AIBU to not do training whilst on furlough

[GreyShadow]

I'm in the middle of furlough, my boss has phoned me and told me that I have to do training tomorrow, by video.

I have already planned to take my LO to opticians at the time of the training. This training is not important to the company and can be done easily on my return.

There is a bit of a back story in that this boss is a complete control freak and passive aggressive bully.

AIBU not to cancel my appointment and tell my boss I can't make the training. I'm already in the bad books as don't make the daily team conf call, which is illegal in my eyes. My boss says it's just "catching up" and it's ok to do that on furlough.

Our team are all in their early 20's and I feel he is bullying control freak.

I have googled about furlough and yes we are allowed to train but can we be forced?

[SweetPetrichor]

YABU, it's perfectly legit for them to ask you to do training. I did when I was furloughed.
If you carry on like this, you'll be top of the shit list when redundancies come around. Furlough is not a holiday.

[Serendipity79]

I agree with a few of the other posters here. If you're on furlough and being paid 80% of your salary for doing no work at all then attending some training should not be an issue. Opticians appointments can easily be re-booked.

A lot of employers are looking to rationalise their staffing levels right now, and I would worry that this refusal would highlight you in a negative way.

[Glitteryone]

YABU

I’m on furlough and I’ve dialled into one weekly team update call and also done a mandatory training video.

Whilst you can’t do actual work on furlough you can attend calls and training.

I’m very grateful for receiving 80% of my wages and also realised that there is a massive redundancy risk at the end off this, so I am not awkward with my boss.

You sound like a nightmare employee to be honest.

[Saz12]

Agree with everyone else: you’re meant to be available to work for your employer, I think legally they only need to give you 24hours notice to return to your normal working hours.
You need to do the training course, and the phone calls.

[SockYarn]

Agree with the others. You are furloughed. You are not on holiday. You are not in a position to be "refusing" to do anything.

[Bloomburger]

Why can't you make the team conference call?

[differentnameforthis]

@PurpleDaisies

It’s unreasonable of him to dictate that you do it at such short notice. Tell him you’ll do it but since you have already arranged this appointment you might need a little more time.

How long is the training?

Maybe tomorrow is the deadline and op hasn't done it previously? It may not be as short notice as the op likes us to think...

[Hopingtobeamum]

Does your LO have a serious issue with their eyes? If so then delaying work would be understandable.

If is is just a regular appointment then your employer is well within their right to ask you to undertake training. However trivial it may seem to you they are paying you, well, the government are, actually the UK tax payers are (and will be but that's a whole different thread).

Decline or delay this training at your own risk. Remember you're paid by your company in exchange for labour.

[SoupDragon]

Your boss isn't a "bullying control freak". I think you're being unnecessarily difficult and will be head of the queue in any redundancies.

[SquigglePigs]

In terms of training tomorrow that he only asked you about today, YANBU to not want to do it at such short notice when you have somewhere else to be.

As a general rule though you should show willing to join in training etc. You should also be clear to your boss that you need a decent amount of notice (e.g. a week) or you may not be able to do it.

Regarding the calls - I'm 50/50 on that - our furloughed staff join our team calls but they're once a week for an hour, so that doesn't seem to unreasonable. It's a way of keeping in touch with everyone, keeping up to speed on developments etc. Every day seems a bit much though. Perhaps you could compromise on one or two a week?

[Nottherealslimshady]

Well he has the right to sack you if you dont soo....

[SpilltheTea]

You're not on holiday. Do the training and fix your attitude problem.

[fuckinghellapeacock]

Do you really believe you are entitled to be paid 80% of your salary to be on holiday? Why on earth haven't you made the conference calls?

[AllsortsofAwkward]

Wow do people like this really exist.

[Hopingtobeamum]

FYI as an employer people like you play straight into our hands. You're effectively signing your own P45.
Unless there is a serious issue with your LO I'd have you on a performance plan coupled with a formal last warning and manage you out of the business.
Job done, no messing, lazy employee gone with minimal stress.
Thanks very much!

[GinDaddyRedux]

@GreyShadow

This training is not important to the company

This is the first and last reason why I would let you go if I was the line manager.

How can you so brazenly make that assessment, presumably because you'll do anything to justify keeping your "LO"'s appointment?

[Ijustdontcare]

To all those saying its short notice, If the OP had gone to the team calls they would probably have found out about the training earlier.

[HarlanWillYouStopNamingNuts]

Agree with everyone else, but also this:

This training is not important to the company and can be done easily on my return.

The business needs to keep its employees up to speed and engaged, particularly now that you can be called in at short notice.

Could it be that your boss is not a control freak, just trying to manage a difficult employee?

[Starlightstarbright1]

I do wonder about some people . I know many people are doing extra hours - companies are going to struggle to recover . I imagine you are the most unpopular member of staff there.

This pandemic will end and your behaviour will not be forgotten , optician appointments will be very easy to rearrange

[wentawaycameback]

Yes you are being unreasonable - you are not on a paid holiday. From your post I would suggest that your boss is frustrated with your lack of commitment rather than 'passive aggressive'. I should imagine that if redundancies are on the cards you will be first on the list. I have wfh throughout and home schooled so I am afraid your post has hit a bit of a nerve.

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

YABU and you'll be first in line for redundancies..

[Starlightstarbright1]

Just to also add whilst it may be possible to do it when you return that is time that could be spent doing other things

[cologne4711]

Training is fine while on furlough and you should do it. Rearrange the optician's appointment.

Not sure about the daily call. Seems a bit over the top and I am not entirely sure it complies with the rules until the end of June. I don't think the OP is being unreasonable here. A personal weekly "wellbeing" call would be different - daily group calls, not so much.

[PurpleDaisies]

To all those saying its short notice, If the OP had gone to the team calls they would probably have found out about the training earlier.

Well yes, obviously and it would have been better for her to have been going to those. She hadn’t though and the employer can’t expect her to be on standby while she’s furloughed in case there’s something they need her to do.

I don’t like the op’s attitude as it comes across here but she has a genuine reason to do the training at a different time.