Flexible furlough - What can and can't employer's request?
Flexible furlough - What can and can't employer's request?
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Discussion

airsafari87

Original Poster:

3,212 posts

205 months

Monday 5th October 2020
quotequote all
One of the apprentices in the office was placed on flexible furlough last week.

He has just text me (I am a bit of a mentor / sounding board for him) and he recieved a call off the company asking him to do 'A quick bit of work' for them.

The work required will take less than 1 hour to complete and could very easily be carried out by another employee currently still working.

He will, and still does remain on flexible furlough.

He does have the ability to work from home and this work would be carried out while he is there.

The company seems to be under the impression that they can just call him up any time they need while he is on furlough and he must do any work they ask of him.

Is this how the new furlough scheme works? Or are they taking the Michael?

38911

765 posts

174 months

Monday 5th October 2020
quotequote all
airsafari87 said:
One of the apprentices in the office was placed on flexible furlough last week.

He has just text me (I am a bit of a mentor / sounding board for him) and he recieved a call off the company asking him to do 'A quick bit of work' for them.

The work required will take less than 1 hour to complete and could very easily be carried out by another employee currently still working.

He will, and still does remain on flexible furlough.

He does have the ability to work from home and this work would be carried out while he is there.

The company seems to be under the impression that they can just call him up any time they need while he is on furlough and he must do any work they ask of him.

Is this how the new furlough scheme works? Or are they taking the Michael?
Yes they are taking the piss - Furlough'd employees are not permitted to work. But he's in a difficult place - if he tells them to FRO it might reflect badly on him, it might reinforce a perception that they can do without him etc..... but if he does the work, he sets a precedent and is breaking furlough rules.

Personally, in that situation, I would do it this time but emphasis that I was uncomfortable because whilst I am flexible and committed and I can't wait to get back to work, I don't want the company to get into trouble by breaking Furlough rules as I've heard the penalties can be quite severe.

stumpage

2,194 posts

249 months

Monday 5th October 2020
quotequote all
38911 said:
Yes they are taking the piss - Furlough'd employees are not permitted to work.
The rules have changed. Flexible furlough now exists. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flexible-furlou...

Countdown

47,139 posts

219 months

Monday 5th October 2020
quotequote all
airsafari87 said:
One of the apprentices in the office was placed on flexible furlough last week.

He has just text me (I am a bit of a mentor / sounding board for him) and he recieved a call off the company asking him to do 'A quick bit of work' for them.

The work required will take less than 1 hour to complete and could very easily be carried out by another employee currently still working.

He will, and still does remain on flexible furlough.

He does have the ability to work from home and this work would be carried out while he is there.

The company seems to be under the impression that they can just call him up any time they need while he is on furlough and he must do any work they ask of him.

Is this how the new furlough scheme works? Or are they taking the Michael?
Yes that's how FF works, no they're not taking the Michael.

Asking HIM to do the work rather than "another Employee" means that THEY will need to pay 100% of his salary rather than paying him 80% which they claim wholly back from the Guv'mint. (so they are a lot worse off by asking him to do it).

Jasandjules

71,909 posts

252 months

Monday 5th October 2020
quotequote all
airsafari87 said:
The company seems to be under the impression that they can just call him up any time they need while he is on furlough and he must do any work they ask of him.

Is this how the new furlough scheme works?
Yes it is. The scheme has now completely changed.....

38911

765 posts

174 months

Monday 5th October 2020
quotequote all
stumpage said:
The rules have changed. Flexible furlough now exists. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flexible-furlou...
I stand corrected - thanks for the link.