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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:
eeek88 · 28/12/2020 19:32

In an ideal world, the spare jobs would be going to those who are out of work and not being covered by the furlough scheme (and the self-employed would have been catered for properly). But what if he was the best or only decent applicant?

It's sensible to try and boost your earnings at the moment, if you can. It's also sensible not to tell people if you're doing well financially out of the current situation.

I'm a teacher so was never furloughed but my workload was significantly reduced during lockdown - you can't expect primary aged kids to manage a full day of education remotely (on ipads and laptops shared with many siblings, while parents are busy) so my job felt rather part-time. I used my spare time to help my partner develop his business which as a result is now more profitable. I also worked on my own hobbies / sidelines which I do anyway (fitting it around my other job), but the additional time I was able to devote to these resulted in one being much more profitable than usual and another moving one step closer to the potentially profitable zone. If the OP's husband should rot in hell for his 3rd job then I guess I should for my side hustles too...

It's all a bit weird at the moment and we're all doing what we can to weather the storm. Hopefully those of us with extra reserves are giving a bit back (I've set up a standing order to the local foodbank and am buying a lot more art / music from local artists). If you want to spend your time judging everybody else and blaming your mates for the spread of the virus and the economic crash around the corner that's up to you I suppose. It just doesn't seem that helpful.

AldiAisleofCrap · 28/12/2020 19:32

@ivykaty44 sensible answers only, what am I missing'?
Furlough is mostly tax payers money to provide an income for someone who is unable to work. This man is working so it’s unethical to take the tax payers money.

Secondly many people are struggling to find work and he is taking a job other could desperately need.

MiddlesexGirl · 28/12/2020 19:33

Alternatively, this government allows those on furlough to work another job because many of them will be made redundant if the covid crisis continues much longer.

ShutUpaYourFace · 28/12/2020 19:33

There nothing wrong with what he's doing.
He could be suffering with his mental health and needs to be working, Sitting around doing fuck all all day isn't for everyone. Good for him for keeping his mind active and earning for his family.
Try calling out the employers furloughing staff then expecting them to work or the big corps that can afford to pay but still suck from the system.

Omeara · 28/12/2020 19:34

Defend it as much as you want OP, but many people, your friend included, think it stinks a bit.

Technically your husband is doing nothing wrong though.

Takingontheundead · 28/12/2020 19:36

@2020quelhorreur

I do find it interesting that the idea that he could volunteer genuinely doesn’t appear to have occurred to you or your husband.
Quite.

YABU, OP.

Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 19:37

[quote AldiAisleofCrap]**@ivykaty44* sensible answers only, what am I missing'?*
Furlough is mostly tax payers money to provide an income for someone who is unable to work. This man is working so it’s unethical to take the tax payers money.

Secondly many people are struggling to find work and he is taking a job other could desperately need.[/quote]
The prime function of furlough was for staff to keep their staff.

I worked in the hubs over lockdown because I wasn't working and don't like sitting about. Was that OK or should I have given up my 'hub space ' to someone else?

Wolfiefan · 28/12/2020 19:37

She thinks he is a CF.
I agree.
You clearly don’t.
I wouldn’t expect the friendship to last.

Shmithecat2 · 28/12/2020 19:38

You are, predictably, getting your arse handed to you on a plate OP, but he's doing nothing wrong. Its just a race to the bottom for some people on MN. I think those put on furlough are in a precarious position personally - they'll be first in line for redundancy if/when their companies restructure after all this COVID business has calmed down. Nothing wrong with earning as much as you can whilst you can.

Wonderfulstuff · 28/12/2020 19:39

Legal but not moral.

I fully support the furlough scheme and would be soooo grateful for it if I were in need but as someone who has worked throughout (until December I had taken 5 days leave all year) whilst also trying to care for a 2 year old and a mentally ill/not working due to covid DP (self employed in creative arts not entitled to support) this sort of nonsense really irritates me so totally get where your friend is coming from. The scheme is there to support people who are not able to work due to the pandemic. To me there is no difference between what your husband is doing and people who claim JSA whilst doing cash in hand on the side.

BubblyBarbara · 28/12/2020 19:40

I don't know the rules well enough but surely that's not what furlough is for.

The government made the rules as they are BECAUSE it's what they want to happen. They WANT people to stay economically active even if on furlough. They could have easily added a restriction that said you can't get an extra job with your furlough time, but they didn't for a reason.

There seem to be a lot of numpties here who don't understand the furlough system or what the government intended it to be used for. It's the people sat on their bums letting their skills and morale wither away who are the immoral ones IMO and not OP's hard working DH.

jacks11 · 28/12/2020 19:44

If you can do this, legally, then the taxpayer should not be contributing to the wage- why on earth is the government paying the wages of people who can then go and earn another wage. If it is legal then it should not be. And it is completely immoral. The government are borrowing a fortune to fund these schemes- we’ll be paying this back for years, possibly a couple of generations. There will be tax rises and possibly public service cuts, public sector pay will be frozen (again) for a long time and so on to pay for this. If you get another job, then the government should not be paying your furlough pay as you don’t need it.

dchange · 28/12/2020 19:45

I don't see the problem with this. If his work can't been done safely at home then it can't be done. If he can find something else that allows him to get additional income, then go for it. Volunteering is by choice. Infact won't want someone to volunteer due to peer pressure, if this has not come naturally to him. Focus on being
Safe.

Baileysoncereal · 28/12/2020 19:46

It’s weird people are so worried about that job or money that could be going to someone else

But I bet some of you work overtime - that could be another job for someone else if enough people are doing that regularly
I bet some of you don’t ‘need’ as much money as you make, maybe you could be PT, or job share? Or just have DP/DH/DW work, because one income would be enough for you all to get by, the other job could go to someone else couldn’t it?

Many people don’t need stat mat pay to afford to live. Many people don’t need various benefits they may get.
Some of you don’t need the tax break you may get for being married.
Some of you will arrange your taxes so they’re not illegal, but certainly save you a bit of money.
Do you need your company car? Or could that money give the more jnr staff members a bit more of a wage?

There are so many things that could be interpreted as you rinsing the system, or getting money you don’t ‘need’ or taking things away from people who ‘really need it’

I’m not sure why any of you get to decide what those things are and who gets them.

mumwon · 28/12/2020 19:46

from what I have read - technically you can get another job
BUT
you need to check with present employer (because they may have contract rules which disallow this & you need to ask permission - apparently)
&
there seems to be an inference that second job should not be the same hours that you are contracted for already.
I find it strange that when people are on UC etc they are not allowed to do other work when this government funding for temporary unemployed in this system says you can

MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee · 28/12/2020 19:46

She’s right and this is not allowed under the rules - this is abusing the system. If he’s working he should not be receiving furlough pay.

Chloemol · 28/12/2020 19:47

If he has a job now he shouldn’t need furlough money should he?

cissyandbessy · 28/12/2020 19:47

I am amazed that any company has given him their blessing to go and do this whilst still topping his wage up to 100%. At the very least they'd reduce it to 80% surely which is what the government pays? I'm not surprised that your friend feels like you are rinsing the system. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Original poster
amy198820 · 28/12/2020 19:47

@KatherineJaneway

but we might need the money in the future if we were to be made redundant. No greed at all.

He's getting paid 100% already, he doesn't need another job, someone else does. It is greed pure and simple.

yes, but as on furlough there is a possibility that he will be made redundant, therefore we are making hay whilst the sun shines (or whatever the phrase is)
OP posts:
Ideasplease322 · 28/12/2020 19:48

@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee

She’s right and this is not allowed under the rules - this is abusing the system. If he’s working he should not be receiving furlough pay.
You are wrong. Check the rules
Hardbackwriter · 28/12/2020 19:50

yes, but as on furlough there is a possibility that he will be made redundant, therefore we are making hay whilst the sun shines (or whatever the phrase is)

And again, you're legally allowed to do that but you shouldn't expect other people to like it so it would be sensible to be quiet. I'm really worried about being made redundant but I can't just get another salary on top of mine to save for this because, you know, I have to do my job to get paid for it. I can accept that your situation is legal but it's hard not to resent it.

Kazzyhoward · 28/12/2020 19:50

@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee

She’s right and this is not allowed under the rules - this is abusing the system. If he’s working he should not be receiving furlough pay.
Sorry, you're wrong. Nothing in the rules preventing a furloughed employee from working elsewhere.
CaptainSandy · 28/12/2020 19:50

What a bunch of spite. It's perfectly legal and if you're in such an uncertain position that you've been furloughed of course you want to shore up your position as much as possible.

2020quelhorreur · 28/12/2020 19:51

“We are making hay while the sun shines” is an absolutely extraordinary way of thinking about the last year, and the furlough scheme. Carry on making your hay. Yuk.

Kazzyhoward · 28/12/2020 19:52

@jacks11

If you can do this, legally, then the taxpayer should not be contributing to the wage- why on earth is the government paying the wages of people who can then go and earn another wage. If it is legal then it should not be. And it is completely immoral. The government are borrowing a fortune to fund these schemes- we’ll be paying this back for years, possibly a couple of generations. There will be tax rises and possibly public service cuts, public sector pay will be frozen (again) for a long time and so on to pay for this. If you get another job, then the government should not be paying your furlough pay as you don’t need it.
Whilst I agree, the problem is the incompetent Chancellor who made the crazy rules. Now that it's obvious that more restrictions/lockdowns are needed and that it's another few months of furlough etc., the Chancellor needs to accept he was wrong with his support/grants etc and have a complete rethink. He could start with supporting the 3 million self employed who he excluded last March!
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