Furlough

[bauballballs]

NC for this one as I know some of the school mums would out me!

I'm seeing an increase in friends who are on furlough (we live near an airport which is a major employer, hence lots of pilots etc in our village) who appear to be better off by being on furlough. One has bought her daughter a pony, another has purchased a hot tub. They say it's because they've managed to get other jobs while furloughed.

So am I right that if they're getting 80% of their usual pay, they're actually earning more than they probably were before?

I think this is more of an AIBUnderstanding?

I don’t know how it works , I think it’s an average over 12 weeks ? But I got more pay during lockdown 1 than I would have working my shifts
I was 100% pay lockdown 1
Lockdown 2 slightly less than average wage but the firm didn’t top it up so only got 80%
Could the family be on 100% ??

But if they have another job while furlough that makes sense to have more money as they have 2 jobs ?

Well yes, if you have two jobs you will be getting more pay.

It is perfectly legal to get a second job while on furlough from your first job, as long as your first jobs contract doesn't forbid this. I know a few people who have done nights at supermarkets while on furlough from their daytime job. They have ended up with more money but they actually couldn't have afforded to lose the 20% to their income as they had to budget very very carefully at 100%. So yes they have made more money, and I don't begrudge them any of it.