To think people who worked while claiming furlough should pay back the furlough money?

[Floogal]

A few days ago the 'cannon fodder' actually resonated with me. I've been working in retail for past few years as well as doing temp work in Hospital bank.
Like many others I had to work through the pandemic and did not benefit from furlough. I accept that as it was an emergency fund. What I resent is people getting 2 incomes by working. Also (yes I am bitter about it) my hours got cut to make way for furlough workers at the shop. As for the Hospital bank, furloughed workers were taking up the slots. Though, I believe nepotism is a big part with the Hospital. If someone on JSA was caught working cash in hand they would have to pay back everything. Students have to repay the student loans. So I think double dippers have to pay back some, if not all of the money.
Also fact that lots of people can afford to go on holiday or buy dogs raises eyebrows.

It's illegal to do any work for the job that's furloughed you. Are you saying furloughed employees came in and worked? And got paid for both? That's not right, and it's against the law.

Or are your
saying people furloughed from one job came in to a different company and did a different job? That's not illegal.

But people didn't claim furlough. Their companies claimed it and arranged so they could continue paying them. It wasn't a decision individuals made for themselves. Unless you mean SEISS, the self-employed grant, where you were allowed to keep working anyway.

As for the hospital bank, wasn't there a massive call for people who had left the profession to come back to the NHS to help out? Maybe that's what they were doing?

They haven't done anything wrong. Some people couldn't survive on 80% of their wages. What were they supposed to do? Not pay bills or eat?

Also fact that lots of people can afford to go on holiday or buy dogs raises eyebrows.

Well I can afford to go on holiday because I didn’t have to pay nursery fees for 3 children for 6 months when they were shut. Take out childcare, commuting costs, no meals out etc etc and I suspect lots of people are the same.

I thought this was odd. I know someone that collected furlough as a restaurant manager while working full time as a courier until the restaurant opened back up. I know it's not illegal but it seems unfair.

Are you thinking of people who were furloughed by one company then did casual work elsewhere? If that was legal at the time (and I think it was) you can't really claim the money back off them. I can see why you would feel aggrieved by it though.

I was Furloughed all last year (and still would be if I hadn't changed jobs) and worked all the way through in a supermarket (Different company, different industry, ect)...

The way I saw it was..yes I was able to save basically a house deposit as I was able to work but I wanted to work...It wasn't my fault that Boris shut my former industry down and made it illegal for me to work..

Why should I sit at home bored out of my brain when I could be out earning money. My former company approved anyone who wanted to work during Furlough (not for them obviously) and didn't put any restrictions on us.

Also the store I worked at (and I think company wide) suspended online applications so you could literally walk in with a CV and start that day. I didn't take a job away from anyone, they hired thousands of us.

All the people I knew that were furloughed had their pay made up to 100%, I don't know any that took 2nd jobs but maybe they didn't need to if they got full pay for staying home

Also fact that lots of people can afford to go on holiday or buy dogs raises eyebrows.

Why does it matter? Perhaps their partners have decent wages that can cover luxuries? It's none of your business what people spend their money on. Many people have had a rubbish 18 months, I don't resent them at all for taking a holiday or buying a pet. And yes I've worked throughout the pandemic too (albeit from home). Many people on furlough have really struggled with job insecurity or have eventually been made redundant

Yes it’s totally unfair when other people are sent through the court for working whilst being supported by the state. But then if I was furloughed I’d worry about the long term stability of my job especially in non essential retail or hospitality

People who had furlough can't win, either labelled as lazy for staying home (which wasn't their choice), or grabby for working alongside taking money they were entitled to. Fair enough imo, my friend was furloughed from her job in aviation and took on an NHS job- why should she lose that pay?

Those were the rules. It's the people who were receiving furlough money but working for their actual job you should have a problem with. I know multiple people whose companies claimed they were furloughed but they weren't.

I've gone past the point of caring anymore OP.

Frontline workers got absolutely shit on in this pandemic, but never mind. It is what it is. 🤷🏻‍♀️ No point crying over spilt milk.

It's not as bad as those grants for £50k that people were claiming and all the fraud that went on there

Taking on other work unrelated to the job you were furloughed from was not illegal or against any rules. How on earth can a government retrospectively change that law? Don't be ridiculous. That's like saying people who didn't wear seat belts before they were legally obliged to should be fined!

Yabu, attempting to retrospectively change the rules is fuckwitted and would result in a tidal wave of court cases.

What I resent is people getting 2 incomes by working so many people got stick for not working and "having a holiday" whilst being on furlough though.

It was an emergency, the government had to put in measures quickly so they were never going to be perfect.

@PwySyddYma

I've gone past the point of caring anymore OP.

Frontline workers got absolutely shit on in this pandemic, but never mind. It is what it is. 🤷🏻‍♀️ No point crying over spilt milk.

Around here lots the jobs people on furlough took where in healthcare settings, nursing homes and supermarkets. Do you think many secured nice, cushy, wfh jobs?

Your thinking on this is very odd.

People were not furloughed by choice it was imposed on them. If they wanted to also find work elsewhere to top up their income which was reduced overnight by 20% or more then why shouldn't they.

And as a PP has said why would they sit about doing nothing for months if they want to work and there are jobs available.

If your employers were not allocating you enough shifts or hours, then you need to take that up with your employer, not blame the other employees who are just trying to earn and living and give themselves some purpose like everyone else.

Didn't most furloughed workers who took on temporary jobs actually take on key worker roles? They were crying out for people to work in supermarkets, as delivery drivers and there was a massive campaign for ex NHS staff to come back. They could have sat at home on their 80% but instead were putting themselves at risk of covid, often for lower pay than they'd get in their actual role. It would be deeply unfair if they were made to pay back their actual main income because they took on a part time, minimum wage, key worker role as they'd be massively out of pocket.

Remember furlough was capped at £2500 per month or something, people who earn much more may well need more than £2500 to cover mortgages, car loan, plus money to actually live on.

Why shouldn't they take a another job to help cover bills?,

Not everyone received 80% of their salary. I was exceptionally lucky that I have worked right through (from home). Had I been furloughed, I would have lost 43% of my salary. As a single parent, you are damn right I would have done my best to get a temp job - retail, cleaning, courier etc. I have no issue with anyone doing this - you don’t know their financial situation.