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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:
LaceyBetty · 28/12/2020 17:37

We have both been tax payers for 15+ years, so have put in a lot more than taken out

There is no way this is true.

Shaniac · 28/12/2020 17:37

Its not actually a flaw in the furlough system though is it? The system pays the company money to keep that role open so that company stays open and doesnt go bust. The person cannot do that job for the time being but thr company still needs the governments money to keep the role for the person to return to it, or to get a new person in if old person doesn't want to go back. So the government is still going to be giving that company the money regardless of ops dp earning money elsewhere as well.

PlanDeRaccordement · 28/12/2020 17:37

Those people who cannot go to work due to their workplaces being shut by law, etc. are being helped as they should be.

If you ignore the 3 million that are not being helped.

slipperywhensparticus · 28/12/2020 17:37

Personally get the work overpay your mortgage stack up your savings just in case

Helloyouthere · 28/12/2020 17:39

Its legal, the governments fault really.

If i was in you partners shoes I'd probably do the same to be honest.

nexus63 · 28/12/2020 17:39

Technically you can get another job while on furlough - as long as your boss doesn't mind. Being on furlough means you are still employed by your employer, which means you could be in breach of contract if you do accept a new role, if he wanted something to do he could have done some volunteering work, there is plenty of places out there looking for help, it looks like he is just looking for more money rather than something to do and that seems a bit unfair when he getting 100% wages.

AcornAutumn · 28/12/2020 17:39

@Shaniac

Its not actually a flaw in the furlough system though is it? The system pays the company money to keep that role open so that company stays open and doesnt go bust. The person cannot do that job for the time being but thr company still needs the governments money to keep the role for the person to return to it, or to get a new person in if old person doesn't want to go back. So the government is still going to be giving that company the money regardless of ops dp earning money elsewhere as well.
It is a massive flaw in the system

It should be automatic, no furlough if you get another job. With so many people out of work, this should have been a condition.

Ideasplease322 · 28/12/2020 17:39

@nicknamehelp

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

Op do not take advise on this thread. Read the scheme guidelines on the government website.

Your friend is wrong.

LazyFace · 28/12/2020 17:39

It's legal to do another job. Bloody ridiculous. So was the bounceback scheme where any companies were given 'loans' without checks which soon after went bust....

GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly · 28/12/2020 17:39

@KylieKoKo

People are weird about furlough. I remember a thread on here lambasting people who were furloghed in the summer for using their gardens. They should have been inside with the curtains drawn so as not to enjoy the sunshine ....

I would ignore your friend.

Yes but the OPs husband is being paid furlough by taxpayers as his usual occupation is closed by the Government.

He's now got another job so is effectively being paid twice (once by the taxpayer because he can't work) and again by his new employer for the same period.

He's being enterprising and I admire his willingness to work OP but you can see why people will perceive it as working the system- a bit like people claiming disability allowance but being paid to work at the same time.

We (taxpayers) are going to be paying for furlough for a long time to come.

ComDummings · 28/12/2020 17:41

It’s fine

CokeAndPepsi · 28/12/2020 17:41

@amy198820
We have both been tax payers for 15+ years, so have put in a lot more than taken out

Yeah, that’s not how taxes work.

wowfudge · 28/12/2020 17:41

@amy198820 - that is a really shitty, nasty thing to say. Have you considered that the OP's DH may also be looking to protect his family for the future? You know, increase his earning potential, build some savings so as to survive in the future?

If I were interviewing and had two candidates equally capable and similar fit I'd probably choose the one who had no job at all in the current climate, but I don't think there is anything wrong with what the OP's DH is doing legally or morally. We are responsible for ourselves and our choices. I can't imagine spending months at home doing nothing whilst being paid for it because I'd want to be doing something. I might have to do just this because of my contract though. Unfortunately lots of people who are furloughed are being given abuse for doing just this. They can't win.

Upupupintheair · 28/12/2020 17:41

I don’t see the issue. I was fully furloughed from March - Aug. Then back on 50% hours (flexi furlough) from May - August i was working full time in a min wage job. From august to now I work a couple of shifts a week in my second job. I was paying second job tax on my wages, so HMRC are benefiting.

This job is in no way connected to my ‘actual job’ it was more about having something lined up if my job was made redundant (I work in an at risk sector) and to keep me mentally sane, I’m not the sort of person who can sit around all day in the house! I would have gone crackers.

It’s also allowed me to build up an emergency fund, so should I be made rendundant i have something to fall back on and will be less likely to need state support. I personally think it’s extremely sensible of your other half.

DeftandGlory · 28/12/2020 17:41

I know a teacher ( private) who is currently furloughed over the school holidays. The school obviously get the benefit of 80% reduction of staffing costs.

I also know of a student who did a casual waitressing job for 2 weeks in the summer hols and has been furloughed ever since despite living at a Uni the other end of the country.

The system is great to those benefiting but there’s definitely piss taking all over.

MatildaTheCat · 28/12/2020 17:41

Well he may not be abusing the system but he’s certainly using it to his advantage. For all of the rest of us who also pay tax I guess it’s unlikely to win you any accolades.

The system needs to be tightened up and immediately. I wonder if your DH would be as keen on his new job if there was no financial gain from it?

LaceyBetty · 28/12/2020 17:41

It's permitted, but shouldn't be in my opinion .

Parkermumma07 · 28/12/2020 17:42

If he doesn’t want to sit at home he could volunteer. Instead of taking a job that someone who has unfortunately lost their job through Covid could benefit from.

Youreatragedystartingtohappen · 28/12/2020 17:42

Morally bankrupt to me. At a time when unemployment is growing your OH is taking a job, albeit it temporarily, from someone else who could use it.

Wouldn't sit right with me at all and I would be with the friend who was put out by it. It's very grabby to me

PlanDeRaccordement · 28/12/2020 17:42

I have sympathy for those who fall between the cracks.

Actions speak louder than words. If you had any sympathy, your DH would be volunteering his time on Covid relief efforts instead of taking two jobs worth of 100% furlough pay and then doing a third paid job that someone who has fallen through the cracks needs desperately. You’re literally widening the cracks. That’s not sympathy. That’s actively making things worse.

reginaphalangeeee · 28/12/2020 17:42

Maybe he should try "sitting at home" and not increase the chances of spreading the virus? Wasn't that the point of furlough? He doesn't need to work as he's getting paid still. This is ridiculous. Sick hearing about people who "don't want to sit at home".

2020quelhorreur · 28/12/2020 17:42

I hope your friend tells every person you know what your husband is up to. I imagine most people will share her views. But as long as your mortgage is being topped up (nevermind the millions of self-employed who’ve been struggling with this since March and will be expected to pay more in taxes to subsidise your husband) I doubt you’ll care. Please pop back and let us know how your clearing the air chat goes.

Lemonydrizzle · 28/12/2020 17:42

Fair play to him! He's using the time positively, and it's good in case his other jobs need to be made redundant.

NoSquirrels · 28/12/2020 17:42

It’s legal but it feels wrong - it feels like a loophole to get extra money, cashing in etc. But it’s perfectly legal.

OP, just tell your friend that you understand why they feel odd about it, but you’re both really worried that more furlough actually means a big risk of job loss in the future so you’re trying to save as much as possible just in case. It’s really none of their business anyway but I’d not want to fall out too much over it.

Hardbackwriter · 28/12/2020 17:42

Its legal, the governments fault really.

I suppose it's their fault for not amending subsequently but this is just one of many ways in which furlough was designed as a short-term, emergency measure and so went for simplicity over getting it perfect. I don't think they'd ever have set eligibility so wide and had no requirement to actually show a loss of earnings if they'd realised at the time that there would be people on it for at least a year. The level of furlough fraud by companies is pretty awful, the level of 'not technically fraud but essentially seeing it as an opportunity for free money' is even worse.