To encourage hubby to be furloughed

[FurloughOrNo]

After a 2 year struggle and mc earlier in the year and I am now 8 weeks pregnant . However, I am really, really struggling with sickness/nausea/dizziness the lot! Dr has given meds which don’t appear to be helping and I am really no use to anyone, all I can do is lie in bed! Hubby has arranged to go in later to work this week so he can take DD to school and his parents will collect her after, they can do it for 1 week since FIL (he drives) has the week off. Hubby’s boss mentioned in passing that the company may need to furlough staff again and was he interested. I said to hubby that as long as it doesn’t ‘look bad’ (iyswim) on him then I think he should take it since they need to furlough staff anyway and it would solve the issue that we have now. Hubby is not too sure. AIBU to encourage him to take it?

As others have said, I would never encourage anyone to volunteer for furlough unless they don’t mind the possible redundancy it will lead to.

DH’s company have had to make redundancies and all have come from those furloughed. Voluntarily accepting furlough is kind of like admitting that your company can manage without you.

@RattleOfBars

If he tells his boss his wife is pregnant and struggling with illness, he might be offered furlough priority. It sounds like they have to furlough some people and don’t want to upset anyone (lots of people hate being furloughed because of the pay reduction and loss of routine/career development). His boss might be quite glad if some people are willing!

I think that is very, very bad advice.

I think that is very, very bad advice

Not necessarily, it depends how many people they have to furlough. Most bosses would rather furlough those who WANT it rather than those who don’t. It doesn’t automatically lead to redundancy, and if it did there would be a redundancy package to help until her DH found a new job.

It sounds like OP is really struggling with pregnancy related illness and needs her husband’s support at home. I empathise as I’ve been in her position.

If his boss knows his wife is pregnant he’ll be anticipating paternity leave anyway. And if OP gets worse her husband may have to take unpaid leave or use up all his annual leave to take care of her.

It completely depends on the industry and why people are being furloughed. I was furloughed for a short time in the first lockdown and now back to work with no extra risk of redundancy, there was no work for me to do while the business adapted to working online. Now its operational again, I am very busy. Other people in different roles were furloughed longer term and made redundant because they still dont have any work to do. No one can really give helpful advice without knowing his exact circumstances.

there would be a redundancy package to help until her DH found a new job.

Not necessarily. Redundancy packages don’t exist everywhere. Most people just get statutory, and that’s tiny.

there would be a redundancy package to help until her DH found a new job.

I would not find this at all reassuring in OP's position, they will soon have two DC to support! There is going to be intense competition for jobs with so many people being let go and so many industries struggling due to covid. There is no guarantee whatsoever that her DH's redundancy package would last until he found another job.

I had HG with both my pregnancies so believe me, I really sympathise. But furlough wasn't a thing then and we certainly weren't in a position for my DH to just stop going to work so we got through it because we had to.

Stat redundancy is a week for every year. Hardly reassuring that it would last until he got a new job.

Sorry you are feeling awful, I hope it improves soon. Could you find a childminder to do the morning drop offs and pick ups?

I wouldn't recommend asking for furlough. DH's friend wasn't furloughed in the first wave and wished he was as he has small children, whereas those on furlough didn't . He was glad later on as there were redundancies and it was the staff on furlough who went first.

It's a big risk. What will you do if he looses his job? Would you be able to cover the bills until he got another job?
I do sympathise though because I was awfully sick with my last pregnancy and in and out of hospital.
Take the offer from FIL for the week and then look again. There's a chance you'll feel better by then.
Do you know your neighbours? My neighbour helped out with shopping when I was really bad (luckily I didn't need childcare) would that be an option? Or another family member who can help out short term?