Friend said DH is abusing furlough

[amy198820]

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.

I get it. My friend has been furloughed and was devastated when asked back to work. Then re-furloughed and decides to get a new job. Since then I’ve heard about how they are doing so well financially because she’s being paid all her holiday and her furlough and her new wage. Meanwhile me and DH have worked throughout and lost money due to transport changes and have had leave cancelled. We are mentally and physically exhausted right now and listening to her tell us how they are rolling in it just makes me feel sad, but I wouldn’t say anything to her because it won’t change anything and will just cause upset. I can see how your friend feels though. Furlough was there to support those who were hit hard and forced home. Personally I think that it should remain that and if you choose a different job then the furlough payments should cease. The country is losing money hand over fist and it shouldn’t be taken advantage of.

Those who are saying it's 'illegal' or 'fraud' or whatever clearly have no understanding of how the furlough scheme works. Individuals don't decide to be on furlough, nor do they claim from the government, their employers do. They are allowed to volunteer or work elsewhere provided their employer permits it. Most will subject to them being available to work again if/when called upon. If they refused they would effectively be saying to their employees you are not allowed to get a job elsewhere while simultaneously telling them their job may not exist soon. I think what your DH is doing is fine OP, look out for your own family. Maybe just don't tell anyone else because it's none of their business and people will judge. There's nothing as devisive as money after all

*shafted not sharper!

I get that it's legally allowed but it's morally wrong. This country will end up paying the bills for this situation for many years to come. It's wrong that while some struggle others can work the system to their advantage to profit from financial support that was intended to help people have money to live.

He is not abusing anything. The furlough scheme specifically allows for this.

That said its bloody annoying for those continuing to work. At my work there are people who have pretty much been furloughed for 9 months now. Half of them got other jobs on top so they are receiving 100% of their salaries for both jobs and raking it in. The rest of the furloughed staff have been making banana bread and painting fences on 100%. Whilst the rest of us poor buggers have worked through saving the workplace and their jobs.

@Treacletoots

I think you're getting a lot of completely unnecessary shit here OP. Your DH isn't responsible for the pandemic, he's not responsible for the fact he was furloughed, and as someone who was furloughed for 4 months earlier this year (then made redundant) I completely understand the need to be doing something. My mental health suffered immensely whilst I was furloughed which immediately cleared once I was able to get back to work.

Your DH is not responsible for anybody else's suffering and I entirely agree that you don't know what may be round the corner, so saving as much as you can is very wise thing to do.

You've not done anything illegal, people here need to lay off and stop attacking someone to who's just trying to make the best of a shit situation.

This

I didn't realise this was legal

I can understand why your friend is annoyed as your DH is getting full pay on furlough from usual employees and then getting paid for doing another job.

I'm not sure why this is allowed. You would think you would only be topped up to normal pay.

If he didn't take this job he'd still get furlough pay just the same so I don't see how the tax payer is any worse off. Potentially someone else could have got the temp job but they might also have been on furlough anyway. There are always people who aren't going to like it and think you should be made to sweep the streets or something if you're getting furlough, especially as some people fall through the gaps of the system. That's hardly your fault and you're not doing anything wrong but I would keep it quiet all the same.x

Take the money , who cares what people think , put the money away for a rainy day

So many self employed get away not paying full tax

So he’s getting 100% pay for doing nothing and now got another job to keep him busy while millions of people are struggling and loosing jobs. I can see why it wouldn’t go down well. You might have been better keeping the information to yourself. If your struggling financially then Id say fair enough but otherwise it’s a bit 🤨

I agree with others that there is plenty people can do with regards to volunteering. We have groups of volunteers where I live who have been running around buying shopping for people who havnt been able to get out them self, whether they are high risk or isolating. We also have several groups who have started up some community food bank groups where they are collecting donations and delivering to families in need. I’ve seen fb posts for people offering to help if people need odd jobs done, pick up and deliver thing. We have a local gifting page where people give things away for free, there are some people who don’t drive and can’t pick up and deliver things so other members of the group will pick things up and drop them off for them. I see volunteers all the time litter picking, it’s not as if the councils do it anymore. There are so many things to do.

Personally I think that it should remain that and if you choose a different job then the furlough payments should cease.

I agree but it’s the government who need to change this. The OP’s partner isn’t doing anything wrong as things stand.

Be honest - its not breaking the law and he is entitled to do it and yes you are taking advantage of the situation for your own benefit. As taxpayers you will have used more than you have put in. Your husband could have volunteered but he didn't and now he's helping out his mate and getting paid for it. Just own it!

While it may not be illegal, I’d struggle to reconcile this myself.

You might have paid taxes for 15 years but we’ll all be paying for furlough for a hell of a lot longer than that - especially thanks to piss takers like this.

And yes, I do feel bitter as a key worker who’s worked throughout this pandemic, putting myself and my family at risk for zero extra financial gain and an awful lot of additional stress.

I'd be volunteering. So many people have lost jobs, he should let someone else have it rather than earning 3 incomes.

@KylieKoKo

You can work while furloghed if your company allows it. It's perfectly legal.

Yes, this is true.

If I was his normal employee I would say go ahead but not top his pay up to 100% so they are saving money.

The system is badly designed if people can take advantage in this way.

It's legal but immoral.
I'm guessing he's taking home more than usual? Whilst so many suck up a poor wage and carry on as if there's no pandemic 🤷🏼‍♀️

It would be a bit different if his pay had dropped but you say he is being topped up to 100%!

@Spiratedaway I'm sorry, I hope you are ok

He should lose his furlough money if he's working

I’d understand taking furlough pay and then one other job. But OPs DH is taking 100% furlough pay from TWO jobs and now on his THIRD job for yet more pay. What will he do if furloughed from job #3 at 100%? Get a fourth job? Because “he can’t sit at home”

At what point is it enough money to actually give back to the community and volunteer instead of going out and taking, taking, taking?

Definitelt doesn't seem right (even if within the rules) that someone if profiting from furlough when millions are going under. Or when millions have worked themselves to the bone throughout the pandemic with no option of furlough, whilst working full time and juggling home educating their children and getting a mandated salary cut on top. Galling enough hearing of colleagues furloughed on full pay during that, but to hear of people then taking on other jobs and profiting from 3 salaries?? That sucks and doesn't seem morally right to me.

What’s legal and what’s moral are not necessarily the same thing. Perhaps if he was prepared to volunteer because it wasn’t about the money he could donate what he’s earning from his third job?

I was furloughed for 20 weeks and volunteered as a community responder, I kept it up until I returned to full time hours in October.
Your both sound grabby, full pay from two jobs plus another job. I’m sure if he looks aged enough he’ll find a volunteer role.

Thanks @snappyoldfart I think a lot of people are the same it is hard for everyone x