Why are a lot of workplaces NOT taking furlough this time round?

[ssd]

I've seen loads of posts here saying people need key worker places as they arent being furloughed this time round.

Why are companies reluctant to use furlough?

Is the government paying for it this time?!

I was refused furlough first time round too. Just told my work is needed. Same this time.

@Horehound

Is the government paying for it this time?!

I'm not sure.

My company just doesn’t furlough. They need us to work

Because they need their staff to work to keep their businesses/services going I'd imagine.

Also, the original 2nd furlough deal announced in autumn wasn't workable for smaller companies (too expensive) - but I think this might have now changed.

Probably because they ended up having to make a load of people redundant in the summer when they started opening back up, they are already less profitable than they were a year ago, and they want to ensure they survive.

This question is for places that used furlough the first time round but aren't using it again, I just wondered what had changed?

I think this coming week we might see more furlough happening. It really feels like there’s going to be a shift

Police actively ‘doing something’
Talk of nursery closures
Too many kids still in school

Because we are extremely busy now and we weren't then.

I work in furniture manufacturing. In lockdown number one people were terrified, not ordering. Our orders reduced to about 20% of our usual amount. So most of us were furloughed.

People aren't scared now. Orders are up 150% on this time last year. There is too much work to furlough anyone.

Its costing the employers a lot more.
They still have to pay NI and some other top ups.

Our work slowed down last time as clients put projects on hold and a lot of construction stopped so people being furloughed saved jobs. This time around we're really busy and we would struggle to resource projects if people were furloughed. I imagine many industries are similar.

Also specifically for bigger businesses who didn't need to make loads of redundancies after the first furlough period.

I'm guessing its something to do with the terms of furlough changing but I dont know what it is.

And that's why I'm having to use a KW place this time around. I can't work from home and neither can DS's dad who is a KW. Last time I was furloughed so didn't need one.

@Souther

Its costing the employers a lot more. They still have to pay NI and some other top ups.

How is it costing them more?

My firm furloughed me in April due to a drop in work, not because of childcare reasons - although it did help with that. We don’t have a drop in work at the moment. In fact, turnover is a lot higher than they budgeted for so they really do need us to work.

Because they actually need workers to work this time. Both mine and DHs company furloughed staff last time. There wasn't enough work for everyone and they furloughed to save money so they didn't go bust. They spent spring/summer adapting to the situation and are now doing well. Even with lockdown there is enough work because they spent the time making sure there would be in case it happened again. They can't now furlough anyone as they need the staff to do the work.

@Waxonwaxoff0

And that's why I'm having to use a KW place this time around. I can't work from home and neither can DS's dad who is a KW. Last time I was furloughed so didn't need one.

Exactly wax..what I'm trying to understand is why some companies took furlough before but more now, even though the circumstances are the exact same

This time employers have to pay tax, NI and also any pension so many people are losing their jobs as small companies cant survive. I only know this as I lost my job and that was the reason given to me.

Sorry meant but not now

We have loads of work to do. I was only furloughed for 3 weeks last time when they worked out the Covid measures.

We have had a very good last quarter - better than the same period in 2018 and 2019. They aren't going to voluntarily screw up their order book. Some vulnerable office staff at at home, but that's it.

During the first lockdown we couldn't perform routine eye exams but now we can so that's why we aren't furloughed. We have been non stop busy since we started sight tests again in June.

A lot of businesses will be doing better trade now. Covid was new in March last year and people had the fear. Businesses hadn't had time to get Covid secure. Now that's all changed.

I think the priority should be furloughing a parent per family (perhaps shared) and protecting their jobs by law. Given that there have been redundancies, perhaps temps are the answer for the workforce.

Because staff costs aren’t the only costs associated with a business and to survive these businesses need to make money! They need to operate to make money so they need their staff in!

Because a lot of industries shut down temporarily last time in part because of lack of demand and in part because they couldn’t even claim to be ‘Covid-safe’. Now they’ve had ten months to make workplaces ‘Covid-safe’ and in lots of cases, work has picked back up again.