Advice needed PLEASE. DH's company have shut down - but are refusing to pay the 80% of his wages!

[pleasepleasepleasehelp]

Going into a huge panic right now. DH's company have shut his local branch down today (because of coronavirus,) but have told the staff that they have GOT to go to another branch that's staying open, 20 miles away, with poor public transport, and where the branch already has a full compliment of staff.

19 staff work at DH's branch, and 15 of them don't - and can't drive. They all do odd shifts, (24/7,) and the buses stop at 7pm. So every single one of them is saying they are not going or they simply don't want to go.

None of the staff at the other branch want any of DH's branch there as they need and want their own shifts. DH and the staff at his branch would literally be just sitting there doing naff-all.

There is also the risk of him infecting people (or them infecting him.) Everyone has been told to stay in, and have no unnecessary journeys, and not mix with ANYONE, yet they are expecting DH to go to this other branch 20 miles away, and mix with potentially 100s of other people, when he could spend the 3 weeks just with me.

I am so worried about finances too, as they are saying they won't pay him, and may even risk him facing disciplinary action. The GOVERNMENT have demanded that we all STAY HOME, by LAW, and yet DH's company are demanding that DH goes to another branch, mixing with 100s of people.

Surely if his branch is shutting down, they HAVE to pay him the 80%?!

Yes he has a car, but he is not a key worker, so why should he have to go? And his branch has shut down, and his other branch have a full compliment of staff. So why on earth are they trying to send him to a branch 20 miles away? Also most people cannot go as they can't get there. Also, the branch just down the road from him are being told they get to stay at home with 80% wages.

What some people are not yet understanding is that this retention scheme does not yet exist! It is being worked on urgently but it will be weeks probably much longer before employers see any of the 80%. In the meantime they can only pay if they have the cash or can get one of the loans.

@NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite

It does exist! Employers need to apply straight away. If a company has cashflow problems then they may qualify for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan.

Thank you.

Thanks to the ones who have given helpful advice. It's very welcome amongst the 'you're just looking for a 3 weeks skive' posts. er no we are not.

Yes, I thought so. Your wording gave it away right from your OP. Your transport arguments about times, congestion and unavailability really don't hold water if he can drive!

but he is not a key worker, so why should he have to go?

Because that's the job.

Why are people jumping on the OP accusing him of skiving?

You realise the man in question isn’t being asked to do his usual role, he’s being asked to go and expose himself to a crowded workplace with lots of public contact that is already adequately staffed. Ultimately limiting contacts is what will help the health service and the cases that could result from that set up would hardly be helpful would they?

It sounds like the company could keep his usual branch open if they were that bothered. If he was being asked to work there because of staffing levels due to sickness my opinion would be different but its not.

OP the scheme does exists but absolutely no employer has been given the grant yet. As a pp said it likely won’t be paid to employers till June time. And employers have absolutely no obligation to apply for it.

Thanks @Cornettoninja for your help, and also to the others who have helped. He is going to self isolate for a few weeks and see how it goes.

I am also pissed off with people just accusing him of skiving. Thanks for nothing.

So your husband is not in an at risk group
He has transport and can get to work
His job cannot be done from home
His employer has a workplace that is still open, and wishes your DH to go there to work (presumably they are lots of staff down due to SI and illness and want people to cover).

Yes, he needs to go to work. It is entirely legal for him to do so.
No, he cannot opt to stay home and collect 80% whilst his employer still has work available for him to do.

If he does not wish to go to work, he could ask his employer to take annual leave or unpaid leave, which his employer may or may not agree to.

If you think he poses a risk to you because of your asthma, then you need to self isolate from him in your own home. There is plenty of guidance on how to do this. It will not be pleasant, but it is perfectly possible if you feel the risk is that high.

This is the current situation. Things may well change if the situation worsens and lockdown is tightened up, or if your DH's no longer has work available for him.

So he works for a hotel? The hotel is still open? In what world is a hotel an essential service?! They need to close as far as I can see! I thought all those kinds of places were shut, they were in Italy at least three weeks ago, a country where tourism is absolutely key to the economy. Who the fuck is enforcing this stuff?
Apart from this, you need to read your husband's contract and what is named as his place of work and any small print on that. I don't think they can just shift you somewhere else without a contractual change unless the contract stipulates this is a possibility. If it is in his contract, and he has a car, he is only like everyone else who has to go to work. Work have an obligation to safeguard their employees though, through distancing measures.

Also @Cornettoninja the employer have actually shut the branch quite close to him, and are paying them the 80%. So why they can't do it for DH (and all his colleagues.) I have no idea. They are being expected to go to this other branch, where they already have a full compliment of staff!

He is going to self isolate for a few weeks and see how it goes.

Why? Does he (or you) have symptoms? If not there is no need to self isolate (which includes SI from each other, and not leaving the house AT ALL even for shopping / exercise etc).

Social distancing is required by everyone, but you can still go to work when SD.

As unfair as the situation is, I think the only options here are for your DH to work at the other site as requested or for him to ask to take leave.

Maybe the company are also planning ahead. You say the other branch is always fully staffed but over the coming weeks it won't be as people fall ill and isolate more. Maybe the company is trying to ensure they are able to cover their service? Perhaps they need to put plans in place to help people get to the new branch?
I hope all works out for you x

In what world is a hotel an essential service?! They need to close as far as I can see!

What? NHS employees are having to isolate themselves from their families in hotels, many homeless are being housed in hotels. Of course it's an essential service.

We get it, OP, you don't want him to go to work but still bring in the wage. It's not going to happen.

Thanks @Pluckedpencil for your kind post.

I am hiding the thread now, as people are starting to be rather rude and demeaning. Giving practical advice is one thing, but saying my DH is just a lazy shirker, who is trying to skive for 3 weeks, and there is fuckall reason for him to stay home, even though I said i have asthma, is just rude. People are being purposely obtuse now. So I'm off.

Thanks to those that provided help.

What job do you do, OP? Also, what job does your DH do? I don't think you've said. Reading through your posts again, you do sound like you're just looking for ways for your DH to not work but still be paid.

NHS workers are having to isolate themselves from their own family. A doctor has to live apart for his 3-year-old son who is having chemo to keep him safe and still do his job. But some people are more special than this and need to self-isolate even with no symptoms. And it's so rude and demeaning to point this out.

Maybe the company are also planning ahead. You say the other branch is always fully staffed but over the coming weeks it won't be as people fall ill and isolate more

But that doesn’t make sense. Surely working together makes it more likely they’ll end up ill at the same time?

I agree with everything @mrsm43s said

Aee people really suggesting faking symptoms in order to get SSP?? 😡

You can't argue that he is not shirking on the one hand and then say on the other that he is going to self-isolate (presumably with no valid reason to do so) in order to get out of having to go to the other branch to work.

Why can’t he just drive there? Ffs talk about taking advantage.

even though I said i have asthma,

If you think he poses a risk to you, you need to Self Isolate from him.

He still needs to go to work. Your asthma is not a reason for him not to work. If he really wants to stay home he should ask to take annual leave or unpaid leave, and see if his boss agrees.

I think this 80% wage grant, with all good intentions is going to end up biting a few people back in the arse and the government really need to issue some clarity. A friend of mine has gone into self isolation as she thinks she's going to get 80% of her wages- I tried to explain this isn't the case and all she'll be eligible for is SSP. She's having none of it.

@fivesecondrule I agree. People seem to thing they have the right to choose not to go to work and get 80% pay, even when their work wants them in and has work available for them.

Obviously we'd all love to stay at home, not working, on 80% - doctors and nurses included, I'm sure!

You've really misunderstood the 'key worker' thing OP, sorry. It seems many have. All work is exempt from staying at home. No one is supposed to stop working unless they've literally had to close down. Or unless they are ill.

I am not a doctor, but I can clearly see you are showing symptoms of CV and as such your partner needs to self isolate at home for 14 days. I predict that after 14 days your partner will also start to show symptons and will need to stay at home for a further 7 days. That will at least get you SSP. Something to think about if all else fails and at least buys you some safe time.