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’ve never heard of this bashing, but I can tell you that I’m mildly annoyed that the few people I know on it have gone onto holidays and not quarantined when they got back.

@beagleeagle I wasn't on furlough. I was working elsewhere. I am just sticking up for those who were on furlough. It's not fair to say they should be envied for what was a forced and stressful experience. You can admire what the NHS did and express sympathy for those forced to cut pay and not work. Both contributed to saving lives just in different ways. Their personal cost was different too. Both made valuable contributions to the pandemic.

[quote Biffbaff]@beagleeagle I wasn't on furlough. I was working elsewhere. I am just sticking up for those who were on furlough. It's not fair to say they should be envied for what was a forced and stressful experience. You can admire what the NHS did and express sympathy for those forced to cut pay and not work. Both contributed to saving lives just in different ways. Their personal cost was different too. Both made valuable contributions to the pandemic.[/quote]
I agree with you and I've been sticking up for furloughed people too if you see in thread, but you said

Cheers and all that for the hard work love but everyone on furlough cut their income and sacrificed their own work to make your NHS job easier. So you should be thanking them just as much as they are thanking you.

That's a lot different to what you just said.

The people on furlough had no choice!

That's very true for many, and it's hardly nice for all those wondering if their jobs will still be there and if they'll ever get back to work

But people seem to be forgetting all the posts on here asking "Can I get furlough to cover childcare?" ...

Anyone denying furlough-bashing exists is quite clearly not on furlough, and never has been.

Me and DH have had a bunch of snarky, rude comments from around half a dozen people since we have been on furlough. (First end of March to end of July last year,) and then start of November last year to now.) SO virtually all of the past year except for 3 and a half months in the middle.

As for anyone who is on furlough, claiming they have NOT had anyone slating them, well, they are probably doing it behind your back!

It’s all just jealousy. I have seen lots of house improvements going on during furlough time and I suspect it’s that kind of thing that brings out the green eyed monster.

@beagleeagle Not really, I'm equating one set of circumstances with the other. The nurse's work is not superior to the furlougheds' lack of it.

And yes @jeanclaude I do believe that. It's really wasn't fair of the nurse I saw to go in on the furloughed people when they have been doing what they have for her organisation's benefit

[quote Biffbaff]@beagleeagle Not really, I'm equating one set of circumstances with the other. The nurse's work is not superior to the furlougheds' lack of it.

And yes @jeanclaude I do believe that. It's really wasn't fair of the nurse I saw to go in on the furloughed people when they have been doing what they have for her organisation's benefit[/quote]
I mean i'm sorry but in this scenario the nurse's work absolutely is superior.

My partner is on furlough and I won’t lie- his absolutely loving it- but to be fair we have such shit luck and ANY time we have just a little bit of money something happens so we are back down into debt. We have one car between us, never go on holidays as can’t afford them and our kids need clothes....so it’s swings and roundabouts as I imagine it is for most people

@justanotherneighinparadise

It’s all just jealousy. I have seen lots of house improvements going on during furlough time and I suspect it’s that kind of thing that brings out the green eyed monster.

This is spot on. Jealousy is the prime cause for all of this nonsense.

I've been on furlough for a full year apart from 2 months in the Autumn....I've had shitty comments too...even from my partner. I loved my job and was distraught when it closed down...Ive been on 80% of already crap pay for months and i dont know if i will ever have a job to go back too...its hardly been a picnic.
I have found a new job that starts next week which i will do until my proper job opens up again.

Regarding the posts on social media I put some walking ones or baking ones or pics of my garden not to make people jealous to inspire others on a low budget you can do something positive. Sm has been a good way to connect and feel part of the outside world when you are in effect stuck in your house for hours on end.
I've certainly not done it to cause jealousy.

I wd never bash anyone on furlough.
Two things did bother me tho .
One .. those on furlough saying how great it is on a hot sunny day in frount of colleauges in supermarket on a hot sunny day when tourists were flooding in and they were scared of increased risk of being exposed to covid.. found it insensitive in earshot of anxoius workers on min wage.
Two. Those takimg furlough and working another job. Tho it may be needed for some .. some were raking money in at tax payers expense.

I think some of the things people do on furlough don’t help

Fighting against going back, furlough ending, due to “anxiety” or lack of child care, or risks to extended family. Ie “my grannies vulnerable” kind of thing,

Posting they have been fighting to be furloughed for the same reasons or more commonly becayse others doing the same job as them are and they want it too.

Posting about how they are living their best lives due to it, no commute, time with the family, don’t have to work with peoole they hate, baking, pottering round, going for walks, cooking meals, reading,

Posting about how the kids still go to school or nursery as their partner is a key worker and they are living their best lives being paid to be off and would love lock down to be extended so it can continue,

It all builds a picture up, and it’s not helped by some posters responding with “you’re entitled to furlough hun, the government extended it”.

It is jealousy and to an extent it is understandable. It is an INCREDIBLY generous policy and for many it appears to be working quite well! If I was offered the chance of having up to 1.5 years as a paid sabbatical from work (albeit with a risk of redundancy at the end) vs working very long hours and weekends on stressful covid related work, no time to enjoy the lovely weather last summer and burning out in the process, I’d probably take my chances with the former and think that I’d get a new job/retrain if made redundant. When would you ever get that opportunity again? The freedom to spend your time improving your home, your body, your mind. To spend quality time with children and partners. To take up exercise, cooking, hobbies, art. When restrictions allow, to spend lazy summer days at beaches, parks and with friends. Meanwhile, millions of us are either working in public facing jobs during a pandemic or stuck in front of laptops within the same 4 walls working on urgent, stressful matters and barely able to find time to cook dinner for family, homeschool or clean the house.

Perhaps it depends on your job though? If I had a very easy and decently paid job I’d probably rather be working! Don’t know many people with those!

People shouldn't get worked up about accruing leave while on mat leave. It's part of the protection of your employment which includes the right to all your CONTRACTUAL benefits including pension contributions. If you chip away at the contractual leave part - why couldn't you/shouldn't you chip away at the other contractual parts? Perhaps even, eventually, the right to return to your post.

Honestly - holiday leave accrued on mat leave is not comparable. It's part of the employment law to protect women due to their sex and status around maternity. Two of the nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act.

Some companies have been smart about accrued leave. Good for them.

@Lemoncheesecake20

It is jealousy and to an extent it is understandable. It is an INCREDIBLY generous policy and for many it appears to be working quite well! If I was offered the chance of having up to 1.5 years as a paid sabbatical from work (albeit with a risk of redundancy at the end) vs working very long hours and weekends on stressful covid related work, no time to enjoy the lovely weather last summer and burning out in the process, I’d probably take my chances with the former and think that I’d get a new job/retrain if made redundant. When would you ever get that opportunity again? The freedom to spend your time improving your home, your body, your mind. To spend quality time with children and partners. To take up exercise, cooking, hobbies, art. When restrictions allow, to spend lazy summer days at beaches, parks and with friends. Meanwhile, millions of us are either working in public facing jobs during a pandemic or stuck in front of laptops within the same 4 walls working on urgent, stressful matters and barely able to find time to cook dinner for family, homeschool or clean the house.

Perhaps it depends on your job though? If I had a very easy and decently paid job I’d probably rather be working! Don’t know many people with those!

This! I freely confess to all of these feelings - working my arse off and furlough moaners and all their sacrifices.

The most ridiculous moan ever, it is very generous as a policy. I think I was told on here at the start of the pandemic that because I was in public service I didn't contribute because I worked in the public sector. Most of my colleagues are now burnt out and the reward is more work to get the country going.

Yes, I do judge the furlough moaners - only 80 per cent? Good god, you should see the amounts people get elsewhere...

I have felt jealous of people furloughed, but I’ll freely admit that’s my problem not theirs. Of course people should be enjoying themselves if they get the opportunity for park visits and home improvements or whatever, how would it help any of us to have furloughed people sat at home staring glumly at walls?

But I have really struggled to stay patient with some of the people I know who have been really thoughtless about it. Like the “making the most of this slower pace of life!” FB pics of garden sunbathing, or people my family WhatsApp group going “so is everyone staying busy? Anyone got any suggestions for new things to watch? GoldenOmber what about you, any good box set recs?”

They don’t mean to gloat. But to compare: I’ve saved money over lockdown and I would never post on FB to say “making the most of this new lockdown cash!” next to a photo of a new TV, or ask my family if they had any good suggestions for spending those lockdown savings when I knew many were struggling financially in the pandemic.

I haven’t bashed anyone for being on furlough but I have got snappy with a few especially thoughtless friends and family, and I wonder if it’s sounded like furlough-bashing to them.

My SIL has been furloughed for more than a year, she is complaining that she's not ready to go back to work next month!

@GoldenOmber - yes that's it. I wouldn't have a go at anyone on furlough but some people are incredibly tactless. You can't help but judge that attitude, particularly when some of these people are always asking what the government is doing, its useless etc.

I feel (but have never said) like saying "shut up - you are on a paid holiday".

DH was furloughed initially but then went back last summer, since then he has worked around 85% of his normal hours with the rest on furlough and yes he has used that time to decorate/do the garden and we’ve been on nice days out and enjoyed the good weather. I’m not sure what people think he should do with his time? Keeping busy and active helps keep his body and mind in good health and with the threat of redundancy looming with very few jobs around right now that is pretty important,

It’s not the doing the garden/ house / days out that’s a problem, it’s the bragging about it that some have gone in for.

“Oh it’s sooooooo lovely to have time for xyz”

Yes there is little benefit in feeling jealous but it’s really insensitive to tell people who’ve been working throughout - maybe in a difficult, front line job, or maybe combining with home school - what a lovely time you’re having

I admit I was resentful of people who had the option to take furlough in the last lockdown for childcare/home schooling with no worries about job security on return. some of our friends even took part time furlough, so they had a great balance of time to home school, and the routine of part time work around it.

DH and I are public sector so furlough not an option, equally we couldn't get a space at DD school as it was over capacity and they prioritised essential workers who can't wfh. I've struggled to take annual leave due to workload, even had some days leave cancelled by my employer as urgent work has come up.

My friend messaged me all the time in lockdown with photos of her doing wonderful activities with her kids every day whilst on childcare furlough, and I have to admit I felt the rage some days as I'm so so exhausted and broken down by everything. DH and I secretly grumble but would never say anything publicly though.

I feel pretty guilty about having been paid 80% of what I would normally earn to stay at home.

When we have deliveries I just feel awful that people are working so hard.

I was furloughed for 6 weeks, then came back to work and worked really hard and then was let go. I found a new job at better pay, but it’s really stressful and long hours.

I wonder how many people are still on furlough? I would think most have been let go by now, like me.

When is furlough set to end?