Are my work being totally unfair? -Furlough related

[Rogben13]

Hello! So originally it was agreed (in writing but not signed) that I would be furloughed until the end of July. Originally I was furloughed due to no work, however I asked if I could be furloughed for longer due to me having both my kids at home still due to home schooling etc. My boss agreed that they’d keep me on furlough for as long as government allows it, however they would be reviewing at the end of July.
Thursday last week I got an email to say due to me being furloughed until the end of July they are taking 43 accrued hours off my holiday entitlement.
And would be required to take these at the end of July. I messaged them back and gave my reasons of why I thought it was slightly unfair, and they basically got a bee on their bonnet, became very offensive and basically told me I now need to come back to work next week (mon 15th) to me this seems totally unfair. Not only have I been given less than a weeks notice but they are still planning on taking my holidays away from me. I also had annual leave booked for April and May (booked before all corona/lockdown kicked off) and they never gave me any notice about it having to be cancelled, and they didn’t pay me the extra 20% to make it up to full pay either. Am I legally entitled to have these back??
I’m so annoyed as I kept my son off school purposely as I was told I could be furloughed until end of July, now his school is full capacity and he can’t go back! It just makes everything so awkward!
Does anyone know if I have any specific rights?
Thank you!

What would happen from the end of July when it would still be the school holidays still?
Or in September when government tries again to reopen primary?

Wow, what an absolute entitled arse you are.
Maybe your employer should make you redundant instead.

Are you not able to work from home? What do you do for a job?

I've been involved with furlough for my staff (around 80 at the height of the pandemic). Initially we furloughed on the grounds of shielding, then childcare/carer responsibilities, then other medical conditions and finally volunteers. We didn't furlough anyone for longer than 9 weeks initially and then extended the shielding group till the end of the month. We have now started to bring people back. The only people able to stay off are the shielding group followed by those who we don't have any work for. Everyone remaining on furlough has been given notice to take accrued holidays to the end of their furlough date. The legal requirement is to give twice the amount of notice in respect of the period of leave to be taken ie 5 days leave requires 10 days notice. In terms of returning to work, we only give 24 hours notice.
There is nothing unreasonable about your company's actions. If you don't want to use annual leave you could ask for unpaid leave, however if work is available, you may not get it. If you are struggling for childcare ask your employer for a letter confirming your requirement to attend work. We've issued letters to our staff.
Remember, furlough is primarily a job retention scheme which has the advantage of assisting with childcare.

You've lost sight of the bigger picture 🙄.

Redundancies are inevitable. Never forget that.

A weeks notice, not ideal but not unreasonable. As for the holidays, my husband was told he had to take a certain % of his holidays by the end of June. Again not ideal as we'd hoped for him to have a week paternity in November and a and some extra time as paid holiday but now he's not quite got enough days left. A shame yes, but far better that than have no job! He's not complained about it once.

Gov.uk tells you all you need to know.

I think you've reached the point to
be lucky to keep your job.

If I had such an ungrateful staff with such an entitled attitude, I'd look at how to make them redundant and find someone grateful to have a job. The fact you can't see at all how lucky you've been so far doesn't bear well. They night just be hoping you decide you can't come back and resign..

Your employer is entitled to require you to take holiday when they choose, as long as they give you sufficient notice.
Your employer is entitled to bring you back from furlough whenever they want.
No one is entitled to be furloughed.

Your employer does have to pay you 100% when you take holiday, which means topping up furlough from 80%.

YABVU and entitled
HTH

Lots of companies do not want people back from furlough then to have substantial amounts of leave built up to take by the end of the financial year. Both my husband and son who work for different large companies have been told that they have to take a certain amount of leave by a certain date and that no leave will be carried over this year. Businesses can not afford it and they need their workers back in.

Furlough was temporary and misused by some companies. When government made it known and will be investigating, those have realised and getting people back now.
The only reason you are on furlough is simply because at the moment that job exists and this is how people end up overworked. Companies can see if others can do your job and others then why is that other needed. Less than two years and it’s easier to get rid of people. Zero contract hours etc all vulnerable.

Unless you are shielding or have another job lined up you either suck it up, find ways to work around partner or leave. Gov site have been consistent with this info. They even mention if your child is shielding tough shit go to work.

When you’re on furlough it means your employer has no work for you. When work is available again they ask you to come back.
You need to be ready to work when the business needs you. Childcare isn’t their problem but it sounds like they have tried to help you take longer by using leave that has been accrued. Sounds fair.

How entitled are you?! Furlough is not a childcare scheme.

Legally you have to have double the amount of times notice before your employer can make you use holiday - ie if they want you to use 5 days, they’d have to give ten days notice as a minimum. This would also need to be topped up to 100%. Re your existing booked holiday, you need to find out if they cancelled it. If not, they will have to pay you the extra 20% on top of those days.

I personally think you are being a bit unreasonable. If staff up
And down the country wanted to take their annual leave after furlough, the economy will take a huge hit as it limits businesses abilities (in most cases) to start generating an income again.

It sounds like your company have taken umbridge to your reaction hence asking you to return earlier. I would calm down and call them tomorrow.