Furlough madness

[Katykitten2]

Surely I'm not the only one who thinks this furlough scheme, whilst deserving of some merit, is far too generous? At 80% there is little to encourage people to return to work since this other 20% is accounted for by the savings in petrol, coffees and other work related daily expenditure.
This has all got to be paid for remember.

[mapsie]

The high earners do not reflect the majority of the millions that are furloughed.

And are high earners less deserving? What about if they have paid higher taxes for years, are they less entitled to help?

Of course some companies/people will take advantage but that's likely to be a very small percentage. Some businesses will survive because of furlough so it has a wider economic benefit.

[wrongsideofhistorymyarse]

I'm still paying over £200 a month for a season ticket I'm not using, and for which I only got a 50% refund.

[chickpeachicky]

It's not sustainable and I worry that it's going to damage this countries financial future and mine (eg they might with-draw the state pension, NHS) over the next two decades, when I will start to need those things.

In my fairly small circle I know of several abuses of the furlough scheme.
I also know of several people who have been furloughed and have started working in a different job while furloughed, so getting an additional wage.
This is allowed, but seems crazy to me that people are able to get another job, these could be permanent jobs, one person I know is going to stay in the new job and just keep the furlough money from the first job until she is asked to go back (hospitality) and then she will resign.
I think it's madness, considering all the years of austerity that the poorest of this country have endured.
I guess Boris is buying Tory votes as people will remember the lovely furlough money and not the mistakes that were made?

[Alex50]

I’m furloughed until August, I was being paid 100% but as of June it will be 80%, I am applying for other jobs to top up my money, not sure I will get anything but also it’s a back up plan in case I get mad redundant from my existing role.

[mapsie]

@chickpeachicky I'm in my 30s & don't expect to see my state pension & have a "free NHS" when Im older. I thought this before covid tbh. We have a shrinking tax paying population.

[FergusSingsTheBlues]

I think its when you see CF companies using it to bolster their coffers ... it’s frustrating.
Will they apply checks? Hopefully so?

[User18492725204065241]

I was off sick for a weekend in March, with suspected CV, which was used to calculate our average hours to work out the 80% so I'm on a lot less than normal, certainly far below 80%. And I was part time on minimum wage so what I'm getting is really really low. I would much rather be back at work and have the opportunity to get extra hours or tips but that's not up to me.

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

I’ve been furloughed on 80%. I am not allowed to get another job, that’s been written into the contact. I was furloughed because our company is dependent on other sectors that have dried up, and the work ran out, which was the right thing to do, rather than pay me to sit at home twiddling my thumbs in front of a computer. If companies have furloughed some staff and passed their heavy workload onto others that are still working then this is a misuse of the furlough scheme by your bosses, and NOT the fault of furloughed colleagues.

Personally I hope to return to the job I love and have enjoyed for over 12 years. If I end up being made redundant I will be heartbroken. Those colleagues who are reluctant to return may have health problems or relatives with health problems that make them vulnerable.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

Sinister I'm in exactly the same situation as you and I'll be devastated if I lose my job at the end of this.

[sansou]

DH can wfh but has accepted a 20% pay decrease going forwards (as has the rest of senior management). No furlough because the company (manufacturing telecoms hardware) has orders it can fulfill at present although at reduced capacity. Lockdown inevitably impacts any profits (ha!) for the year. No bonuses or pay rises were evident as soon as flights dried up and industries shuddered to a crawl/halt. We’ll feel fortunate if the company survives (cash reserves rapidly dwindling) and there are still jobs for half the employees even with permanent pay cuts going forwards. Lots of people on furlough in the private sector will be losing their jobs. There is bloodshed already but there will be worse to come. Batten down the hatches!

[Justanotherscumbag]

I also know of several people who have been furloughed and have started working in a different job while furloughed, so getting an additional wage.
This is allowed, but seems crazy to me that people are able to get another job, these could be permanent jobs, one person I know is going to stay in the new job and just keep the furlough money from the first job until she is asked to go back (hospitality) and then she will resign.

I don't know if I agree with getting another job on furlough or not. For some people 80% just isn't enough, so they need the extra income. But on the other side I think it's wrong to be taking 80% while earning another ft wage somewhere else. On balance I think I'd prefer it the way it is, so that people who are struggling can do something about it rather than just struggle and get into debt.


I guess Boris is buying Tory votes as people will remember the lovely furlough money and not the mistakes that were made?

I don't think that's the case. I will always be grateful for the furlough scheme, but 'the lovely furlough money' as you put it won't be what I chiefly remember. I'll be remembering how worried I was about my job, how I wasn't able to plan for any way out, how I struggled financially, and how some people came together and supported those in their community while others thoroughly enjoyed kicking people like me while we're down. I'll remember being slated for sitting in the sun because I'm 'enjoying' furlough too much, how I need to be encouraged back to work when actually, I don't. How I have family in hospitals and schools facing it every day and worrying about them. How I've been defined by society for being furloughed when I had absolutely no say in it whatsoever. How I'll also be paying higher taxes to repair the defecit That's what I'll remember.

[ArriettyJones]

@Katykitten2 If you don’t understand what the furlough scheme is for, how it operates and who it gives choices to, why (FGS) are you even posting?

[Notverybright]

I'm furloughed. 80% of my wage takes it to under minimum wage. Would you prefer to see people like me starve?
Ditto.

Anyone who has a problem with it can bugger off.

[Weallhavevalidopinions]

I am working much harder than before however I fully understand that some are furloughed to protect jobs long term and cannot physically do their jobs at present - pubs/hairdressers/hospitality etc and have no choice but be furloughed since there is no job to go back to at present.

Someone mentioned too scared to go back to work.... if they have a job and someone else is picking up their work and they are only off since worried then yes seems unfair (unless they are in the shielding group).... but surely most people who are fuloughed cannot go back so not their choice anyway.

Some will be saving money since no work related expenses, my oldest son is furloughed and has saved lots but that is because he used to eat out lots - it has taught him a valuable lesson on how much he 'wastes' .... others fuloughed will be worse off and need that % drop in income (or more if previously earning over the maximum)...

[HoneyWheeler]

Also the idea of furloughing people was that they WANT people to be at home. I don't get why people are cross about this? If the furlough scheme didn't pay enough people would go back to work, putting themselves and others at risk.

[ILikeyourHairyHands]

I would feel very vulnerable if I was furloughed, I'm pretty sure it's not a paid-for jolly and as PPs have mentioned it's capped at 2,500, which, if you've got a hefty mortgage or rent and other outgoings may not cover it. Our outgoings are 6k a month, if we were furloughed we'd be fucked, sitting in the garden with bugger-all to do wouldn't compensate for imminent financial disaster.

[mapsie]

Wow that's high @ILikeyourHairyHands

[NiteFlights]

I'm in my 30s & don't expect to see my state pension & have a "free NHS" when Im older. I thought this before covid tbh. We have a shrinking tax paying population.

Ditto, except I’m in my 40s.

So in your view, chickpeachicky, it’s okay for taxpayers’ money to be spent on things you’ll need in the next two decades but not to prop up the economy now? What do you think would happen to the NHS and state pension that would be better if there was an economic apocalypse, hundreds of thousands suddenly unemployed, and thousands returning to unsafe working conditions?

[mollypuss1]

I remember your last thread on furlough @Katykitten2 where you were calling everyone on furlough scroungers living off your DH’s taxes.

You never did answer the question of whether you actually work and pay taxes however?

[mapsie]

it's weird how those links are never made @NiteFlights

[sociallydistained]

I'm going back to work on June 1st and I was given a choice... I am going back! I want to go and I'd like the 20% it's a lot of money to lose.

[KaronAVyrus]

We’ve had a 70% drop in household income. I’ve been furloughed and DH’s business was ordered not to open by BoJo. Yeah, we’re having a fucking ball. Yes, we’ve been sunbathing - it’s free!

I’d go back to work today if asked as WE NEED THE MONEY.

[Sparklingbrook]

@mollypuss1 do I need to AS?

[ILikeyourHairyHands]

We have savings/investments Masie, but I'd be feeling very uncomfortable if we were in an industry that's looking tenuous atm. We're actually ok and are taking on more work but all industries are interconnected so we're not bomb proof.

[Forgone90]

I am furloughed and better off for it... I would I want to stay on it any longer???? Hell no, I get me back to work please.. I however I work at an airport so no chance of that happening for a while I think :(