The "I've been furloughed" Thread

[HorneyMX5]

I couldn't see a thread for those of us going through it, thought one might be useful for some moral support.

I got notified today, takes effect end of tomorrow for minimum of 3 weeks. I can survive on the payments, just. Really worried about the future though.

[HorneyMX5]

Glad I started this thread, seems to be useful already.

My worry is when the scheme ends I’ll be made redundant as the business will have shrunk and my role can be absorbed into others.

My single task right now is to trim as much fat from my expenditure as possible. Having 3 cars on the road I have to keep taxed and insured is a nightmare. I wish I’d moved them into storage before all this kicked off. That would save me £150 a month!

[HorneyMX5]

Mine is basic, so no commission or car allowance.

[HorneyMX5]

Vanden Saab said:

I am self-employed (sole trader) and no work so in effect furloughed at 80%. Are we allowed here OP?

Of course, we all need help, advice and some glimmers of hope!

[HorneyMX5]

Likewise. My boss is now covering my job as his workload has dropped. Can’t see them keeping us furloughed staff on if things don’t pick up.

Interestingly most of those furloughed are the ones with the worst sickness records.

I’m starting to think I need to plan for long term unemployment sadly.

[HorneyMX5]

I’m still on my email, MS Teams and Intranet. Not allowed to work, but allowed to keep in touch. We’re even encouraged to join the social Teams meetings, we had bingo and cocktails yesterday.

I’m the only one of the furloughed people who has made the effort to join in though. The others have gone silent on all our internal comma channels.

[HorneyMX5]

hyphen said:

HorneyMX5 said:

I’m still on my email, MS Teams and Intranet. Not allowed to work, but allowed to keep in touch. We’re even encouraged to join the social Teams meetings, we had bingo and cocktails yesterday.

I’m the only one of the furloughed people who has made the effort to join in though. The others have gone silent on all our internal comma channels.

The others have a life?

If you do a job that is your dream job, and your team are your best mates then fair enough.

But if you are just a 'resource' and in a ok job, then forget work completely.

Take up an (indoor) hobby, or study and upskill. Soon you will be back chained to a desk for 40+ hours a week, so enjoy this unexpected luxury?

Remember, the company furloughed you, and if furlough hadn't been offered by the government, they would likely have put you out on your ass. So why are being so addicted to the company mission at this time?

Edited by hyphen on Saturday 4th April 10:12

I guess it depends where you work. We’re a small company of 26 who develop and sell an intranet product. We’re a pretty close knit bunch with over half the company having in excess of 10 years service, some over 20.

My feeling is that it can do me no harm to keep visible, even though I’m not working.

I’m not an idiot though, I realise that should the business not see an improvement in the next few months they will likely make me redundant. I’m therefore planning for that eventuality as well.

[HorneyMX5]

Many of us must be worried about having a job to return to, has anyone else started job hunting while on furlough?

I'm updating my CV today and starting to browse what's currently advertised.

[HorneyMX5]

makaveli144 said:

Furloughed but having video conference meetings go into the diary, wouldnt mind if pay was been topped up but work at the tax payers expense seems like a bit of a liberty.

They are breaking the law by doing this.

[HorneyMX5]

I’ve been told it will be longer than the minimum of 3 weeks, but not by how much. I don’t think they know to be honest. Until work picks up they don’t need us.

[HorneyMX5]

I’m not expecting to go back to my place, I can already see my job has been absorbed and divided between my manager and another manager. Some of my colleagues are seeing it as a free holiday and I think they’re going to have a very rude awakening in a few weeks time. They think I’m mad to be job hunting and everything will be back normal by august.

[HorneyMX5]

Had mine extended to end of May. Enjoying the time on and off, a lot of worry about having a job to go back to. Feels like a very limbo status. Also this is the longest I’ve ever not worked for (including leave as I’ve never taken more than 2 weeks off in one go).

I would 100% rather be working.

[HorneyMX5]

Jasandjules said:

Sambucket said:

I can see from the logs that my furloughed staff are logging in every day to check on sales, so I don’t think it’s entirely a stress free holiday

That may well cost your company their HMRC payments.

It shouldn't, they're not working or adding to the revenue of the business by knowing this information. I'm in the same boat, furloughed but I can still access salesforce and our intranet to keep updated on what the business is doing.

[HorneyMX5]

Jasandjules said:

HorneyMX5 said:

It shouldn't, they're not working or adding to the revenue of the business by knowing this information. I'm in the same boat, furloughed but I can still access salesforce and our intranet to keep updated on what the business is doing.

We will see in due course what the HMRC definitions become for such matters. My current recommendation to clients is to revoke all access to everything so there can be no doubt.

The rules say:

When your employees are on furlough you cannot ask your employee to do any work that:

• makes money for your organisation or any organisation linked or associated with your organisation
• provides services for your organisation or any organisation linked or associated with your organisation.

They can take part in volunteer work or training.

Having read only access to the business does not breach any of those things. Cutting off employees completely seems a bad decision for their health and well being. My place encourages us to stay in touch on the social channels and we run company wide quiz or Bingo on Fridays that includes all staff be they furloughed or still working.

[HorneyMX5]

Reports surfacing that employers are going to be asked to pay 25% from August onwards.

[HorneyMX5]

I believe 25% of the 80%.

[HorneyMX5]

Lordbenny said:

Was furloughed....just got an email....been made redundant! I presume firm doesn’t want to pay the extra furlough payments. Now jobless...I’m not the only one am I?

You won't be, I'm expecting it.

I would have thought they'd have kept your furloughed until end of July as it's no cost to them but gives you extra time to job hunt.

[HorneyMX5]

That’s great news, nice one.

I got told I’m off for at east another month.

[HorneyMX5]

I'm one of 7 at our firm, 2 are going back Monday. Not me.

[HorneyMX5]

I'm just starting month 4 with no end in sight. I suspect my MD will keep those of use furloughed on the scheme for as along as he can to help his bottom line. The business is operating as normal mostly, with lower sales income.

I've stayed in touch with everyone I work with and meet people for coffee every now and again, as well as still being on the company intranet and MS Teams groups. It's weird watching other people do my job and I am concerned that if things don't pick up before the scheme ends they won't see the point in bringing me back.

Trying to look at the upside, with lockdown now very light I am able to really enjoy a summer like no summer since I was in full time educations over 25 years ago. That is something to try and savour because it won't happen again until I'm retired.