Anyone else that’s been furloughed - how do you feel?

[Sunbo]

I was furloughed at the beginning of this week. My company is still running as about two thirds are WFH and the remaining third have been furloughed.

I am part time so just received an email from HR on my day off to inform me.

I get on well with my boss but have not heard anything from her (she is still working) ie a text or anything. I had access to my work emails on my mobile but they have since blocked this and changed my password, so now I feel completely out of the loop with company news etc. Almost makes me feel like I have done something wrong!

I am feeling quite down about it because I feel like they have furloughed the workers that they see as less important / more dispensable, in which case if things don’t improve in a few months then I think it’s likely the furloughed staff are the ones that would then be made redundant.

Just wondering how other furloughed workers feel when it’s not the whole company and just some workers that have been furloughed?

I know I am probably taking it too personally but just feeling very disheartened about it all.

@Wonderingwhyme there is no guidance available yet for zero contract workers but they might do an average of your last few months - that is just a guess.
The latest estimate is that employers should receive the grant by mid April.

@Justkeeprollingalong I don’t understand why they aren’t mentioning zero workers! There must be loads! So this ‘grant’, would my employer or myself have to pay this back at some point?

My firm has been trying to carry on with us working from home, but the work has run out now - everyone has cancelled their orders. So we’ve all been furloughed as from today.

It is what is. I’m grateful they haven’t just laid me off.

A grant doesn’t have to be paid back - only loans have to be paid back.

Furloughed along with the whole company except the directors. I probably could have done good work from home too, but I guess most of my colleagues can't. No closure of email accounts etc for us.

I think (and hope!) people on zero-hours contracts get paid based on their typical working hours.

Your employer threatening to claw the money back seems extremely dodgy.

@Noworrieshere

Company has around 150 people. I have accepted their proposal to furlough me and this included agreeing to pay it back if they couldn’t claim it from the government, the new clauses have effectively been added to my employment contract. I felt under pressure to accept, otherwise I think they would have just made me redundant...

Did anyone else open this thread because they had no idea what 'furloughed' meant?!

I have no advice to give but I'm sorry you are going through this, I'm not surprised you feel a bit down

Yep, today. I’m fed up and worried because it’s only really me and one over part time worker and those on maternity leave who have been furloughed. I feel like if redundancies happen I am in line. Meanwhile I am still on the work WhatsApp group and everyone else is having a jolly old time on there and I don’t feel I can comment on there anymore.

I have been furloughed. I'm pleased about it as I didn't want to be in the office anyway. We are receiving 100% pay.

I don't feel like a less important worker, I honestly think the less important workers (assistants etc) will be laid off completely over the coming weeks

My daughter (currently working at home) has had an email today saying that her employer is considering whether they will need to put some staff on furlough and if so how they will select which ones.

She doesn't think she will be affected but in any event is not unduly worried, because she isn't currently having to pay for commuting, buying lunch at work, socialising, or even buying normal food (she came back from her London flat a couple of weeks ago so we are feeding her).

DH has been. The firm has been remarkably fair, and he's OK about it all.

My whole department will be on furlough as of 1st April....
And we have all been send home on Tuesday, to comply with the "say at home" message. I think they will pay us in full for March. We are classed as non essential, in a health care/ research charity supporting fundraising... I hope the government will support charities like ours beyond the 3 months. We are able to supply health care staff and much needed beds along with research proffesionals.
I still have company laptop and full access from home - we can do some voluntary work - which I will gladly do.

I've been furloughed and was on a zero hours contract. Looks like the pub chain I work for are going ahead and will claim the grant, we had to submit 12 weeks of payslips so they can work out an average. I really hope they will start paying us before the grant is active/paying out though, as there has been little indication when that will be, I've been off for two weeks already and after my holiday pay tomorrow I will not have any income.

@User18492725204065241 where did your employer find information that zero hour workers can be furloughed as everyone i speak to has no idea and say no guidance yet given? As of being paid this Friday for 3 weeks work I will then not have any income and for no idea how long for so I feel your pain.

I'm furloughed as from this week. 4 employees still working, 8 furloughed. As you say it seems to be the more important ones, mess dispensable ones that are still working. Some of us are on 36 hour week contracts and some are on 0 hour contracts. I got an email to say the furlough is only until end May after this period I'm certain jobs will be lost

Yes I have it is 'initially for 3 months.' Whether the government extends this remains to be the seen. If not, I see a lot of lay offs.

I see this virus lasting for over 3 months... Some have predicted even a year

DP was today. I am scared for the future.

At the business I run we are furloughing everyone bar the office manager. It isn’t personal, it’s just that she can do more functions than the other office staff who mainly answer phones and deal with orders (and we aren’t getting enough orders to need them). The office manager is needed as she can do the work of the others as we are so quiet as well as her job, we need her as she does other functions like chasing money we’re owed etc.

In an ideal world we would furlough as many as possible because it’s what will mean there are jobs for people when this is over.

Yes I along with the rest of my colleagues were furloughed on Wednesday our wages have been ridiculously low though this past couple of month so although we will get something it won't cover most things , because of where we work we have also been told to be ready to go back at any time

We'll be deciding who to furlough tomorrow. I suspect it will be around 70% of our staff. We're in hospitality and I'm very worried that in the longer term the company will not survive. I expect to be furloughed myself in a couple of weeks, especially as I expect this lockdown not to end in mid-April. It's all so shit.

Does anyone know how long you can be furloughed for? Does the government decide or for example say my boss keeps business shut for 2 more weeks but says now we will open and I will have work again, will I be allowed to go back to being employed and off furlough?

Quickly read through the info last night. For those with variable pay they will either go on the figures you earn for the equivalent month last year OR take an average.

Thanks, iv just seen it’s minimum 3 weeks....

In my letter from my employer told it will be up to 3 months and then reviewed. I really hope it's not so long I'm climbing the walls already .

I'm feeling stressed.
I and all of my colleagues have been furloughed, but the owners of the company have asked us to 'keep things ticking along' and keep working.
The boss has phoned me multiple times each day to check I'm reading and acting on my emails.

I'm fully aware that this is totally against the 'rules' of the furlough scheme, but what can I do? I need the money.
I'm also looking after children at the same time.
I'm so angry at my company, they are taking the piss in every direction.