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Original poster

Anyone else getting tired of the furlough bashing?

245 replies

NEVERQUIT3331 · 05/04/2021 16:45

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."

OP posts:
Saz12 · 05/04/2021 17:46

Employers have to pay your holiday days whether you nominally use them whilst furloughed or allowed to use them whilst back at work. It’s pretty nonsensical that all your normal employment terms still apply whilst furloughed (same as they would if you were on maternity), and Id hope employers have the sense to make sure staff that haven’t been furloughed get their choice of holiday slots etc for at least the next 12 months (including school hols, Christmas, etc).

I’m currently furloughed (again).

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 05/04/2021 17:47

I worked all the way through, lots from home (including when I was very unwell with Covid). Didn't think anything of it other than 'I'm glad I haven't had my salary decreased by 20%'.

But then I found out on my return to work (still wheezing, weak and with my heart thudding fit to jump out of my chest upon any exertion) that there were other people who had insisted they couldn't possibly work from home because they didn't have a computer, phone or internet connection and were therefore on full pay for doing nothing for a full year.

Now, I might be unfairly cynical about this, but when I used to see one of those people driving into the car park with a brand new Mercedes, wearing much, much nicer clothes, having perfect hair and nails and chattering happily before this all kicked off about where they were going to next on holiday or grumbling about how tough it was at home due to dust whilst the new kitchen/extension was being built, I very much doubt that they were unable to afford broadband or a £400 laptop to go with the perfectly nice mobile phone I'd see them put into their Mulberry multiple times (same way I could describe my overall boss, their car, some of the suits they wear, what style bag and shoes they prefer, where they go on holiday, etc).

At the end of it, I've still got a job, though. So I haven't suffered in the way that some people have. It's just that person who irks me.

Had I been furloughed on 100% pay, I'd have probably tried to get a second job in the process (had I not got ill) just to top up the bank balance, though. So it's definitely an element of jealousy/envy going on in my head.

qualitygirl · 05/04/2021 17:52

My dh was furloughed initially for 5 months at full pay! He didn't have a choice but was delighted to be honest. Nobody said anything to him though but he didn't advertise it either though.

Hoorayhenryyah · 05/04/2021 17:52

The only place I see furlough bashing is on mumsnet 🙄

MadgeHarvyy · 05/04/2021 17:53

The people who agree with @viviennemary, you would hate me then. I was due to start my first shift at my new job on the Saturday, everything closed down on the friday. I got 100% wage plus my holiday pay without ever having even done one shift. The job I had just left weeks before was zero hours no contract etc so I was have been fucked.

But I dont feel guilty, what should I have done? "No thanks I dont need the money"??

Jangle33 · 05/04/2021 18:03

Never heard of furlough bashing irl at all. But to be honest I think people should be v grateful they’ve not been made redundant but their employer has chosen to furlough them. I’m more worried about the rest of us paying for it via taxes for the rest of our lives...

Viviennemary · 05/04/2021 18:03

Grab what you can when you can and as much as you can is the motto nowadays. And people not on furlough still have had to take holidays when they didn't want them. Because all the furlough folks holidays need to be fitted in when they come back. Hmm

sjfjsnfkdhsbd · 05/04/2021 18:03

I'm curious. Those objecting to people continuing to accrue annual leave whilst furloughed, do you also object to women accruing annual leave whilst on maternity leave?

Jangle33 · 05/04/2021 18:05

@NeverDropYourMoonCup there has to be more to it. It would be cheaper for their employer to pay for those things than furlough them.

sjfjsnfkdhsbd · 05/04/2021 18:06

Let's be honest, most of these hostile reactions about furlough are fueled by jealousy.

"Somebody is getting something I'm not, it's not fair!"

Jangle33 · 05/04/2021 18:07

@sjfjsnfkdhsbd yes I do object to anyone accruing holiday on any kind of leave, furlough, maternity or sick or paternity.

Annual leave is there to have a break from work. It’s ridiculous employers have to pay annual leave accrued for many years for an employee on long term sick leave.

It simply makes employers less inclined to offer enhanced maternity or other pay.

Hueandcry · 05/04/2021 18:09

Yes, I'm fed up with it. I've been on furlough for the best part of a year with only a small window back at work before Xmas. I live alone. My outgoings are still 100% even though my income is 80%. I've taken on a 2nd job to meet the difference. I never asked to be on furlough & I hate it. My mental health has deteriorated massively. Yet still I get the 'sitting at home doing nothing' comments like it's a holiday Sad

ConsuelaHammock · 05/04/2021 18:11

Those on furlough should not be accruing holidays. If they do, they should be at the bottom of the queue for selecting their time off.
Neither should they be allowed to have another job.
I have heard of several employees not wanting to return to work because they get 80% of their wages and have a little cash in hand number on the side.

ConsuelaHammock · 05/04/2021 18:13

I do object to women accruing holiday leave while on maternity leave.

ConsuelaHammock · 05/04/2021 18:13

*Annual leave

SunIsComing · 05/04/2021 18:13

If you’re off due to furlough, you should not be getting leave. You’re not working. The government and company is subsidising keeping your job open, and allowing leave to be carried adds to costs .

GintyMcGinty · 05/04/2021 18:16

Would the badgers prefer that businesses failed and these people were paid unemployment benefits?

Would you be willing to accept the end of the cinema, hospitality, soft play, museum, theatre etc sectors? Would you sacrifice many charities?

That's what furlough is saving - jobs, businesses, charities.

Grilledaubergines · 05/04/2021 18:16

@SunIsComing

If you’re off due to furlough, you should not be getting leave. You’re not working. The government and company is subsidising keeping your job open, and allowing leave to be carried adds to costs .
But the law says otherwise unfortunately. You are still an employee with the same rights.

I don’t think it’s fair, but that’s how it is.

We had people back from furlough at the start of October who book A/L the first week they came back. A kick in the teeth for those working the whole way through who because of the nature of their own role hasn’t had any holiday off all year.

Grilledaubergines · 05/04/2021 18:17

Hadn’t

MoonBaby1 · 05/04/2021 18:18

Furloughs been rubbish for my dh. We live pay check to pay check and without the structure of work his mental health nose dives. He can’t wait to get back to work.

GintyMcGinty · 05/04/2021 18:19

Employers can require people to use their annual leave whilst on furlough and avoid the need to grant it when they return to work as it's been used.

Devlesko · 05/04/2021 18:22

We live in an awful society where people are so bothered and jealous of people who lead a different lifestyle or appear to have something they don't. Absolutely pathetic they need to have something to complain about not being fair, constantly.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 05/04/2021 18:23

@Bluntness100

I must live on a different planet, I never hear anyone furlough bashing.
me neither
Ginuwine · 05/04/2021 18:23

@Bluntness100

I must live on a different planet, I never hear anyone furlough bashing.

Usual Mumsnet reductionism to make an OP feel silly.

"I've never heard of this happen, so therefore you're being ridiculous".

@NEVERQUIT3331 I have heard tons of furlough bashing, both in real life and on comments sections of newspapers. There's plenty of it on Mumsnet too.

Millymomooo · 05/04/2021 18:23

Never heard of furlough bashing either, I think people just make things up to cause shit!