Furloughed but being asked to work still

Mamfa_Li

Hi, I received an email yesterday to tell me I was being furloughed with immediate effect but would receive the 80% and my employer would top up the 20% so I get 100%.  Great news I though and thought how fortunate I am  ..... BUT ...... my employer still expects me to work from home my full contracted hours but keep it quiet and if anyone queries it just say 'oh I am just helping out, not working - nobody knows how to do this part  of my role so I am doing them a favour'.  This does not sit well with me - I should not be working.  Surely, I am defrauding the government??  I also feel if I raise it with my employer and just stop working then they will not pay me at all and will withhold my salary at the end of this month.
Advice please ..... and I am sure I won't be the only employee being put in this position - my anxiety is high already because of COVID-19 and this is just making me so much worse
Thanks.

neilmcl

I'm sure there will be a number of small businesses doing the same. Although the detail has yet to be released the fact still remains if you're furloughed then you can't be doing any work. It's up to you how you play this, although it will be your employer who may be liable for fraud.

Jeremy535897

It is so disappointing to see people trying to cheat in these times. You know it's wrong and your employer is putting you in an impossible situation. As I said to the last person who raised this issue, get as much evidence as you can, and then say you cannot be a party to a fraud.
If they try to sack you and withhold your wages for time worked, point out that you will then have to take them to court for the wages owed, and their behaviour will in all likelihood come out in the open in court.