AIBU re furlough?

[MoiraNotRuby]

I've never been busier at work. I work full time and a lot more (unpaid) overtime. My boss is unsupportive/toxic but my work is important and I have been there longer than anyone else so everyone comes to me for whatever they don't know. During autumn I was ill for about a month with MH issues. This week my employer has asked me to go on flexible furlough in the new year, despite me being so busy.

I am wondering if this is the start of a way to get rid of me (I asked politely for a pay rise and perhaps I marked my cards).

I am not sure whether to agree or not - the company needs my agreement but not sure what happens if I say no... wwyd?

Have you asked why you are being placed on furlough despite the heavy workload?

If your job still exists then you shouldn't be furloughed. If they are getting someone else to do it in your absence then surely a redundancy consultation exercise is needed, rather than a furlough?

I'm no expert but dabble in a bit of HR. I think you need proper HR advice.

Furlough should be because your sector is closed/heavily restricted due to covid. If it isn't, you should be working as normal.

I am a member of a professional organisation which said it's never busy in January so furloughing staff. I wasn't very impressed - they're not affected by lockdowns at all and are just taking the mick.

There is a lot of stuff on here about lousy bosses etc - and many, many are. But there are also some companies that do actually care about the people who work for them.

As such, it COULD be that a) they care concerned for your health and want to give you some down time, b) they have noticed that they may have a "single point of failure" if you are the only one doing that kind of work and want to ensure that other people can do the same role and c) IF the previous two are correct (big "IF""!!), this would mean that in future you would not have to carry the load just by yourself.

I have worked as a manager for companies that do more than pay lip service to employee welfare (indeed, I believe there is a "duty of care" from employer to employee), and this is the type of thing that they would do, while also working to remove a potential area of risk (single point of failure) from the company.

Only you can really know what they intend...

Thanks all. I asked the reason and its 'to save money'. I think they are hoping I will do as much as ever... but clearly that's illegal and I won't be breaking the law!

There is absolutely zero concern for staff welfare.

Reading this I realise it is probably in my own best interests to agree and let things go to shit, and spend the time job hunting, but I really believe in the aims of the company and it will let our clients down

Furlough really isn’t for giving busy people downtime or balancing staff skillsets. That would be fraud. OP, I’d agree it sounds like a convenient way to start managing you out and I’d start looking into other options. Sorry they’re doing this to you.

As I understand it flexible furlough is when you reduce your hours due to a fall in workload. Furlough is when you have no work e.g pubs are shut.

Be very careful they are not going to expect you to do all your current work but only pay you furlough pay for some of your hours. Get in writing what your working hours will be and only work them. Do not do any unpaid overtime.