So...true end of furlough?

[AlohaMolly]

What do we think? The budget comes out on 3rd March, and I don’t think restrictions will have been lifted by April. Will they extend again?

I work in tourism too and can see how valiantly people are trying to stay afloat. I think the government will have to extend it for closed industries like a PP has said.

Whilst yes there will be some companies abusing furlough and some companies utilising it incorrectly, you cannot order the mass closure of viable businesses that contribute millions of pounds in tax revenues in normal times without support.
These businesses are hugely viable but they have been ordered to close. They will be viable again in time when they can open. I’m a director of a business that supplies the pub trade. There is zero business because the pubs are closed. What about all those staff that work in those industries that have been ordered to close.

Do you want to be able to fly abroad on holiday in future years? But what are the likes of say Easy Jet to do at the moment? Of course they need furlough money. They can’t just close all operations, get rid of all pilots, crew, engineers etc and then fly you on holiday when this is all over.

Am I the only one concerned how we are going to eventually pay for all this magic money tree quantitive easing helicopter money printing eventually when the dust finally settles? Can there be a perpetual “free” lunch?

I know I'm a heartless bitch but this shit needs to be over and done with.
If they continue furlough, they'll continue with this shit.
When people think furlough is being swept from under them, then the plebs might start to get their pitch forks out and the government might just have to listen.

But the government will continue furlough so they can shut off our lives and the majority will keep their mouths shut.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia That is what concerns me too. The bill for all this, the unemployment which is on its way and the necessary cuts to services. Including the NHS of course.

@DuchessofHastings1 So you want people to lose their jobs, homes and be left unable to feed themselves of their children?

Why is there so much hate for furlough? There’s so many people who are desperate to get back to their jobs but can’t. Furlough is a genuine blessing for those who would have lost their jobs otherwise.

@Isolatedizzy

Agree furlough should be extended for those business that are forced to be closed!

When I was trying to sell my mum's house during the first lockdown our buyers solicitor was furloughed - why was a solicitor furloughed? Surely to god they just take a laptop home!

I have no problem with anyone furloughed but I think lots of employers have taken advantage of the scheme rather than just let their employees work from home!

We sold our house just after the first lockdown and our conveyancer openly said it was 'going a bit slowly because they've furloughed half of us here so I'm dealing with twice the number of cases I normally would'. Weirdly they didn't charge us half the normal price for this shit service...

@DuchessofHastings1 genuine question - why do you think the government would continue furlough any longer than they have to? You think they don’t know they’ll have to balance the books somehow? They’re doing it because it’s the least worst option. I think we all know boris would open everything up tomorrow if there was any chance it was safe to do so.
You cannot just shut down entire industries and not support them in some way. It’s not like there are thousands of alternate jobs for the taking.

I know I'm a heartless bitch

Yep

I think furlough should continue for sectors impacted by restrictions but I think people who have taken on a second job should not receive full furlough. I know some who are getting 80% furlough from one job and have taken on a second job with no intention of returning to the first job.

If the government is still not allowing foreign travel when furlough ends they will find themselves in charge of an island nation of 67 million people with no UK owned & controlled aviation industry.

BA, Virgin, EasyJet, Loganair & Eastern would all collapse in weeks without government support. That would leave TUI, which is German owned, and Ryanair as the only remaining airlines with U.K. based fleets.

@DuchessofHastings1

I truly hope they don't extend.

Selfish I know but too many people have been too happy to receive their 80% pay, watching netflix and not questioning the government and restrictions.
When unemployment and poverty replace furlough then hopefully peoples ears might start to prick up and start asking questions.

This is one factor

Also the system is insane. There's a local garden with staff on furlough and unpaid volunteers working. WTAF is that?

One of my friends is angry she couldn't get furlough for childcare but baby is in nursery that's still open?

And flower shops can't open but garden centres can.

I actually think furlough will be extended again though.

Is the Budget definitely going ahead in March?

Finish furlough and finish restrictions is my opinion.

@Susie477

If the government is still not allowing foreign travel when furlough ends they will find themselves in charge of an island nation of 67 million people with no UK owned & controlled aviation industry.

BA, Virgin, EasyJet, Loganair & Eastern would all collapse in weeks without government support. That would leave TUI, which is German owned, and Ryanair as the only remaining airlines with U.K. based fleets.

Absolutely, and pilots. They can’t just sit on their arses for months and then just man a plane. However BA is not even British owned any more, it part of IAG, Spanish owned? Head office London though. The whole aviation industry is at risk. This is not just about holidays, the aviation industry is responsible for trade and security. People need to see the bigger picture. Aviation is an infrastructure that once destroyed can’t be easily and safely replaced.

@Againstmachine

Finish furlough and finish restrictions is my opinion.

Same here. I certainly don't want people to go without but we can just open and be realistic. Happy to sign a Do Not Treat etc.

How long can this go on?

@rawalpindithelabrador

How long can this go on?

Germany have some kind of furlough scheme into summer 2022.

I'm on furlough (minimum wage job and have had the threat of redundancy looming over me) and I'm anti lockdown...

**
calm down ladies, don't get your knickers in a twist over little old me.
Of course I wouldn't like to see industries go down and people into poverty anymore than they have done in reality but I was just imagining the scenario of what it would actually be like if furlough was to end soon, but not the restrictions.

It would make people angry and start asking questions and not believe the shite they're given off the government and the media.

100% furlough will continue. To keep people quiet but also to stop businesses going down the toilet. The goverment are paying their wages for now but as soon as they stop, a good few employers won't be able to pay them and that means more businesses lost and it will really show how devastating these lockdowns have been...but we cant have that now can we so yes furlough will continue for sure.

Enough is enough,can’t see any good reason to extend it It’s just stacking up problems for the future

I'm a single mum of 2 and furlough is no jolly holiday! I'm a waitress in a family run gastropub. I was furloughed from March until the end of august. Was back at work for 2 weeks then had to have 2 weeks off work unpaid as my 9 year old dd had to self isolate as her teacher had covid and my boss wouldn't furlough me??? Then back on furlough from beginning of November until God knows when! Since being furloughed again in November my furlough rate is based on September's wages which was a measly 2 weeks so I'm getting about £60 a week! I want to go back to work and earn full pay!

@LittleDonkeyKong if it’s the same employer you worked for before 19th March 2020 then your furlough should be based on February 2020 pay, or same month 2020 pay (for months other than Feb) or average 19-20 pay

They only extended furlough because of lockdown 2 . It was all set to end at the end of October but then was extended because of the lockdown so tbh it may just be short notice or they will come up with a new scheme.
But the simple fact is it can’t and won’t end until everywhere can re open.
I’m hopeful that by March places will start reopening but it’s looking like May for restaurants/pubs .

If you are happy for there to be no tourism industry, and for most museums, soft play, gyms, swimming pools 1000s of charities, shops, cinemas, airports (just a few examples) etc to close forever then yes let's end furlough.