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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that furlough at 80% is FAR too generous.....

480 replies

loveyouradvice · 05/11/2020 20:13

I'm just interested about what others think... I think fine to do this for first three months but really do feel it should be down to 60% or 70% maximum by now....

People on 80% of salary, with no travel or expenses related to working away from home, are really not doing badly .... especially since so much less to spend your money on

It is everyone else I think is having a tough time - whether its kids not getting Free School Meals in holidays, or freelancers or those who've lost their jobs....

I would prefer the "pain" to be shared.... so if on furlough, yes lots of free time and yes, having to tighten your belt a bit....

Would it not be better to pay LESS in furlough - I'm thinking around 65% - and MORE to those who don't qualify but are having a very tough time financially..... ?

OP posts:
Ginnymweasley · 05/11/2020 20:30

Do you think you could survive on 60% of nmw? So like £10,000 for the year. Even with benefit top ups. For most people their travel costs are not 40% of their wages. Do you really think shop workers, bar staff etc earn much at all?

MorganKitten · 05/11/2020 20:30

@Bouncycastle12

It seems weird that people are going to be furloughed for an entire year. Just feels like they could have done something more constructive with all those people’s time... not sure what though!
A lot of us did do productive things during furlough thanks.
Oblomov20 · 05/11/2020 20:31

Even I was surprised it was 80%. Recently it was 60% with employers paying pension and NI.

yellowcatss · 05/11/2020 20:31

correct the government is giving money it dosnt have to pay people to do nothing whilst taking money from people that are working and who often end up with less than people on furlough. these are undeniable facts

yellowcatss · 05/11/2020 20:32

@Branches1

agree with OP. It is quite generous. Meanwhile some fall through the cracks entirely
some i think you mean millions of workers that the goverment has not given a penny like my self but i pay tax!
LG101 · 05/11/2020 20:34

Don’t most people furloughed tend to be minimum wage or not the best paid jobs? It’s the leisure industry mostly?

I agree if someone is earning 30k plus that 80% seems a lot but if someone earns £1200 a month / £960 on 80% isn’t a massive amount to live on if you have rent / bills etc

Yes we are having to pay for this for years but I would love to hear your other solutions?

AliceMcK · 05/11/2020 20:34

How do you know what expenses people have? Maybe they walk to work & take packed lunches and can just about manage on 100% salary. My friend was forced onto furlong because of health reasons, his wife still had to work. They work on the same industrial estate, an hour away from home, so normally drive together. She still had all the expenses associated with travel but he wasn’t bringing home 100% of his salary. Also while at home he was eating far more that he would at work, so they were definitely not saving any money.

Your assuming everyone can have a nice cushy live on 80% of their salary, they can’t.

nancybotwinbloom · 05/11/2020 20:34

I think the answer is these quick hour result tests they are going to perform in Liverpool. Could the furlough money not be spent on those instead of furlough and people still go into work?

Would that work?

lyralalala · 05/11/2020 20:34

@yellowcatss

correct the government is giving money it dosnt have to pay people to do nothing whilst taking money from people that are working and who often end up with less than people on furlough. these are undeniable facts
People on furlough still pay tax and NI so they're not taking any more from people still working.
1stV45 · 05/11/2020 20:35

I think this is very difficult. I sympathise, of course, but I don't really understand why "benefits" for this group of people should be higher than for those who are out of work for other reasons.

kowari · 05/11/2020 20:39

I think the cap of £2500 should be lower, but with a lower cap of 100% of NMW. If you earn more then you have a greater ability on average to put money away for a rainy day than someone on NMW.

TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot · 05/11/2020 20:39

Someone who usually works 35 hours a week at minimum wage will get £244.16 a week when furloughed.

The benefit cap for a single, childless adult outside London is 257.96.

And you think that furloughed person should just tighten their belt and get even less? Even if they have the same cost of living as the unemployed person claiming the maximum in benefits?

yellowcatss · 05/11/2020 20:39

People on furlough still pay tax and NI so they're not taking any more from people still working.

NO THEY DONT they get 80 percent of money from the government some of that the government takes back in tax and ni but every single penny they get on furlough is from the government.

isseywith4vampirecats · 05/11/2020 20:40

im back on furlough for both of my jobs as one is hospitality and one is retail so you are saying i should accept half wages for something that is not in my control i didnt ask the prime minister to shut down both of my jobs and 80% of NMW is less than i would get on universal credits, (i dont claim any benefits) and my wages a year are no where near the magical £30000 a year most peoples wages are not

Thisisworsethananticpated · 05/11/2020 20:40

I’m working FT on 80%
It’s live able as NO outgoing on the usual shit
But I’m on a decent salary

MasterGland · 05/11/2020 20:41

I really think we are heading for a universal basic income, by default. It will be interesting how this all pans out. I think we will see massive job losses next year as many retailers will wait until after Q4 to call it a day. Retail, hospitality, will all shrink back dramatically.

CorianderLord · 05/11/2020 20:41

The government don't want a swathe of people who usually work reliably to lose their homes/ tenancies and get into debt. Instead of asking them to reduce the 80%, as the government to stump up for the other people on top. Or stop lockdowns.

Pumpkinsarepurple · 05/11/2020 20:42

So you think a 20yr old on minimum wage should be able to survive on £3.85 per hour instead of the oh so generous £6.45 per hour.

People who have prevented by law from working need to be supported - what are they meant to do starve?

MoonPomme · 05/11/2020 20:43

Im already only getting about 60% of my earnings on furlough because tips and commissions are not included.
Same for many others in hospitality and sales jobs.
My tips are what make life worth living, without them plus a 20%pay cut we can only just survive.
I also get free meals at work that I will have to pay for now.
So I am sharing the pain thank you very much.
I would rather be at work and earning than sitting at home under layers of blankets to keep warm.

yellowcatss · 05/11/2020 20:44

@CorianderLord

The government don't want a swathe of people who usually work reliably to lose their homes/ tenancies and get into debt. Instead of asking them to reduce the 80%, as the government to stump up for the other people on top. Or stop lockdowns.
its not the governments money its net taxpayers money.
lyralalala · 05/11/2020 20:44

@yellowcatss

People on furlough still pay tax and NI so they're not taking any more from people still working.

NO THEY DONT they get 80 percent of money from the government some of that the government takes back in tax and ni but every single penny they get on furlough is from the government.

Yes, they do.

They get paid their wages. They pay tax and NI as normal.

Their employer can claim the money from the government.

People not on furlough are not having to pay out more tax and NI than those on furlough.

WaterOffADucksCrack · 05/11/2020 20:45

I think rather than reducing it they need to look at the businesses using it for financial gain.

TrainspottingWelsh · 05/11/2020 20:45

Don't be a dick.
I was furloughed for a short spell on significantly less than 80%. In our case it made no difference because we were already in a fortunate position, dp had his full salary and lockdown meant we saved in other areas, eg dsd was home from uni, no commuting or luxuries etc.
If however I had a mortgage, no assets and I was single I would have been utterly fucked. Let alone those barely making ends meet on nmw before they were furloughed.

Why is it always working people, or to be more precise low income working people that should be expected to go without? And then to add insult to injury the crumbs offered from are considered too generous.

Noitjustwontdo · 05/11/2020 20:48

Many people on furlough are in low paid jobs receiving NMW. They struggle to pay their bills and buy food at the best of times and now they’ve taken a 20% pay cut. Their commute to work might stop but their rent, gas, electricity, water and so forth does not.

It’s not too generous at all. In an ideal world nobody would take a pay cut at all. They aren’t choosing to be on furlough.

yellowcatss · 05/11/2020 20:48

*Yes, they do.

They get paid their wages. They pay tax and NI as normal.

Their employer can claim the money from the government.

People not on furlough are not having to pay out more tax and NI than those on furlough.*

People not on furlough are not having to pay out more tax and NI than those on furlough.*
yes they are people not on furlough are net givers to the government at least those in the private sector like me people on furlough take every penny from the government whats so hard to understand.