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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:
Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 19:07

Proceed with caution, YouBoughtMe.

Tanfastic · 28/12/2020 19:07

@LaceyBetty

It's permitted, but shouldn't be in my opinion .
Agree 100%
Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 19:07

[quote ClinkyMonkey]@MiddlesexGirl
Fair enough, that makes sense.

But workplaces are closed specifically to stop the spread, so surely, if you're furloughed, it makes sense to keep contact with others to a minimum.[/quote]
There is no difference between furloughed DH and jobless Jenny going for the job.

ClinkyMonkey · 28/12/2020 19:08

The job could be filled by someone for whom furlough isn't an option. Anyway, sorry for derailing the thread a bitBlush

Kaliorphic · 28/12/2020 19:08

Doesn't seem to be in the spirit of furlough to me. Plenty of people out of work who need those jobs. If your DH is bored he could have volunteered instead of using the time he's paid for, yet been freed up, to earn even more money. Not rtft obviously.

JoeWicksSurvivor · 28/12/2020 19:08

It doesn’t seem right to me that he is taking a job that someone actually struggling could fill.
I agree with your friend and consider you extremely money grabbing.

MaryLeeOnHigh · 28/12/2020 19:09

Furlough was not designed to enable people to earn more than usual

Given that the scheme expressly allows this, clearly that was part of what it is designed to do.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 28/12/2020 19:09

@Wheresmykimchi

Proceed with caution, YouBoughtMe.
Oh! Really? Scam?
Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 19:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MaryLeeOnHigh · 28/12/2020 19:10

@ClinkyMonkey

The job could be filled by someone for whom furlough isn't an option. Anyway, sorry for derailing the thread a bitBlush
But that would do nothing to stop the spread of the virus, which is what you seem to think the scheme is for.
Littlepaws18 · 28/12/2020 19:10

She is absolutely right. The government don't have this unlimited pot of money they can hand out like candy. Your husband should not take in this job and if I was your friend I'll be shopping the employer of new said job to inland revenue. Think of all the people who are desperately struggling really really selfish of you!

SpiderGwen · 28/12/2020 19:10

You're carpetbaggers. Profiteers.

It's technically legal but against the spirit of the emergency measures. Your (paid) DH is working for one job while getting pay from another full time and an additional part time job.

I don't blame your friend. I'd think the worst of you too.

Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 19:11

@ClinkyMonkey

The job could be filled by someone for whom furlough isn't an option. Anyway, sorry for derailing the thread a bitBlush
it could also be filled by someone with a massive inheritance who doesn't need the money and just likes working.

I'm not saying what DH is doing is right, but you can't "Take" peoples jobs.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 28/12/2020 19:11

@Wheresmykimchi

I don't know, but its not written by someone who sounds as if they're a normal person if you read the language.
Thank you.
Stinkerbells · 28/12/2020 19:12

Furlough is not a choice, your OH has done nothing wrong. I’m sure everyone would have an opinion if he sat round doing nothing like it was an extended holiday 🤷‍♀️ maybe people should focus on their own situation instead of others. This is non of your friends business.

Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 19:12

@Stinkerbells

Furlough is not a choice, your OH has done nothing wrong. I’m sure everyone would have an opinion if he sat round doing nothing like it was an extended holiday 🤷‍♀️ maybe people should focus on their own situation instead of others. This is non of your friends business.
Well, quite.

If he doesn't take it, he's sitting on his arse getting paid for months for work he's not doing, isn't he.

Amira19 · 28/12/2020 19:13

Its only forbidden if its not in youre contract you sign when you agree to being furlo7ghed. Air stewards were pictured working in asda to help during the last lockdown. Now their jobs are on the line.

Zenandben · 28/12/2020 19:13

The moral of the story op don’t tell anyone your fiscal business, especially people you consider friends.

MagnoliaXYZ · 28/12/2020 19:13

I'm with your friend on this one. Your husband is being paid his full wage/salary and, whilst he's being paid, mostly by the government, to effectively sit around and do nothing, he utilises that time to get another job for which he is being paid.

Meanwhile, other people have already been made redundant.

And it doesn't matter that you have both paid tax for 15+ years, possibly paying in more than you have taken out, other people have too.

BabblativeBean · 28/12/2020 19:13

People are struggling to find work, it doesn't seem right to me to take a job from someone else when your DH is already receiving full pay.

MorganKitten · 28/12/2020 19:13

@MiddlesexGirl

It is my understanding, though am happy to be told otherwise, that your husband is breaching the furlough rules.

There's a link posted earlier which confirms there is nothing illegal about working for another employer whilst on furlough.

But your main employer can pull your pay if they want to - mine could while in furlough
kensington09 · 28/12/2020 19:14

Your DH is doing absolutely nothing wrong.

The scheme clearly states that you can be furloughed and work another job at the same time.

All the PP's who say otherwise should really read up on this before commenting.

I am currently furloughed and have started a new job in the meantime.

The same position as your DH - you don't know how long you will be furloughed for / if you'll be made redundant so absolutely should be earning money while you can. Bills need to be paid

Vitaminsss · 28/12/2020 19:14

He is though. You’re not supposed to work whilst on furlough so it’s fraud. He’s also being paid 100% pay at both of his previous jobs, does that mean he’s being paid full time hours for both jobs?

allispretty · 28/12/2020 19:15

He is doing absolutely nothing wrong and I'd ignore what anyone on here says...arguments on paying tax is ridiculous as he will contribute to this taking up a new position

Vitaminsss · 28/12/2020 19:15

Ignore me, I seem to be wrong about working whilst being paid furlough

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