The "I've been furloughed" Thread

[Bradgate]

I work in aviation, so it’s not exactly a surprise that I will be furloughed for two months from 01 April. I will be paid 80% of my salary, which fortunately for me won’t be a significant issue, but will be for many of my colleagues.

The major concern is around what will be left of our industry when all this is over?

[JiggyJaggy]

Surely it is a case of the Aviation industry just getting through this (easy as that sounds), Im sure people will be itching to travel again?

[carreauchompeur]

JiggyJaggy said:

Surely it is a case of the Aviation industry just getting through this (easy as that sounds), Im sure people will be itching to travel again?

I think the problem going forward is uncertainty and lack of confidence... I want to start planning trips for the winter but the prospect of restrictions returning (either here or abroad) puts me off..

[anonymous-user]

Question please.

Would you rather be furloughed for 3 months with a higher chance of redundancy at the end. Or part time at 50% of pay for 3 months?

[928]

Sambucket said:

Question please.

Would you rather be furloughed for 3 months with a higher chance of redundancy at the end. Or part time at 50% of pay for 3 months?

For those that can survive on 50% of gross, that sounds a better plan. I wouldn't want to going through redundancy anytime soon.

[928]

I hope gov.uk get a move on and make the claim available before April payroll is due. Businesses would already have had to fund March; April might be a stretch especially if customers have gone into Admin, stretch terms (Wetherspoons!)

Furloughed here until further notice, business entirely close as suppling into hospitality with all projects cancelled. Wife also furloughed for a month starting tomorrow. Furlough is much better than manage on a few days a month or we go bust option the company was forcing through.

"The online service you’ll use to claim is not available yet. We expect it to be available by the end of April 2020."

[Jasey_]

Sambucket said:

Question please.

Would you rather be furloughed for 3 months with a higher chance of redundancy at the end. Or part time at 50% of pay for 3 months?

Not sure the amount of pay in the next 3 months has that much effect on the possibility after 3 months of being made redundant.

I think I'd rather get the 80% for 3 months and save every penny / cut every cost I could !

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

crofty1984 said:

My wife has been furloughed, she's not taking it well. I'm working from home but can see me getting furloughed after April if it goes on. We've already given up half our holiday "as a gesture to the business" to be allowed to work from home on full pay, even though our workload has fallen.

hmmm interesting. Forced to take holiday? Did you discuss what would happen in a future potential redundancy situation, as your left over holiday pay will form part of your severance. I would expect that redundancies will be paid at the statutory minimum, so , 1 week per year, notice period plus remaining holiday. If you've been forced to take it, you'll be missing out.. but let's hope it doesn't come to it.

FWIW - the company I work for has announced furloughing for most staff and we are currently in negotiation. Whether this is a one sided negotiation remains to be seen. But top ups, bonuses, company cars, holidays are all under review.

[Neptune188]

Contract terminated with three months notice. Limited company operating as a contractor so little by way of government protection. Potential for it to extend but not a huge amount.

Aviation will struggle massively out of this. Demand doesn't happen overnight and there was a lot of "fat" that's being rendered out by this.

[ozzuk]

Bradgate said:

I work in aviation, so it’s not exactly a surprise that I will be furloughed for two months from 01 April. I will be paid 80% of my salary, which fortunately for me won’t be a significant issue, but will be for many of my colleagues.

The major concern is around what will be left of our industry when all this is over?

You did note its 80% but capped at 2.5k, and even then subject to tax. If in the higher tax bracket it is quite a hit - I'm assuming the 2.5k is taxed at 40% (if you are still above the threshold) but would be good if anyone can confirm this.

[scenario8]

Furloughed indefinitely on 80% (not topped up) of basic. So, around 40% of expected earnings since pay is very much commission based.

Will there even be work to return to? Hopefully. If this leads to an economic slump then almost certainly not.

Arse.

[Shakermaker]

parabolica said:

TopGear7 said:

In terms of furlough; does the company have to furlough all staff doing Role X. Or could they furlough 50% and keep the other 50% on?

Just asking as quite confused by what my company is doing. Business is down by nearly 60%. However all workforce still running as per normal. In a way I'm pleased because it means business evidently has enough reserves in the bank to keep going as per normal, but it would make sense to furlough 30% (maybe those with kids, would make their lives easier juggling home schooling + work) and just cover the 20%. Everyone wins - ?

According to our lawyers you can furlough part of the workforce and keep the others working, but selection must be fair and justified and explained. I.e. someone works exclusively on a project that can no longer continue vs someone else on the same title who covers multiple project and still has work.

No requirement to furlough all staff doing the same role. We've asked for volunteers, and that's got us probably 80-90% of the way there in most cases before having to go through any form of exercise to justify the rest.

Ultimately "the rest" in our case, would look to furlough anyone in a high-risk category that could be significantly affected by Covid-19, and then people over 70, and then if you are really stuck, go for those who live further away in order to reduce travel etc.

[Chuffedmonkey]

There is talk about a % of staff being Furloughed soon but it could all be rumors. Its nervous times for most.

Does anyone know if the business can furlough staff if the company has not seen any drop in revenue? Our company shouldn't see a drop in revenue in the coming months but it does have a lot of staff with reduced work due to restrictions on certain work. I would imagine the government would not be happy if they furlough staff using government money whilst potentially still making money/profit.

[IanJ9375]

Chuffedmonkey said:

There is talk about a % of staff being Furloughed soon but it could all be rumors. Its nervous times for most.

Does anyone know if the business can furlough staff if the company has not seen any drop in revenue? Our company shouldn't see a drop in revenue in the coming months but it does have a lot of staff with reduced work due to restrictions on certain work. I would imagine the government would not be happy if they furlough staff using government money whilst potentially still making money/profit.

It sounds like a corporate money grab in that scenario.

Some of our workforce were furloughed today, remainder were asked to take a 20% cut which looks like a grab as well when you consider that the customer sites left with staff are full paying customers who haven't asked nor need a discount, their priority is maintaining business support.
Find out tomorrow what happens when you decline the 20% reduction

[anonymous-user]

There is definitely a lot sneaky power and money grabs going on. It’s like the Wild West for a fixed period and some folk are going to exploit it.

[Notreallymeeither]

ozzuk said:

You did note its 80% but capped at 2.5k, and even then subject to tax. If in the higher tax bracket it is quite a hit - I'm assuming the 2.5k is taxed at 40% (if you are still above the threshold) but would be good if anyone can confirm this.

Im not sure how it works either, but going in to new tax year so it’ll presumably reset your income from a tax perspective - but the amount of tax deducted will no doubt depend on your tax code, which in turn I suspect will depend on what you were earning in tax year 19/20???

[Johnnytheboy]

Incidentally when my manager rang me to say I'd been furloughed, she pronounced is "furloft", which has now passed into the language in our house.

[Jasey_]

Notreallymeeither said:

ozzuk said:

You did note its 80% but capped at 2.5k, and even then subject to tax. If in the higher tax bracket it is quite a hit - I'm assuming the 2.5k is taxed at 40% (if you are still above the threshold) but would be good if anyone can confirm this.

Im not sure how it works either, but going in to new tax year so it’ll presumably reset your income from a tax perspective - but the amount of tax deducted will no doubt depend on your tax code, which in turn I suspect will depend on what you were earning in tax year 19/20???

If you are just being paid the cap you wont be in the higher tax band anymore .

Not until you come out of furlough.

The payroll system should be able to work it out month by month but who knows !!

As I understand it - But I'm no expert

[Wing Commander]

Hi all

I am being furloughed, as of tomorrow morning. I am a 40% tax payer, so I am hitting up against the £2500 a month limit reasonably heavily.

Just want to check. If I was made redundant during the furlough scheme, would I be entitled to the redundancy at my usual rate or at the furlough rate?

I assume its a case that furloughing is in place of redundancy. If I then get made redundant, by its very nature, I am then out of the furlough scheme.

Thanks

[ezi]

Just this week been asked to take all remaining holiday days before the end of the financial year, normally we are allowed to roll over a few days into the next year but this year been told no so that's me off until next week.

Some of our staff are still working as normal, others have been thrown into the unknown; got to phone in on Friday afternoon to find out what happens from Monday. Our gaffer is wanting to keep some staff on standby ready to work for which we'll get paid just £35/day for being on call, normal day rate is approx. £125-130 so this feels like a smack in the mouth if I get asked to do this.

If a company is struggling to find work and has furloughed some staff without consultation/asking for volunteers, is there any way in which I can force myself into being furloughed instead of this £35/day rubbish?