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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:
SuperbGorgonzola · 28/12/2020 18:15

I think he is taking the piss.

There are lots of things he could do to keep himself busy as others have mentioned, and I also agree that he is taking a job that someone else could have had.

Hothammock · 28/12/2020 18:16

I do agree that it you are exploiting the system so that your dh receives 3 wages.
However it is not your dh who set up the system!
There is a lot of this kind of thing going going on and in the end, it will bankrupt the nation. So I suggest you save a bit of your extra income now!

snappyoldfart · 28/12/2020 18:16

@HotSince63 why would anyone want a disloyal grabby employee, is beyond me.

Stoic123 · 28/12/2020 18:17

Perfectly legitimate - as long as he's paying tax on his additional earnings (tax dodging would be immoral). Make sure that it's used to build up a good rainy day fund, you may need one soon.

As a few PP have mentioned, best be discrete in future about your circumstances.

AnaisNun · 28/12/2020 18:17

It’s not wrong, morally legally or ethically, OP. If I were you though id step away from this thread. There’s a lot of jealousy and malign spirit manifesting.
Best of luck to you and your family.

bridgetreilly · 28/12/2020 18:17

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

HAHAHAHA.

You went to school? Go to the doctors? Drive on the roads? Benefit from street lights and rubbish collections? You live in a safe country with good policing and a fair judicial system so you don't spend every day afraid of false arrest and imprisonment?

How much of that do you think you could have paid for out of your 15 years worth of taxes?

Lougle · 28/12/2020 18:18

@GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly

"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.

Can we leave disability out of it? There is no comparison. Disability allowances are not out of work benefits.

Littleyell · 28/12/2020 18:19

Your friend is sour grapes OP. If your DH is allowed to do it then he’s not breaking the law.

I suspect some people piping up wouldn’t turn down the money either

Happytentoes · 28/12/2020 18:19

Totally agree with @AnaisNun . It’s good that your husband has a strong work ethic. Who knows what’s ahead of you.
Good luck.

KatherineJaneway · 28/12/2020 18:19

What you are doing is immoral and greedy when others desperately need the job your husband is taking when he doesn't need it as he is already being paid for another job.

It might be legal but it is wrong. However you don't give a shit so no idea why you posted unless it was to be goady.

GrumpyHoonMain · 28/12/2020 18:19

He has to inform and obtain permission from his employer. They may dismiss him if they find out later (many companies have employed investigators for this type of furlough fraud) or could be liable to pay back his furlough earnings.

Original poster
amy198820 · 28/12/2020 18:19

[quote snappyoldfart]@HotSince63 why would anyone want a disloyal grabby employee, is beyond me. [/quote]
not disloyal. His main employer encouraged the team to get temp work

OP posts:
Littleyell · 28/12/2020 18:20

Ohhh and I wouldn’t tell explain anything to your friend.... if your DH gets let go because of job cuts what exactly is your friend going to do to finically support you?! Keep her out of the loop from now on OP.

Original poster
amy198820 · 28/12/2020 18:20

@KatherineJaneway

What you are doing is immoral and greedy when others desperately need the job your husband is taking when he doesn't need it as he is already being paid for another job.

It might be legal but it is wrong. However you don't give a shit so no idea why you posted unless it was to be goady.

but we might need the money in the future if we were to be made redundant. No greed at all.
OP posts:
Ideasplease322 · 28/12/2020 18:22

[quote snappyoldfart]@HotSince63 why would anyone want a disloyal grabby employee, is beyond me. [/quote]
Please expand on this. Why is it disloyal?

I genuinely don’t think you understand the scheme.

Employers are allowed to bar their employees from having a second job, but if contracts allow it, then the furlough scheme allows it.

You seem very angry about something, but I think it’s the scheme design not this individual man’s employment choices.

MaryLeeOnHigh · 28/12/2020 18:22

@GrumpyHoonMain

He has to inform and obtain permission from his employer. They may dismiss him if they find out later (many companies have employed investigators for this type of furlough fraud) or could be liable to pay back his furlough earnings.
Unless there is something in the furlough agreement expressly forbidding alternative employment, an employer that dismissed staff for this reason would be looking at unfair dismissal claims.
Lougle · 28/12/2020 18:22

Well, yes, but there are people who do need the money, who have been made redundant and who can't pay their mortgage.

Unsure33 · 28/12/2020 18:23

He is not abusing the system . He is allowed to do what he is doing .

Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 18:23

@Mylittleturkeysandwich

Has he informed his current employers of his new job? I'd have to do that if I took a new job on furlough. I don't think it's in the spirit of the scheme to be fair, if it's actually allowed I couldn't tell you.
Yep, it says that in the OP.

OP I don't understand why people have decided your DH can't have a job.

Bagamoyo1 · 28/12/2020 18:23

It might be legal OP, but it’s also immoral. And people like your DH will be partly to blame for the massive recession we have after this. I sincerely hope he is making hefty donations to charities like Shelter , given that he’s making 3 times what he’d normally make, while others are losing their homes.
It really is quite disgusting, and I think deep down you know it is.

Mylittleturkeysandwich · 28/12/2020 18:23

The issue a lot of us have @amy198820 is that there are many people who need that money now. Who are at risk of losing their homes now. They are unemployed now not in the future and your husband stacking up jobs 'just in case' feels shitty.

Wheresmykimchi · 28/12/2020 18:23

@Lougle

Well, yes, but there are people who do need the money, who have been made redundant and who can't pay their mortgage.
But this is the age old argument isn't it. DH isn't actually TAKING anyone's job.
dany174 · 28/12/2020 18:23

@HotSince63

Good for your DH.

Contrary to a PP/employer who claims she'd consider him top of the list to get rid of Hmm I'd be impressed with his work ethic and he'd be one of the last I'd consider.

Don't discuss it any further with your friend. Nothing is guaranteed and he might end up with no jobs in 3 months time, I'd do exactly the same as him if I had to.

I know for a fact that my DH's employer is impressed with people who have tried to do other work during furlough and has made people redundant that he felt were just sitting at home. He says he like the work ethic. Think of that what you want but it is a consideration employers take in mind when letting people go.
Nordman · 28/12/2020 18:23

So he's getting 100% of his salary paid, most of which is funded by the government , and he's now taking on a paid job? It is legal but it's really sh*t. I'm so pleased I'm working myself to the bone in a crap job with job insecurity to pay tax to fund your DH's choices and double his income. If he's bored why doesn't he volunteer, offer to do shopping for vulnerable neighbours, pick up litter in the area, take up a hobby, read a book. There's no need to take a paid job that would be badly needed by someone less well off. Utterly selfish.

Original poster
amy198820 · 28/12/2020 18:24

@Lougle

Well, yes, but there are people who do need the money, who have been made redundant and who can't pay their mortgage.
So you expect us to wait for that point in time where we become desperate rather than try to mitigate against it now.
OP posts: