Furlough grant misuse

[Righteouswarrior]

I believe that my employer is misusing the grant. We were going to get laid off unpaid but then they ema to say they had claimed and are now in receipt of the 80% salary grant from the government to pay wages but they will only be paid to those who go to work. I believe they are using this money this way from the wording of the email 'as the government are now paying your salaries you are to work as usual'. They had full staff in yesterday (apart from myself and others isolating) so not even practicing social distancing either. Should I report to Hmrc?

It would be worth calling someone for advice or reporting to a contact who can get in touch with your employer to discuss the application of this.

It seems against the spirit.

The furlough is available via a portal on the HMRC website, or at least it will be, it has yet to appear.
Not sure what your employer is in receipt of but it isn't furlough.

Ah ok, so maybe they've been told they will be getting it and that is what they plan to use as wages. The email definitely said that as they were in receipt of the it everyone was to return to work and be paid through the grant.

Employers can only claim furlough for employees who are NOT working. You can not undertake any work for your employer if you are receiving the 80% salary grant.

Furlough = laying off a worker temporarily or short term
The 80% wages is for employees who have been put on furlough.
He should not be bringing employees into work and paying them through this scheme
My company has put most of us in furlough as there was no work and has kept a few managers in work on full pay to keep the business ticking over until we get told to shut (which we probably are now) id take this further

Your employer is taking the piss.

The grant is to be used to avoid laying off staff. You keep them employed buy furloughed (ie. not fucking working).

If there is work for them to do the company should be paying the wage. This grant is not to pay the wages of people who are still at work.

Having looked into it. They can't have applied yet as it's not up and running. The company don't seem to understand actually what furlough means and what the money is for. They've sent workforce back to work thinking this money is going to cover wages. Not sure if I can be bothered to put them right as the company don't like being told they're wrong. I'll just wait for the reality to hit when they try to apply.

OP consider speaking with them about it anyway. If they’re inadvertently interpreting it incorrectly and will be denied the government assistance, that might put your colleagues at risk when they’re denied, and by then it might be too late.

Better to give them a heads up now so they have the opportunity to do it right and save jobs.

They can’t claim the 80% wages if the employees are still going in and making money for the company!

I would mention it to them and see what they say, then ring HMRC if no change otherwise your colleagues could end up in a worse situation.

Very true. I hear what your saying. I actually like my colleagues so wouldn't want to see this fall on them in anyway.

I spoke to them, got told basically not my job to worry about that and to mind my own business

Well that’s disheartening, OP.

Maybe now’s the time to grass them out, or at least speak with colleagues so they can at least be informed and prepared for the potential fallout of this mismanagement. Infuriating.

I have serious reservations about this grant now the dust has settled. How is it going to be policed? who is going to know that the business are still operating- are they going to send HMRC door to door, will they check bank records etc? I mean if not then surely every business is going to claim and get a free workforce for 3 months.

This is terrible and utter misuse of tax payers money. My OH has closed his business temporarily and will be claiming the 80% grant as we are worried about the financial situation of most of his staff.
He will be paying the 20% top up for all his staff from business accounts (and not drawing any money for himself) as long as he can until the business reopens. I am so proud of him.

You need to whistle blow your employers as this is really annoying me.