Told I dont qualify for furlough due to start date

selina2000

andyrep909 said:

Hi all , please help if possible 
 I started a new job on the 23rd March . 3 days later the business announced that it was going through the furlough process . I was told I was safe and would receive full pay 80% gov and 20% insurance . At 16.00 I was told that the guidlines state that I had to be on payroll on 29th Feb 2020 to qualify .
I have an offer letter dates the 26th Feb stating the start date pay etc.... I've been told I wont qualify but hoping there is  a solution to this as I'm left with a household to pay for
I've seen the criteria and it does state the 29th feb the person must be on payroll .

You started a new job on the 23rd March and 3 days later the business announced that it was going through the furlough process.

How do you know that when it is only the 25th March today????

Your employer decides whether or not to furlough you.  It's designed to retain you rather than making you redundant. If your employer is not prepared to furlough you, despite having only recruited you 2 days ago, then it doesn;t sound like they want you to stay.

Look for a new job.

Jeremy535897

It sounded authoritative at the time as it was said to be based on a conversation with a Government representative. We now know that at that time nobody had worked out such details hence speculation.

Always check the source.

andyrep909

Thankyou for all the comets guys. I've had a sleepless night worrying about this . I have a meeting with the ceo and manager this morning. I was told yesterday that the job would be there for me once they return from the furlough . Tbh I think they are a little unsure of the process . Would I be right to go into his meeting saying 'it's you guys that chose to furlough me and given that I was in PAYE in my previous employment , had an offer letter for this new job on the 26th feb then started on PAYE payroll with the new company on Monday 23rd then surely with a sytem that's designed to keep people in employment HMRC would be satisfied there is nothing sinister going on . Again thanks for your replies , appreciate it .

andyrep909

Also I have a signed employment contract for the 23rd March .

Jeremy535897

I would go into the meeting and say that your understanding is that there is as yet no certainty as to whether you need to be employed by them on 29 February or not, so why can't they add you to the list of furloughed employees?

andyrep909

Ok , as an update we are going forward here as the signed contract being sufficient for the furlough process . I have been on PAYE for years and there is a sniith transition to my new employer. So that coupled with a signed contract and the company wanting me to be employed seems to be the justification if any question are raised with HMRC . Hope this helps others and thanks guys .

Rose_Hill12345

@Jeremy535897, thank you for your help. Do you by any chance have any information regarding the old BBC Money Box episode? I will try to find the episode but I wondered if you know who it was who said 29 February? And did they acknowledge that this date was purely speculation? 
I would just like to check this for myself as I am trying to negotiate furlough and would like to go  armed with as much information. 
Thank you in advance!

Rose_Hill12345

 ... And good luck, @andyrep909! Glad to hear things are working out. Hopefully my negotiations with my new employer will go the same way!

Rose_Hill12345

@Jeremy535897 - don't worry about replying to my question. I've just re-read what you were saying and I understand your point! Thanks

andyrep909

Rose_Hill12345 said:

 ... And good luck, @andyrep909! Glad to hear things are working out. Hopefully my negotiations with my new employer will go the same way!

Just state the ambiguity of the situation . If you have a work contract & offer etc that's what we are going fwd with .