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.

Most of my company were furloughed.

I was not. Senior management stayed on to sort covid procedures and trying and keep it open.

I really don't get the resentment aimed people who were furloughed. Yes occasionally I wished I was relaxing on 80% pay. Jealous they got to enjoy the sun while I worked 12 hour days.

But it's not their fault. They did choose it. Didn't want it most of the time. Did the best they could. There's shouldn't be any shit thrown their way.

I wasn’t furloughed but had a 20% pay cut in line with those who were - will I get that back then?

People were not furloughed by choice it was imposed on them

For some, yes, but certainly not all - unless you've forgotten many on here who wanted to know how they could get furlough for childcare

Then there's our local authority, who furloughed hundreds and went right on claiming the money (on top of the jobs already being fully funded) and kept them in role

And before anyone says that's not allowed in the public sector, the blurb actually said they "weren't expected to use it" except under exceptional circumstances ... so of course they were all deemed exceptional

I guess we know how widespread it was just by looking at how many people ticked that YABU. It’s just theft to take money while on furlough if you ask me.

As others have said, people didn't choose to be furloughed.

Some people it worked well for, many others not.

Why on earth would someone not do some work if available to a. top up their furlough pay and b. have something to do other than worrying about whether they were going to be made redundant?

Nearly everyone I know who was furloughed was eventually made redundant, so it was hardly a cushy ride.

I have no issues with the individuals who were furloughed. They didn’t choose it. You do what you need to do to for your family.

I do have an issue with companies like my previous employer who furloughed a huge amount of staff, worked the remaining staff into the ground trying to cover missing employees’ workloads (whilst grappling with a sudden transition to home working) and have declared profits surpassing pre-Covid levels.

THEY should pay back the furlough money.

@BananaMilkshakeWithCream

I guess we know how widespread it was just by looking at how many people ticked that YABU. It’s just theft to take money while on furlough if you ask me.

Eh? Who were people thieving off?

The firms who paid them wages for doing a job?

Wouldn't be directing my ire at individuals on Furlough. That is small fry in comparison to some of the 'grants' that companies received.

@LidlMiddleLover

Furlough was a total skive 80% pay for being on holiday So actually the difference was 20% so me and loads of others working their asses off for 20% above the furlough people Id gave happily swapped with you

It wasn't a total skive though was it? Im sure the uncertainty of having their job to go back to was really like being on holiday. Weird take

People who were furloughed, created for you to feel superior OP, for forever

@BananaMilkshakeWithCream

I guess we know how widespread it was just by looking at how many people ticked that YABU. It’s just theft to take money while on furlough if you ask me.

This has made my night. 100% trolling or fishing for bites, hope you got what you came for.

Given that working for one employer while on furlough with a different employer was not against the law or the rules I don't see how people can be made to repay it

Hi there, remember that second job you took completely legally while also completely legally furloughed from a different employer? Yeah, well, we've changed our minds. It wasn't really fair so you're going to need to give the furlough money back now.

This is ridiculous. There were a ton of people (freelancers and directors of small companies) whose furlough pay did not in any sense represent the previous income they had been used to and based their lives around. DH who is comfortably in the higher rate tax bracket in normal times got approx £700 a month furlough pay. That is not even enough to fill up a personal tax allowance never mind pay a mortgage and bills. We were fortunate that I also work. But if he hadn't gone out and got a job with that drop in income, it would have been a serious problem. He went and worked for a courier company and we were very glad of the money, despite his weekly pay being roughly what he'd have earned in a day pre-covid.

A lot of what I think has been said, but I just want to add something about furloughed hospitality/customer service workers.

I know a lot of people who were paid "80%" of their wage but actually weren't because they were on 0 hour contracts - say they worked full time hours over the summer, but struggled over the winter - their "average hours" were low meaning they were getting paid a lot less than what 80% would be if they were at work during that time of year.

Everyone's situations are different. Perhaps their partner was made redundant and they massively struggled with bills so needed the extra money. You just don't know. It was perfectly legal. In a time where so many people were struggling financially, I just can't agree with your POV.

I was contractually not allowed to take a second job whilst furloughed; i would have done if I could have - it would have saved my mental health potentially.

My furlough was ended the day I was made redundant, though the company are still claiming furlough money for me being employed there.

I didn't chose to be furloughed, it was the last thing I wanted.

It isn’t right but rules can’t be changed after the fact. It would have made more sense to allow work to top up the 20% loss, with earnings above that being repayable. People also don’t generally choose to be unemployed but people claiming unemployment benefits are subject to similar restrictions.

I was furloughed and 80% was capped so didn't reach my salary. I was flexi furloughed for 7 months only working 2 or 3 days a week with a drop of a hats notice and then got made redundant anyway as the company collapsed! If I could have taken another job I would have, given I then spent 5 months unemployed and now only have a temp contract. It's not been a walk in the park for anyone who was furloughed, especially all those who have ended up being made redundant.

@Fauvist

This is ridiculous. There were a ton of people (freelancers and directors of small companies) whose furlough pay did not in any sense represent the previous income they had been used to and based their lives around. DH who is comfortably in the higher rate tax bracket in normal times got approx £700 a month furlough pay. That is not even enough to fill up a personal tax allowance never mind pay a mortgage and bills. We were fortunate that I also work. But if he hadn't gone out and got a job with that drop in income, it would have been a serious problem. He went and worked for a courier company and we were very glad of the money, despite his weekly pay being roughly what he'd have earned in a day pre-covid.

I thought furlough was 80% up to £2500, how come he only received £700?

I'd hazard a guess, from the mention of director, that he only took a small amount as income, usually around the NI threshold, and the rest as dividends.

@HandlebarLadyTash

Yep, you shouldn't get taxpayer funded furlow money & second job money. I would think that because I worked throughout & didnt get a chance to do it. Thee isnt a magic money tree all this money will be have to be paid back.

So true All the people i know on furlough had a ball catching up with all their diy and hobbies spending time with their kids definitely a skive on almost full pay when you factor in no commuting

@Eeiliethya I agree with @ButteringMyArse - can’t claim furlough on dividend payments only income therefore those who do this to avoid paying the same levels of tax and NI as people who are employed could only claim on their declared earnings. Struggle to sympathise with them to be honest - you can’t have it all ways.

Fair play to those who rolled their sleeves up and took on jobs they wouldn't normally be doing. Earning an extra wage in key worker roles that we were crying out for. Rather than accepting a 20% reduction in salary and a fear of unemployment.

Making their own opportunities

Well some were probably sensible to find a Plan B.

What's done is done now. I do think the company grants were ridiculous though. I know several people who have done very well out of them. I always thought it should have been an interest free loan, that would only become repayable if profits were over a certain threshold over so many years.

We, as a very small business of less than 10 people, furloughed people because we didn't want to lose them or their skills but they, on their own initiative, have worked doing all sorts. One, aged 63, has spent the time doing emergency blood deliveries. Working anytime that was needed.

DH was furloughed but was contractually not allowed to get another job. So he had no choice but to stay at home, bored out of his brain, wanting to work. If he went to work elsewhere, he would have had to resign from his job, which given the uncertainty at the time was not going to happen.

All those who got different jobs while furloughed, did you get taxed for that job as a second job, as you'd be getting taxed already on your furlough pay?