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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Furlough holiday

429 replies

MrsQGinglass · 18/09/2020 11:47

I am furloughed still and work for a large international company. There are only a few off us still furloughed 2 in my office only.

I received an informing me that all holiday from last year that was carried over would have to be used in the October. I know the reason why it is cheaper for them to get part of the government to pay it.
My issue is that those that have not been furloughed are allowed to carry over their holiday for the next 2 years.
I really do not think this is fair as they are treating us differently.
I have contacted HR for clarification but they have not answered my emails.
Is this lawful.
AIBUto think that they are treating us unfairly.

OP posts:
sqirrelfriends · 18/09/2020 13:40

Yup, it's allowed. I wasn't even on furlough and had to use my holiday when the company wanted (on rota with my colleagues) as there wasn't a lot of work to go round.

ZoeTurtle · 18/09/2020 13:41

Six months' off work isn't enough for you?

Jesus.

FunorFitness · 18/09/2020 13:41

These are 10 days holiday from last year that you are complaining about? if you have that many to carry over, plus this years holiday then you obviously get too much.

I would rather take holiday during furlough if you are so worried about your financial situation as holiday is paid at your normal rate.

GoldfishParade · 18/09/2020 13:42

As a self employed person, my heart really bleeds for those of you who have had 80% pay for doing fuck all and are now being forced to go on holiday. Flowers

Zilla1 · 18/09/2020 13:44

If you think of the ways in which the furloughed and the non-furloughed have been treated differently with one 'side' working for full pay and the other not working for 80%, it doesn't seem sensible to then pick a dimension of difference (the firm saying the furloughed should take leave) because this saves the firm money without looking in the round. The workers can say it's terrible 'we've' had to work while they've sat at home. The furloughed can say 'we' had our pay cut. To me, the leave issue doesn't seem unfair and does seem commercially sensible. I certainly wouldn't make a fuss as I can see it being viewed badly in most organisations I've worked within to have been furloughed and complain about this.

Original poster
MrsQGinglass · 18/09/2020 13:44

I wish our holiday year run from Jan 1st but it doesn't. The holiday is also including bank holidays.

OP posts:
StCharlotte · 18/09/2020 13:44

So OP, what were you planning to do with your "stolen" annual leave?

AnneLovesGilbert · 18/09/2020 13:45

You haven’t all been treated equally. They’ve had to work for their money for the last 6 months, you haven’t. Your attitude to this is staggering.

But go ahead, make a complaint. When the axe falls it won’t be on Barbara who’s been business critical as they still needed her in. How’s your CV looking?

dontdisturbmenow · 18/09/2020 13:49

So really, you are only bothered about equality and fairness when you're the one getting the raw end of it.

I'm sure many would have opted to be furlough in 80% and would have been very happy to take hissy at the end. Did you sympathise with them and agreed that it wasn't fair you got to be furloughed?

Ultimately, if your issue is that you won't get more holiday next year when your colleagues will, you can't be that worried about not being there then and you'll be able to look back and see how lucky you were to have had all that time off paid.

Eileithyiaa · 18/09/2020 13:49

Imagine OP if they forced all members of staff to take those built up holidays in the same year- they would be faced with skeleton staff, same next year if they allowed everyone to carry over. Too many people on holiday all at the same time.

My company is buying back our holidays that we've not used up, we can take them if we like but rather than carry over they will pay us. I've got 3 weeks left to take out of 5 as I've not had chance to take holiday during lockdown, so this will pay for Xmas 🥳

Original poster
MrsQGinglass · 18/09/2020 13:49

@GoldfishParade

As a self employed person, my heart really bleeds for those of you who have had 80% pay for doing fuck all and are now being forced to go on holiday. Flowers
I love the hayr
OP posts:
Aridane · 18/09/2020 13:49

With apologies if this has already been extensively discussed

but the legislation on furlough and annual leave is extensive (eg you still accrue holiday while on holiday!)

if you want a summary, see ACAS below

www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus/using-holiday

seventhrow · 18/09/2020 13:50

@Waxonwaxoff0 unfortunately, it's not always that easy to keep a small company going. All very well saying the company should have done X Y Z but frankly when faced with serious threat of going under there's not always a lot of choice in the number of solutions. I worked as part of a small team to prevent our company from going under and to protect my job and those of my colleagues who were furloughed. It really pisses me off sometimes on MN how many people don't seem to realise that keeping a company afloat through a pandemic and a recession is actually bloody hard.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 18/09/2020 13:50

Sounds like jealousy to me.

If you post on AIBU and people tell you yes you are then perhaps try listening to their responses? You have been advised that it is lawful.

IrmaFayLear · 18/09/2020 13:53

I saw a similar complaint: the furloughed employee was pissed that they had to use annual leave as they wanted to carry it all over to next year so they could go on a really long trip “when Covid is over”. I can imagine how this notion went down with the rest of the workforce, let alone the boss.

Figgygal · 18/09/2020 13:53

How do you know that those people who continue to work have not been expected to take leave also?

everyone in my organisation for a lift or not has been mandated to use a set proportion of their leave this year maybe they’ve already taken it so there’s no need for enforcement

HelloDaisy · 18/09/2020 13:54

I think you are being slightly unreasonable and maybe due to your frustration at being furloughed you are not looking at the bigger picture.

How do you think they should make it fair for everybody?

Those that have worked throughout could not take holiday and have worked for 6 months without a break whereas you have been in your own home, being able to get up and do what you want all day. They may have been trying to work as well as homeschooling dc.

My friend has worked throughout and her counterpart was furloughed so my friend picked up the slack and worked harder than normal As well as caring for dc and trying to sort childcare with her dh. Come the end of furlough her counterpart came back to work and then took annual leave a week later as it was booked prior to lockdown. She insisting on taking it as “it was in the diary” which meant that my friend had to work even longer without any time off. That certainly is not fair....

This situation isn’t fair to anybody but it is what it is and everybody has to give.

Sloth66 · 18/09/2020 13:54

6 months off work and you’re posting this?
I carried on working throughout, taking on additional work for people told to self isolate. And with the threat of losing my job all the while.

ReefTeeth · 18/09/2020 13:55

You're getting it both barrels here OP and for the most I do agree with pp.

It's neither here nor there for me if you lose your job, but I would say think a little longer on the fact that the company has chugged along for 6 months without you.

Is your job safe? I'd try not to rock the boat as management always have ways of getting rid of those that do.

Whatruthinking · 18/09/2020 13:56

Your incredibly selfish and narrow minded op.

SantaClaritaDiet · 18/09/2020 13:57

If you are that bored OP, maybe work on your CV?

Mangofandangoo · 18/09/2020 13:58

You can expect to be off for months Furlough and then still be able to carry over leave surely? Yes maybe it doesn't feel fair to you, but your colleagues who weren't furloughed probably didn't think it was fair to have to do their own + everyone else who was furloughed work.

SomewhereInbetween1 · 18/09/2020 13:58

I wish I had had time to take holiday over the last few months, but work has been manic and I haven't take one day of my entitlement. My furloughed colleagues have had to take theirs pro rata whilst their pay was topped up, and I think that's completely fair. Looking forward to them all coming back so I can finally have a break!

applecrumbleandcustardcake · 18/09/2020 13:59

I'm an employer. I have staff like you. When I have to make staff cuts, which I will, as the pandemic is killing the business you can guess which staff will be going.

Think! You have had months and months off work. You have been paid not to work, and you have accrued holiday during this time off. The holiday you have accrued (while not working) is paid at 100%. That doesn't seem very fair to the employer, or the employees who are having to work. Strangely that bit of unfairness doesn't seem to bother you.

My suggestion: be a bit grateful and do everything you can to convince your employer that they NEED you back.

cyclemania · 18/09/2020 14:00

Another one here thinking that you’re being made redundant, OP. The holiday issue is misdirection (which you cannot be serious about).

I’d be sharpening up my CV