To report my employer for furlough fraud

[djeorh]

Furloughed for over 3 months but carried on working - at first I was told I didn't have to but then more and more work was sent my way including big projects that needed to be done ASAP.

These projects are now 80% of the way done as I've been doing them on furlough. However I now find out they are considering making me redundant or offering me a part time contract in September once projects are done.

I feel they have taken advantage of me and pressured me to do the projects on furlough and then hit me with this bombshell. I'm so angry I want to report them, but doing so would probably make the company go under and make innocent colleagues lose their jobs.

I would definitely report

Why on Earth have you gone along with it all this time thoigh? Didn’t you say something?

Didn’t you sign a letter to say that you wouldn’t do any work ?

This too. In being furloughed the employee had to agree to cease all work for the employer. I think you’re pretty complicit in this as well OP. I’m not sure a fear of losing your job is going to be a sufficient reason to be complicit in a fraud on HMRC. I get the impression that if there wasn’t a risk of you now being made redundant you wouldn’t be bothering.

I’d still report, but I’d do it anonymously so as not to draw attention to myself.

It may also depend on your job, I’m a lawyer so would be duty bound to report this IMO or risk being struck off.

@LindowMan - yes.

It says Furlough £XXXX
Holiday pay £XX

I thought the holiday pay was minute until I realised they'd just topped up the 80% already given by furlough.

Not illegal, but typical of the company who dictated we use our holidays during this time which effectively saves them paying 80% of our holiday wages if we're back after July.

At the minute we're being told August for some of us but they want to take full advantage of the furlough scheme (we are assuming redundancy for some will follow as the company was in trouble even before this, due to bad management)

However, who do you report to and what is the process? I have no idea.

HMRC.

The link is posted upthread. You can do it online and anonymously. There's literally no reason not to.

Report them absolute selfish bastards.

The country will be on its knees, deep in recession for years to come and employers such as yours don't help!

Report them, but seek advice perhaps from ACAS as to the best way.

I didn't sign a letter saying I would do no work on furlough. The letter said I am being furloughed and would receive 80% pay during furlough.

Definitely report .

There is not a magic money tree we will all be paying it back , so why increase the debt by breaking the law.

It should not bust the company they will just pay back what they overclaimed.

Report it. The furlough scheme is costing the country billions, and taxpayers will be the ones taking the hit.

@morethanafortnight

Report it. The furlough scheme is costing the country billions, and taxpayers will be the ones taking the hit.

Well, after the disabled and vulnerable of course. Make sure those workshy wasters pay the lions share.

You know, like we've done since 2010.

Please do the anonymous report thing to HMRC. As a whistleblower they are obliged to protect you.

But being furloughed is an alternative to being laid off or made redundant. It was a condition of furlough that the employee had to cease all work for the employer.

I don’t think you’re looking too great in this either OP. What on Earth did you think the point of furlough was? For the government to pay your wages whilst you kept working. And you plainly know you weren’t meant to be working, hence why the concern now. It’s clear you’re only considering taking action now because you might still lose your job and want to stick them in it.

Good to see the unanimous advice to report, are you going to do the right thing?

I don’t think you’re looking too great in this either OP.

Well, except she has continued to do her job and be paid by her employer. The fraud is ALL on the employer who then claimed for that salary on the furlough scheme.

I don’t think you’re looking too great in this either OP.

Oh come on, it's the middle of a pandemic when jobs are like hen's teeth and employers very much hold the upper hand, of course OP was stuck, I very much doubt she wanted to do all the same work for less pay and worrying about legality. Attitudes like yours are what make people actually LESS likely to report. If you do OP don't worry, you will not be the one getting in trouble.