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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Furlough CFery

120 replies

Sarjest · 02/07/2020 20:27

A member of my DH’S team has been on furlough for the past three months. They have just started conversations about returning to work and she has requested that she brings with her the three hours she had built up before lockdown. AIBU that she is a CF and with that attitude this country will never get back on its feet? Three months off on full pay and she wants another three hours? Ridiculous!
YABU - she should get more time off, she’s entitled to it
YANBU - she should expect those three hours to be included in the three months she’s had already

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 02/07/2020 20:30

Wow, if you need to make redundancies I know someone who will be top of the list

Jumblebumblemess · 02/07/2020 20:32

I was owed 4 days lieu time. I was put on furlough. I emailed my manager telling her to wipe the 4 days. Its only fair. Give and take.

EL8888 · 02/07/2020 20:33

Yep she’s a CF. It doesn’t bode well for her future at the company

Letshavesometea · 02/07/2020 20:33

Some people have lost sight of the bigger picture.

phoenixearthworm · 02/07/2020 20:33

@HermioneWeasley

Wow, if you need to make redundancies I know someone who will be top of the list
^ This. It's give and take and she is all take at the moment. I had to work during the Easter holidays and half term when I am unpaid, I didn't object to that because it was all about doing my bit. My workplace are compassionate and look after their employees and we do our bit looking after the people who use our services.
Shamoo · 02/07/2020 20:36

So depressing. If I was her manager, I would reply with “before I consider your request in full, I wanted to double check that this is definitely a genuine request?” to make her think about it again. If she insisted it, I would grant it (if they wanted to force her to use it they should have done so in the letter furloughing her) but (a) I would make her use it the morning of her return so she just starts 3 hours later than everyone else, and (b) I would never ever forget.

GinDaddyRedux · 02/07/2020 20:38

While I'm not of the hair-shirt parish that seems well populated on here when it comes to workplaces, I also think it's pretty clear here that this person has completely failed to see the bigger picture and they are completely unreasonable.

SunbathingDragon · 02/07/2020 20:41

Is it possible she desperately needs more time off? Perhaps her children aren’t at school, she is worried about lack of wraparound care and future school shutting, so is doing her best to prepare.

HavelockVetinari · 02/07/2020 20:43

@Shamoo

So depressing. If I was her manager, I would reply with “before I consider your request in full, I wanted to double check that this is definitely a genuine request?” to make her think about it again. If she insisted it, I would grant it (if they wanted to force her to use it they should have done so in the letter furloughing her) but (a) I would make her use it the morning of her return so she just starts 3 hours later than everyone else, and (b) I would never ever forget.
This
Original poster
Sarjest · 02/07/2020 20:43

Good, I’m not alone. I didn’t think it was the correct attitude; we’ve all got to give and take. Unfortunately I don’t think it will be easy to Make her redundant. Her attendance is pretty poor generally so he’s stuck with her.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sarjest · 02/07/2020 20:45

Sunbathing, she has no kids. She’s actually asked for two days to prepare to come in. Hasn’t she been thinking about this already??

OP posts:
BarbsBaps · 02/07/2020 20:49

Business exists to make money. Maybe she needs the hours because then she won't have to pay breakfast club or babysitter or something, or maybe she has an elderly relative she was planning on supporting with that time... The fact is, the government have been paying her wages on furlough, not her employer.

If she'd falsified her timesheet to say she'd worked the 3 hours and it was found out, she'd have the wages clawed back, right?

Why are employees so eager to see their colleagues dumping basic employment rights like accurate pay, TOIL, etc which unions fight to get recognised?

I say this as both a manager and non-union member, for the record.

You don't know what's going on in her life - either she's entitled to it, or she isn't. Virtue signalling by giving up time for your employer is great if you choose to. But don't peer pressure this colleague into doing the same.

HotChoc10 · 02/07/2020 20:51

Is she entitled to it?

stardance · 02/07/2020 20:52

See I've been wondering what to do about something similar. I had built up 30 hours at work to cover some teacher training days. I'm now on furlough and obviously don't need those hours. When I go back am
I entitled to ask to be paid for those 30 hours? Or to keep the hours banked for future time off? Should I just let it go because I've been off on furlough?! It's a loss of over £250.

BarbsBaps · 02/07/2020 20:54

Also, I don't know if your DH is her manager or a colleague, but if one of my people managers cake to me bitching about this woman, I'd consider a competence review.

There are procedures to deal with lateness, or absence, or abuse of sick leave - that should be tackled separately and transparently. Pressuring into donating TOIL isn't an acceptable solution to poor management of that same employee.

chipsandpeas · 02/07/2020 20:55

if shes owed the time imo shes entitled to ask for it

KeepingPlain · 02/07/2020 20:56

Eh hopefully she'll get made redundant. People that lazy don't help anyone out in the workplace. They just make life difficult for the rest of us.

BackInTime · 02/07/2020 20:56

It's all about give and take right now and certainly the bigger picture. Businesses are are stretched financially and in every other way time for everyone to step up and get to work or there will be no jobs to get back to. DHs workplace has made it clear that holidays abroad are at employees own risk and they will not be paid for any quarantine or additional time off if travel is delayed or disrupted.

Ticktocklovelyclock · 02/07/2020 20:57

She's be top of the list come redundancy time. IS she always this much of a pain? Does she pull her weight but can't always see the woods for the trees??

EsmereldaMargaretNoteSpelling · 02/07/2020 21:01

It's three hours, she earned them. Either pay them or let her take them, surely?!

doctorboo · 02/07/2020 21:04

Shock whinging over three hours. What a plonker.

I wasn’t furloughed but was put on a rota which has meant I didn’t go into work for 3 months while Covid-19 was at its worst.
I’m back now in but on reduced hours (their choice) I don’t know yet if that’ll reflect in my next pay cheque but I’m happy I’ve still got a job tbh and won’t complain as I’ve just had three months paid, when they could of ended my contract early.

I’ve told work that if they want me to come in and do extra hours (I mean more than my usual contracted ones) I’m more than happy to come in as there’s a lot of stuff to get sorted before the summer hols start in 3 weeks and it’s stressful for everyone.

FlameFartingDragon · 02/07/2020 21:06

I've asked for my 8 days of TOIL that I did before I was furloughed.

My reason being is this - I have a big holiday at the end of the year and my line manager agreed I could bank my annual leave and carry some days from last year over. These were added to my annual leave budget. Due to COVID we all had to take a set percentage of our annual leave by set points (even if you were on Furlough). I've now lost my carry over days plus the annual leave I was saving for my holiday. I am absolutely fucked as we had paid for the holiday up front (Think Luxury Safari).

Also whilst furloughed I have done a shit lot of training which is already proving beneficial for my employer - at my own cost.

vinoelle · 02/07/2020 21:08

@stardance it’s up to you - but honestly how many hours have you been furloughed and paid for already?

Original poster
Sarjest · 02/07/2020 21:09

Interesting that it’s not unanimous. It’s only three hours, I’d have let it go. Aside from her usual attendance being a pita I was surprised anyone would think it reasonable to ask for it. FWIW it’s not private sector.

OP posts:
FlameFartingDragon · 02/07/2020 21:10

ETA - I have no issue with the set periods of annual leave being used up by set points. I was literally the only one throwing in overtime before I was furloughed so I do feel I should still have the benefit for the extra work I did.