be on benefits for a lot longer than they were furloughed. A lot of people are going back to work now. If they had all lost their jobs and the business they worked for gone under they would still be on benefits for who knows how long.

GreyGardens88 · 31/05/2020 09:46

I'm furloughed on 80% pay. I've not asked about holidays or really care, feels cheeky really

Pleasenodont · 31/05/2020 09:48

You work for a shoddy company.