Returning to work - pay question.

[rooty123]

Currently furloughed with employer topping up 20%. Have been asked to return which I'm fine with, apart from the fact I have kids so need to continue homeschooling.

DH WFH so I've said I can go back doing half the hours I was before which I think will ok (was PT before all this).

My question is, is my pay going to now reduce by 50% because I've chosen to go back?! Or will the govt top up the difference between contracted and new hours (up to 80% obvs)?

I don't think the government will top up your hours, no, because you won't be furloughed any longer.

No the govt won't top up, as you won't be furloughed any more. And even if you were furloughed, you can't do any work for the company during the furlough period as far as I'm aware.

So you would reduce your hours and be paid for those hours worked by your company. So yes you would be on less pay, I wonder whether you'd need a new contract too ?

Do you have to reduce your hours? If DH wfh and you were part time anyway, can't you manage to juggle the children between you by staying on your original hours?

How old are the children?

Yes your pay will reduce, no the government won’t top it up because you’re no longer furloughed, you’re working

You may need a letter officially varying your contract, one of our staff has dropped to 50% for the period for similar reasons and is being paid 50% for 50% working hours. We sent him a letter varying his contract (I’m HR)

You will no longer receive any government support because being furloughed means you can't do any work for your company.

If taking a 50% pay cut is going to cause you financial problems and the children are old enough, then I'd forget homeschooling and do your usual hours.

Hang on - I'm sure there was something this week about being able to work pt and the govt will still pay the furlough money.

How old are the DC? If DH is WFH and you're part time anyway can you just go back to your part time hours?

Usually in this situation, if the shoe is on the other foot, the man just goes back and the Mother has to like or lump WFH and managing the DC, but I might be over generalising as obviously don't know your situation!

Oh and are they happy for you to work half of already part-time hours? If they’re asking back it’s likely because you’re needed? If you can’t because of childcare better to say that

You would be changing your employment contract and therefore you pay would reflect that. I would be careful doing this as if you are subsequently made redundant any payment would be made on the basis of your new contractural pay. It will also affect any pension contributions etc.

That's from August @wowfudge

Ah - okay

I do need to reduce hours. Was working 22 hours before across 4 days. DH works long hours, on calls most of the day so can ensure they are safe in the event of the house burning down but not much more! They are 7 & 11, fight a lot, more when they're bored, need me physically present to supervise school work due etc so being out most of the week during 'school hours' is less than ideal.

It will leave me earning about £400 pm, my DH is main earner.

I think the govt is sending out a lot of mixed messages tbh. Furlough until Oct, go back to work if you can. Well I want to go back, I feel bad being furloughed, but where's the incentive. Surely its better they pay 30% of my salary than 80%?!

If you choose to work less hours then yes, your pay will be reduced to reflect the hours you are working. I don't understand why you think they wouldn't?!

inst is that you Op but you've name changed?

The children are 11 and 7 so as I said above, I would protect your income over being home to oversee homeschooling.

Your dh will just have to help out in the evenings to oversee schooling.

yes it's me,my phone and laptop have different logins I now realise.. I wonder why the govt are waiting until August to bring in the PT top up. Surely it's better that people are reducing the amount of furlough that needs to be paid?

The other point is that my employer can't safely have everyone back at their normal hours as we wouldn't be 2m apart, so reducing hours suits them too for now.

I was under the impression the government was only topping up your wages if you had to go back on less hours if your work could not bring you in your contracted hours due to lack of business

I think I was furloughed for multiple reasons - business slowed right down, kids not at school, not safe to have everyone in work at same time, not an essential business.

Business has now picked up which is great, but the other factors remain. Surely there must be loads of other people like me in the same situation, where returning to work on less hours is possible now, rather than waiting until August.

I'd have thought your employer would rotate staff on three week furloughs/employment until such a time they can take you all back.

The furlough scheme is remaining the same until of July then from August onwards your employer will have to pay a % of your wages so you still receive a minimum of 80%
I can’t imagine any employer paying wages for someone who is not working the equivalent of the 80%
It’s a very difficult situation to be in