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Original poster

Furlough / working backside off

283 replies

Mingkong · 11/02/2021 09:05

Am I the only person who is hacked off seeing people frolicking about whilst on furlough, while my husband works 12 hour days ? Also we have stuck to the rules throughout. I appreciate that he is lucky to have a job but he is worn out , not a break from the screen, has had shingles and eczema over the lockdown months, but still carries on without complaint. Meanwhile others ( some through no fault of their own ) are furloughed and having a jolly old time . And who will have to pay the furlough money ??? Us !! Makes me bloody angry.

OP posts:
rwalker · 12/02/2021 12:20

@MadameButterface
PEOPLE ON FURLOUGH ARE NOT ALLOWED TO UNDERTAKE PAID WORK.

Yes they can there are some rules doubt there checked

TheKeatingFive · 12/02/2021 12:21

The furlough scheme could have been structured to require those in receipt of furlough to work.

No point in getting hacked off at the furloughed for that though. It isn’t their fault that this is how it was structured.

Understandably enough, companies wanted their employees free to return to work at short notice.

AmySosa · 12/02/2021 12:34

Wait, so you’re blaming those of us on furlough for the fact the govt didn’t force us to do work (in roles were not trained or suited for?)

BeeDavis · 12/02/2021 12:42

Where have you seen people frolicking about? On social media?

Oh yeah because that’s always accurately depicted a person’s life 🙄

Grow up.

TheNortherner · 12/02/2021 12:47

Knowing my luck, I will work all the way through the pandemic to be made redundant at the end in the recession...then I will be peed off Grin

madamehooch · 12/02/2021 13:41

It is a term of my furlough contract that I am not allowed to carry out any work for my company or for anyone else. Meanwhile, I am the wrong side of 50, work in non-essential retail, which is on its knees, and have to consider how I am going to back up my small pension so that I'm not a burden to my daughter in my old age

kallia · 12/02/2021 14:03

I was furloughed in March. I requested to take on some temp paid work to top up my salary, as I wasn't managing on 80%, but was refused as they "may need me back at any minute". I wasn't lounging around on furlough, I was worried sick, struggling financially, missing my colleagues, and very lost with no idea what was happening to me.

Made redundant in September. Finally found a new job in January, and furloughed again after a day.

Coming up on a year without work. Yes, the salary (some of it) is still coming in, but I'm suffering mentally and emotionally without anything to keep me busy. My entire industry (I worked in theatre) disappeared overnight and I'm still grieving a job I adored. I'm also pregnant, so the job loss has meant I won't get any paid maternity leave or shared parental leave with my husband.

On the other hand, my husband has been working extra hard, lots of overtime to cover the extra cost, has been stressed out and I've barely seen him. So I sympathise with the workers too.

We've all suffered this pandemic. Some more than others, some directly, some indirectly. Some people have (whisper it) benefited, by enjoying furlough or even making money. But lumping everyone on furlough as lazy, idle layabouts is just purely divisive.

MamaTookMyEyebrows · 12/02/2021 14:10

Finally found a new job in January, and furloughed again after a day

Why do they do this though? Why not just delay recruitment? (I’m very glad for you that they didn’t - seems strange logic though!)

MotherExtraordinaire · 12/02/2021 15:06

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@MotherExtraordinaire wrong. If they are homeowners they wouldn't be entitled to UC.[/quote]
Yes they would, but wouldn't get an interest loan for their mortgage until claiming for 39 weeks, if they were still out of work.

islockdownoveryet · 12/02/2021 16:22

You can take on work if furlough but you may need to get permission from employer.
Someone I know whose furlough has had to take a 2nd job because was struggling to pay the bills .
80% of salary just wasn’t covering his bills /food etc . So before you get jealous of the furlough @MotherExtraordinaire I’m talking to you maybe think about people like these , but it seams you are strongly lacking in empathy.

islockdownoveryet · 12/02/2021 16:28

@Rosie2111

100% agree OP. My husband and I have worked our backsides off, working evenings and weekends on critical COVID matters. We didn’t holiday last year due to work and also because we complied with the spirit of the rules that it would worsen the pandemic- well now it seems like every other bugger has been doing whatever they please!
You should be embarrassed by that post . I’m sorry you didn’t holiday last year but guess what neither did I nor did so many others . A holiday is so far on my agenda and I’ve not had a holiday for years . I like many just want all this over . If you want to make out only the furlough went on holiday or broke the rules hang you head . Here is your medal for following the rules and working . 🏅
Miseryl · 12/02/2021 16:43

No, I'd rather have a secure job and a full wage.

kallia · 12/02/2021 16:53

@MamaTookMyEyebrows

Finally found a new job in January, and furloughed again after a day

Why do they do this though? Why not just delay recruitment? (I’m very glad for you that they didn’t - seems strange logic though!)

The new job is in a school. I started, but the following day Boris closed the schools. I'll go back when schools reopen, but it's a pain!
JoanOfArc8 · 12/02/2021 19:15

DH has worked throughout, (apart from the initial March/April lockdown) and every weekend when overtime was available. He’s always grafted regardless but even more so now my wages have reduced, again!

Just thought I needed to mention that so you don’t feel that we’re constantly having mini furlough parties together!

Regardless, I still have the worry for the future, so count yourself lucky if you’re still working and don’t have the added stress of wondering if you’ll have a job or not, as even though DH is still working, if I lost my job it would have a HUGE impact on us!

PinkPiranha11 · 12/02/2021 19:45

I’m pretty fucked off with seeing my neighbour, who is furloughed, drop her only child at school 3 days a week, return straight away (occasionally having picked up a takeaway coffee & cake from the local deli) and emerge again from her house at 3pm to pick him up. Her husband is vaguely a keyworker through his job in IT. Takes the piss. Am tempted to ring the school about it but she’d know it was me.

Figgyboa · 12/02/2021 20:02

I've been furloughed since March....much prefer to be working and making money (not in the UK). I'm not frolicking around, just trying to keep my mind and self busy as best I can.

islockdownoveryet · 12/02/2021 20:26

@PinkPiranha11

I’m pretty fucked off with seeing my neighbour, who is furloughed, drop her only child at school 3 days a week, return straight away (occasionally having picked up a takeaway coffee & cake from the local deli) and emerge again from her house at 3pm to pick him up. Her husband is vaguely a keyworker through his job in IT. Takes the piss. Am tempted to ring the school about it but she’d know it was me.
Buy why do you care ? And tell the school what that she buys cake every day ? What are you suggesting ? , you clearly have no idea . Also you seam really busy , to notice what time she leaves comes back every day .
TheKeatingFive · 12/02/2021 20:30

Her husband is vaguely a keyworker through his job in IT.

Sounds like they meet the schools criteria then. I don’t know what you’d be ringing the school about, they’d think you were a nut.

Siepie · 12/02/2021 21:21

I worked through the first lockdown. I’m now on maternity leave. I have the excitement of a new baby and a secure job to go back to, and I’m still bored and missing work. I’m definitely not jealous of anyone who has been furloughed the whole time!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 12/02/2021 21:25

@PinkPiranha11

I’m pretty fucked off with seeing my neighbour, who is furloughed, drop her only child at school 3 days a week, return straight away (occasionally having picked up a takeaway coffee & cake from the local deli) and emerge again from her house at 3pm to pick him up. Her husband is vaguely a keyworker through his job in IT. Takes the piss. Am tempted to ring the school about it but she’d know it was me.
If the school have allocated her child a place then what will ringing them up achieve? Guidance says only one parent has to be a key worker. Whether it's "in the spirit" or not, the child is entitled to a place.
tigger1001 · 13/02/2021 08:11

@PinkPiranha11

I’m pretty fucked off with seeing my neighbour, who is furloughed, drop her only child at school 3 days a week, return straight away (occasionally having picked up a takeaway coffee & cake from the local deli) and emerge again from her house at 3pm to pick him up. Her husband is vaguely a keyworker through his job in IT. Takes the piss. Am tempted to ring the school about it but she’d know it was me.
Why?

You have zero idea why the child is attending school. Not all spaces are for keyworker children, some are given to vulnerable children.

I would step away from the window and stop being so judgemental.

LemonTT · 13/02/2021 08:23

@Mingkong

I appreciate that , I know it's not everyone. I don't mean to sound unkind , just frustrated. I know of several people who are claiming through partners jobs and it pissed me off.
Why does it make you frustrated. It’s not the reason why you husband is ill or why he work such long hours. These are the sources of problems in your home. And they are not caused by people on furlough.

I work long hours as does my OH. I have not noticed anyone frolicking or having a furlough jolly. Because, well I’m working. When I’m not and I’m out and about I just see other people doing the same as me. They may be furloughed or they may be taking a break.

The cost of furlough is the lesser of two evils. I want my country to emerge in good enough shape for all to recover and for business to start being effective again. I don’t begrudge something that will benefit my country and my community in the long run.

I do get tired of divisiveness and moaning which is intended to set people against each other which not actually solving problems. I’d take a furloughed person over someone with the OPs agenda any day of the week.

PinkPiranha11 · 13/02/2021 08:41

@Waxonwaxoff0 but the guidance also says the school places should be used when there is no suitable adult at home to look after the child. She’s furloughed with nothing to do all day. She works in a gift shop. It’s closed and she’s already said she hasn’t got anything to do. I’m sorry but it’s a piss take.

AlohaMolly · 13/02/2021 08:59

@PinkPiranha11 don’t the guidelines also say that vulnerable children and those that can’t reasonably work at home can attend? There have been a few posts on here where posters have said their children have refused to work at home/their children’s MH was really suffering and the schools have asked or allowed them to attend school. I remember one poster talking about how her own MH was struggling so much that school said send the child in. You really have no idea why that child is going to school.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/02/2021 09:03

[quote PinkPiranha11]@Waxonwaxoff0 but the guidance also says the school places should be used when there is no suitable adult at home to look after the child. She’s furloughed with nothing to do all day. She works in a gift shop. It’s closed and she’s already said she hasn’t got anything to do. I’m sorry but it’s a piss take.[/quote]
But if the school have offered a place anyway then what difference will it make? They must know that she is furloughed.