Anyone else getting tired of the furlough bashing?

[NEVERQUIT3331]

First, it was immigrants stealing the jobs. Then it was bashing people on benefits. Now it is furlough bashing.

People need to understand that a lot of people are struggling on 100 percent of their current salaries. Living on 80 percent will not be easy either for anyone (especially for groups like single parents.) I am someone who was lucky to work the majority of the months since March 2020. I am lucky I still have a job. Some people that were furloughed were not that lucky they were made redundant. Most people would rather work than be redundant and worry about how to pay their next bill or mortgage.

Yes you might see people go to parks/beaches during furlough and others had to work without a holiday. But for most people it was a constant worry whether they would have a job. Also, if someone is on furlough what do you want them to do? Just spend all day at home twiddling their thumbs and isolated. That is not good for anyone's mental health. Others also have worked second jobs to ensure they could pay their bill.

Are there people who abuse the system? Of course. You get that with every system: taxation, benefit, furlough etc.. But punishing the vast majority of people on benefits, furlough who are there through no fault of their own is never the answer. We need to learn to be more compassionate as a nation and realize life is not as rosy as some may perceive. I wish everyone on furlough good luck and hope they keep their jobs and for anyone being currently unemployed/redundant I hope they find work. and leave you with this quote:

"Do not trust everything you see even salt tastes like sugar."

I think it’s ridiculous people on furlough get there bank holidays added back on to their holiday entitlement.

@Grilledaubergines

Can I just ask, where are people seeing/hearing this furlough bashing?

Mostly online but I have heard other workers in the workplace saying stuff like "We have to work while others can claim 80 percent and go to beaches/parks." What do you expect these people to do? Stare at their room walls the whole day? Most people did not see furlough as a holiday. It was worrying if they were next to be let go.

I get it is frustrating to work really hard. I even experienced this at work. Where I work the workload did increase a lot and there was a lot of pressure to complete it all. But how is that the fault on those on furlough. The majority did not CHOOSE this. Businesses were forced to close by the government all around the world.

Not sure I’ve seen anyone “furlough bashing”. Yes a small and deeply unreasonably part of me very occasionally thinks “can’t believe some people have been off work for X amount of time when I’ve been going to work the whole time”, but then I check myself. I wouldn’t swap places with them for anything, and I do feel really bad for people who are at home with nothing to do and a lack of job security. It’s not their problem we’ve had to be at work. I don’t resent the teachers who got to wfh just because I was in every day. (Mostly...)

Also I agree that holidays shouldn’t be added back in. That’s crazy.

I haven't seen anything like that - although I can understand if some people in the same workplace have been furloughed and some not, that there might be some resentment.

But generally haven't seen this. I think everyone knows that all the jobs might not be there once furlough ends and therefore it's a risk.

I’ve been furloughed for 9 months of the last 12.

I’ve never seen or heard any furlough bashing.

I do agree it’s ridiculous to accrue holiday on furlough... I took no holiday last year and got an extra months salary in holiday pay at the end of December. Nice that it paid towards Xmas but also acknowledge that it’s madness.

It’s not fun and games on furlough though. I probably won’t have a job to return to, and my mental health has significantly dipped. I’m bored beyond belief, have no social interaction, and miss work and using my brain.

We can agree this crisis was not easy for anyone. There have been many groups who struggled (Just to name a few below):

1. Overworked (we seen this on reports in the NHS where many have struggled with poor mental health due to a lot of pressure and short staffed)

2. Furlough (not knowing if you will have a job and being made redundant eventually. And for some they were worse off e.g. single parents, those on low wages etc..)

3. Excluded (More than 3 million people not getting any support e.g. self employed)

We can all agree it has been a tough time for everyone for different reasons. It has not been easy for most people for different reasons)

@LaMainDeFatima
Eh? Where's the bit comparing racism to furlough bashing? Talk about not reading the post properly ...

I took no holiday last year and got an extra months salary in holiday pay at the end of December.

I agree this is utterly crazy though! I’m sure there’s some reason I don’t understand why it’s necessary and I don’t begrudge you it, but christ!

A lot of companies make you take your holidays through furlough and you just get 80 percent as well .not sure its strictly legal but its certainly happening so not everyone is accruing paid holidays so the government are paying the holidays .

As someone who spent the first lockdown on SMP of £150 a week while the rest of my team were getting £575 a week on furlough I have to admit I am envious.

I then returned to have my pay cut to 80% in order 'save the business' while still working full time.

Then to hear two of my friends bragging that they were getting £2500 furlough from their usual job while earning £12ph working at a test centre took me from envious to bitter.

However I do understand that it's not the fault of the person who's furloughed. And that my feelings are mainly just green eyed monster.

@Hankunamatata

Sorry but I can see why people who have worked all the way through the pandemic, tired and stressed - get arsey at people who are getting 80%of their wage (or some of my friends 100%) for being at home. Couple friends over last year have been putting up loads of photos of all the work they have done on their gardens and houses, how amazing being furloughed has been to to all the wonderful things they wanted to do.

It works both ways with some people

Gonna agree with this.

I've been working 40 hour weeks with a 3yr old throughout lockdown and I'm fed up of people with endless free time assuming it's been the same for me.
A No I haven't redecorated or taken up playing an instrument, I'm flipping exhausted.

I understand it's not like that for everyone and my fingers crossed for anyone that's worried about there job. Fighting about it gets us nowhere.

Boris didn't help with his comments that people have had enough time off. Not the people paying tax all this time thanks.

I don't mind people on furlough as long as it saves their jobs. I do mind my taxes going up to pay for furlough when I've not had a penny from the government and the danger money bonus that I received from my employer was also taxed.

We've also had lots of temps start with us that are claiming furlough from their employer and working with us so effectively getting double the pay we are. I don't blame anyone except the government for this mess, they should have laid out better rules regarding accrual of holidays and working for another company.

@FunnyWonder I was referring to the first sentence about immigrants being bashed for "coming here stealing jobs". I thought the OP was comparing the two situations.

I will stand corrected if this wasn't the case

People on furlough can be made to take their holidays . Its up to the their employer.

My daughter, in furlough, has no accrued holiday.
It depends on the employer.

I’ve not heard any furlough bashing irl but have seen some mean spirited comments on here.

If some people have managed to enjoy furlough, all the better I say. Why should we expect people to be miserable through no fault of their own. And sympathies to those who have had a tough time.

@Suzyrtyyg

I think it’s ridiculous people on furlough get there bank holidays added back on to their holiday entitlement.

How does this type of thing actually affect anyone else? My husband will go back to work when his workplace opens back up and it'll be the same as if nothing had happened. His ability to book paid holiday didn't affect anyone else before furlough so why would it affect anyone now? It just screams bitterness.

I only see furlough bashing on here. Same with most bashing. It's a keyboard warrior thing.

I've never heard of anyone furlough bashing on rl.
Mn is a funny place.

@Viviennemary

No. I think it's ridiculous people on furlough are still accruing paid holidays.

When I was on furlough any holiday accrued was marked as used so i actually lost out

And, to add, I've not heard of furlough bashing in real life... only sympathy as many furloughed staff have either lost or are about to lose their jobs.
Many furloughed staff face returning to modified roles that they may not have done before.

I've been furlough bashed by my own DM.
Having worked for 38 yrs I am not lazy.
I work in hospitality that is CLOSED.I cannot work there I normally work over 50 hr weeks.
Furlough is no tips either and mon wage has gone up twice so I'm not too far about that now.
I can see why there is resentment but there is good and bad in both.
Furloughed people were stuck at home in jan Feb not seeing colleagues or people.

When I was on furlough any holiday accrued was marked as used so i actually lost out

I think that's illegal unless they topped up your pay to 100% for those holiday days

I work in a tiny office in a niche industry. The majority of the work force were furloughed in March 2020 but my work topped up their pay so they were still on 100%. I worked through and finished the working year having only been able to take 3 days of holiday. I am beyond shattered so yes, hearing my colleagues complain about being "stuck" at home is slightly grating and feels ungrateful for all the work the rest of us are doing to keep the business afloat so that there is a job for them to come back to. I KNOW they didn't choose to be furloughed and it must be stressful, but equally I didn't choose to cover their work, we had no choice. It's been hard for everyone, yes, but I do think it's been harder for those who have worked through and are now absolutely exhausted counting down the days until our colleagues can come back!