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Original poster

Friend said DH is abusing furlough

662 replies

amy198820 · 28/12/2020 17:09

DH been on furlough from 2 jobs since March (one full time job and one part time job he does one evening a week). He has been back to work on and off since the summer and is now on the flexi furlough scheme and both jobs have topped his pay to 100%. Since the tier 4 announcement he has been put back on furlough completely.

As tier 4 is looking like it will continue through Jan/Feb, and so unlikely he will be going back anytime soon DH had applied for another job to keep him busy rather than sit at home. DH found out before Christmas he has got the job and he has made this new employer aware that this job will just be a fill in whilst he is on furlough and the employer has accepted this and are happy to take him on. (its a friend of a friend type thing)

Spoke with my friend and earlier and told her about DH's new temporary position explaining that its better than him sitting at home all day /gives him something to do until all this passes etc. My friend took umbrage with this and said that we are abusing the system and that this isnt what the scheme was designed for. I didn't really know what to say and so said sorry she was offended and would speak to her later on.

For background before anyone says anything, I was not being insensitive, my friend has not suffered financially due to COVID as she has been working from home continuously throughout.

I want to call my friend back soon as to not let the bad feeling grow. How would you suggest I approach this? I do not think we are doing anything wrong, just trying to get through this pandemic and doing the best for our family as would anyone else.

OP posts:
BarryWhiteIsMyBrother · 28/12/2020 18:32

If you DH wants to help he can volunteer. Or he can leave one of the furloughed jobs and take the new one. Furlough pay isn't free money: the taxpayer will have to pay back every penny.

KindnessCrusader · 28/12/2020 18:33

My Husband has been furloughed since March and is absolutely not allowed to take any other paid work. I'm sorry but your friend is absolutely right-you shouldn't be receiving furlough money and wages from another job-even if he is somehow 'allowed' it is morally not cool.

AldiAisleofCrap · 28/12/2020 18:34

We have both been tax payers for 15+ years, so have put in a lot more than taken out I very much doubt it.

FixItUpChappie · 28/12/2020 18:34

A lot of furloughed people go on to be made redundant so having the potential to go straight into another job

You can't really expect people not to act in their own self-interest. It is up to the government to set the terms and ensure reasonable usage/restrictions around tax payer dollars.

islockdownoveryet · 28/12/2020 18:34

@GCAcademic

I don’t understand why this loophole has been allowed, but it has. However, in the OP’s situation, it would be wise not to rub the fact that her DH is effectively cashing in on the pandemic in friends’ faces. It’s understandable that some people would resent this, when they are either going to work to pay for it or are in need of just one job.
Yes , we can all agree or disagree with the op nobody is wrong it's perfectly legal but the op seams baffled that her friend thinks it wrong . I think this thread has shown that many will agree but many won't . But op maybe be a little more tactful with talking about stuff like that to your friends as not everyone will think it's right .
Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 18:34

@Bagamoyo1

OP at the end of this you and your DH will have a nice little stash of taxpayers money, but you will have lost friends. Some will be upfront like the one you mention, others will quietly disappear because they find what you’re doing immoral. But I guess the money will compensate for that. This is true capitalism - everyone out for themselves.
DH could well lose both jobs. Then what? Will people in a job give theirs to DH because he needs it more?
Original poster
amy198820 · 28/12/2020 18:36

@Fieldofyellowflowers

I always thought that if you were furloughed you were not allowed to do paid work in any other capacity without being taken off furlough. Happy to be told that I am wrong on that though.
Your not allowed to do paid work for that employer whilst on furlough, but are allowed to find other paid work
OP posts:
AldiAisleofCrap · 28/12/2020 18:36

Just because something is legal does not make us morally ok. You know this op, and no most people would not do this. You are essentially stealing off other tax payers.

Tumbleweed101 · 28/12/2020 18:36

I thought furlough was for a business to ensure they had staff able to return when this is all over. The business claim it and pass it to their employees. For the employee sitting at home there is nothing to stop them getting another job so long as it doesn’t prevent them returning to their original role. While it might not be ‘fair’ for other people I don’t see why someone shouldn’t take advantage of the situation if it means they can put some savings away, especially if their furloughed role could be at risk later on. They might need the money to live on at some point. Nothing about this situation is fair, we just need to get through it as best we can.

Mreggsworth · 28/12/2020 18:36

Not illegal but selfish. Given the current climate and unemployment levels I think taking full pay for 3 jobs and only working one when there are people out there desperate isnt very ethical.

I haven't been furloughed, but there are things I'd consider doing to pass the time before getting another job would enter my mind, dog walking, volunteering, helping neighbours with shopping, training courses, projects, learning a new skill etc....I'm not saying he wont still be bored shitless doing all those things. But even those who are working currently are often bored of the monotony too. It's just something to bear with till it passes

NiceTwin · 28/12/2020 18:36

I am at polar opposites to most people on here.
I am an employer. As soon as the furlough was announced, I told my employee the date ahe would be furloughed from, I also told her if she wanted to find alternative employment in the meantime, then feel free.

She didn't get another job but it has been suggested her furlough should be stopped if she had.
That means, I would have been responsible for paying her. What with?! The business income was £0 from March - July.
Yes, the furlough goes to the employee but it has been set up to protect businesses. There can't be many companies who have enough money in the bank to pay out wages indefinitely, hence the furlough!

80sColourfulChristmas · 28/12/2020 18:36

That's disgraceful behaviour. You should be ashamed of yourselves......

Mulhollandmagoo · 28/12/2020 18:36

It's definitely legal, he isn't doing anything wrong in that respect as long as his original employers are happy with it....but it's not really in the spirit of what the scheme is about is it?

Heartlantern2 · 28/12/2020 18:37

I would normally agree with your friend but as your DH has TWO jobs this already shows his a worker, not a sitter, so no, I don’t think your in the wrong nor abusing it.

NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 28/12/2020 18:37

@nicknamehelp

I don't think this is actually allowed under scheme rules.

It is allowed provided there's nothing in his main job contract preventing him from working for someone else & as he already has a second job in guessing there isn't.

Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 18:37

@AldiAisleofCrap

Just because something is legal does not make us morally ok. You know this op, and no most people would not do this. You are essentially stealing off other tax payers.
She isn't stealing (or DH, sorry).
worriedandannoyed · 28/12/2020 18:38

It's allowed but whether it's morally right is something you will have to decide.

AldiAisleofCrap · 28/12/2020 18:38

@amy198820 at the very least day donate the money from job three to a charity then essentially your dh will be volunteering.

Carefree1 · 28/12/2020 18:38

I’m really not surprised that your friend feels that way.
Your husband is currently being paid for two jobs that he is not working (by the tax payer). You are truly taking advantage of this and it’s totally immoral.
Where you say that you’re trying to protect your future in case of redundancies - then save the wages your husband is currently occurring at our expense.
Unfortunately, the rules are there to be abused and loopholes found, just like the rest of the benefits system.
Im not sure why you felt the need to post as you clearly see nothing wrong with yours or your husbands actions.

Then there’s the other added kick with furlough, that they keep their holiday entitlement, whilst those who worked (and took on others workload) had to use leave for absence....but that’s a whole other thread 😉

DontWalkPastTheCastle · 28/12/2020 18:38

Plenty of my friends have chosen to work for Deliveroo, etc, while on furlough. What's the problem? Haven't we all been shit on enough?!

upsidedownwavylegs · 28/12/2020 18:38

@KindnessCrusader

My Husband has been furloughed since March and is absolutely not allowed to take any other paid work. I'm sorry but your friend is absolutely right-you shouldn't be receiving furlough money and wages from another job-even if he is somehow 'allowed' it is morally not cool.
They don’t write separate rules for different people’s husbands. Yours is allowed to do exactly the same as OP’s.
Mulhollandmagoo · 28/12/2020 18:38

Could he not do some DIY/household chores whilst he is off?

80sColourfulChristmas · 28/12/2020 18:38

@amy198820 you sound unhinged. Everything we are doing is perfectly legal and in the interest of our family.

Oh, the irony.

Anyone else getting Narc vibes??

wowfudge · 28/12/2020 18:39

@80sColourfulChristmas

That's disgraceful behaviour. You should be ashamed of yourselves......
Get a grip.

It isn't at all. What is disgraceful is posters like you and @EagleFlight accusing the OP of bring complicit in the downfall of others who have lost their jobs. That's a despicable comment.

HotSince63 · 28/12/2020 18:39

@snappyoldfart yes he will be taking his employees back on.

I'm sorry you didn't get any financial support, DH didn't either but them's the breaks. You'll know as well as I do the benefits of being a director of a Ltd company, a pandemic was unforseen and unprecedented, you can't have it all ways.

I thought your inference that the OP's DH will be first in line for redundancy if/when the furlough scheme ends was plain nasty.

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