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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has furlough finished?

59 replies

SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 12:23

Just that really!
Was anyone on furlough for the entire year? Did you get your normal wage without actually working?
How do you feel about going back?
Do you even have a job to go back to?
AIBU to think that if you have received a wage without working it’s hard to get back into work mentality?
For those of you who have returned, were you desperate to return?

OP posts:
WeWereOnABreak10 · 07/04/2021 12:26

September isn't it? Can't answer anything else as have been working the whole way through.

Original poster
SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 12:28

Is it really? I missed that.
When they extended it to April I thought ‘That’s when things will seem more like normal’
If it’s September then we have a long summer of restrictions ahead of us.

OP posts:
SmidgenofaPigeon · 07/04/2021 12:31

No, we do not necessarily have a ‘long summer of restrictions ahead of us’ at all.

It’s there to protect people in SOME industries that can’t return to full capacity yet, such as entertainment and travel.

I have never been on furlough and have gone into work throughout, but I have friends who work in entertainment that have a long time on furlough.

Original poster
SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 12:32

While you are on furlough you can take on other jobs, as long as you doesn't break the rules of your contract. You can also take part in training, or volunteer for an unconnected organisation.

So you could work and receive two wages? One from the furlough scheme and one from other paid employment?

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 12:33

SmidgenofaPigeon
I was thinking the Entertainment and travel industries too.

OP posts:
Duckduckduck123 · 07/04/2021 12:34

Are you a journalist by any chance?

SmidgenofaPigeon · 07/04/2021 12:36

As I understand it yes. My friend is apparently on furlough from her gardening job as it’s a public place that isn’t open yet. but is still picking up short term contracts for other gardening jobs sporadically. So furlough wage at 80% plus top up from other jobs.

Tommika · 07/04/2021 12:36

On the current plan June 21st is the end to restrictions

Furlough currently exists to September, but that does not mean that everyone on furlough stays on furlough. As they can return to work they come off furlough as individuals

Creamcustards · 07/04/2021 12:36

Your second job while on furlough can’t be the same hours / be afainst contract of the furloughed job.
It’s just like having a second job in the evenings or weekends. Plenty of people do.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 07/04/2021 12:37

A hour I would surely know when the furlough scheme was actually running until i would have thought...

SmidgenofaPigeon · 07/04/2021 12:37

A JOURNO*

Tinydinosaur · 07/04/2021 12:38

It's September, it's not really just about restrictions but alot of companies who technically aren't restricted have suffered. Companies who offer services to other companies who may be restricted, their services are needed less. Some of our customers went bust who weren't restricted but weren't an essential service, people stopped spending. Production's have been massively affected. We waited a year for our roofer because he just couldn't get stock, without stock, there's no work, so you furlough your staff, and if you are a company who offer some of his stock, but he can't get the other stuff, he's not buying your stuff so you don't have work.
It'll take a while for companies to get back in the swing and for money to start moving again and business to pick up.

We furloughed staff, we work for companies, loads closed their doors so we weren't needed and had no work. Now there is work, employees are struggling with getting back into the swing of working, they've forgotten things, they're tired after half a day, they're not happy to be at work.

Its like when you start your first job and you realise how shit being an adult is all over again I think.

Tommika · 07/04/2021 12:39

(When they can go back to work and their employers has work)
Furlough originally being an alternative to making staff redundant

Businesses won’t all be back to pre-Covid level so their may still be people who require it

blobby10 · 07/04/2021 12:39

Small manufacturing company here - 4 staff still on furlough from April last year - 2 factory, 2 office - 1 cleaner, 1 sales ledger clerk. Receive 80% of their salaries and not eager to return to work.

Everyone else on flexi furlough working 3 days a week but furloughed for 2 days @ 80%. to be honest, its saving our company being able to claim the furlough payment. Our main industries are aerospace and cosmetics so we've been hammered and turnover is down around 50%.

Original poster
SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 12:40

@Duckduckduck123

Are you a journalist by any chance?
No. I’m someone who does not know anyone on furlough, has never been on furlough and isn’t up to date with the furlough scheme. I thought it ended in April - so, naively thought everything has to get back to normal pretty soon otherwise people would have no income.
OP posts:
Creamcustards · 07/04/2021 12:41

@Tinydinosaur

“Its like when you start your first job and you realise how shit being an adult is all over again I think.”

Wow, emotional flashback! Totally agree with this!

Original poster
SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 12:44

Thanks Tiny and Dinosaur So with productivity and turnover at an all time low it’s more about keeping the businesses (and their ability to retain staff) afloat. To avoid redundancies?

OP posts:
AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 07/04/2021 12:50

I can understand why posters are doubting your intentions as it seems odd to be asking questions about furlough as you say that you have no knowledge or experience about it.

Your list of questions comes off as pre return to work homework. What are you going to do with random responses?

Tommika · 07/04/2021 12:51

No. I’m someone who does not know anyone on furlough, has never been on furlough and isn’t up to date with the furlough scheme.
I thought it ended in April - so, naively thought everything has to get back to normal pretty soon otherwise people would have no income.

If it had ended in April then people would have had to have breached coronavirus rules & legislation to go to work and get paid.
For example non essential retail can only open next week. Pubs and restaurants with outside areas can partially open next week, but those with only indoors cannot open until June

Employees of those have no work that they can do, so furlough was extended

Tommika · 07/04/2021 12:54

@SpringtimeSummertime

Thanks Tiny and Dinosaur So with productivity and turnover at an all time low it’s more about keeping the businesses (and their ability to retain staff) afloat. To avoid redundancies?
That is the purpose of furlough

Businesses were closed due to their employees being sent home. Without furlough the majority of the UKs workforce would have been made redundant last year, and their employers probably made bankrupt due to not being able to make redundancy payments to all employees

slashlover · 07/04/2021 12:56

I've been on furlough on and off since last March.

March - July
3 weeks in November (Scotland and our area went into tier 4)
December - now.

Go back on the 19th to reopen on the 26th and I can't wait. I'm so excited to get a little more normality back.

Original poster
SpringtimeSummertime · 07/04/2021 13:00

Thanks all! I know I sound thick!

“Its like when you start your first job and you realise how shit being an adult is all over again I think.”

This made me laugh! Probably shouldn’t have but I can imagine the frustration having staff who, like you say Tiny have lost their mojo shall we say!!

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/04/2021 13:07

It’s not a direct correlation between furlough ending and restrictions being lifted.

So places will take staff off furlough as they open up and become fully operational again. I’d expect nearly everyone off it by the end of June, except those who work in the airline industry, as well as industries associated with it (catering etc) and large hospitality events Ie festivals etc, some of those will remain furloughed as it will not be fully back to normal,

Simply because the scheme is available does not mean companies have to shut down and use it. That’s not how it works. It’s about the individual company and their ability to go back to operating fully.

islockdownoveryet · 07/04/2021 13:15

Not everyone has been off all year op .my job has impacted on Covid so furlough March to July . Then full time till the October then flexi furlough till now . Things are picking up now I suspect full time in the next couple of weeks .

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 07/04/2021 13:16

I was furloughed (along with majority of my company) last year, March till Sept. I'd only come back from Mat leave in Feb, I was then furloughed again in November for that month, now back full time and have been since December. For me, I found it really hard. Those first 6 weeks after Mat leave was not enough time to properly get my head around things, then to be off and then back and then off and then back was hard. The rest of my team came back earlier than me in the first lockdown and worked through the Nov lockdown so I was the only one in and out like a yoyo and things happened, moved on while I was off and I was expected to pick it up and run with it when I'm only brought in half way through! Now I've been back consistently for a few months I'm finally feeling like I'm back up to speed.

It's been tough but I am grateful as I have 2 preschool aged kids so no way I could have worked in the first lockdown when childcare closed. Oh and I massively want to work! I love my job and don't want to be a SAHP but it's always going to be tough to get back into a routine after a break.