Furlough choice? - employers said no!?

dglc2410

Hi, i am a PAYE staff for a reinstatement road works company for utilities work - Thames Water/UKPN.  I have been working from for last 3 weeks due to ill symptoms with my wife and kids. We are all better now, my work want me to come back in monday and go straight to sites to check jobs we have done. 

Also in mean time, my company have put out a email about the company going into a rota system and job sharing, money will be varied and hours will be too. 

I told them im not happy with that and my money cant be varied, i will prefer the government 80% where i know what my money is every month, my HR department said you dont have a choice with that as we are offering work? 

Is that right?? i dont have a choice??

bruno18

Companies have no obligation to use the Job Retention Scheme so they can request what you have stated.
They are foolish not to use this opportunity to save money and keep staff well paid with government backing but that is their choice.
If they have enough work to cope and maintain profit then nothing you can do and it is what it is I guess. 

dglc2410

So as it stands i dont have the right and choice to say "no i want the government furlough scheme"

Jeremy535897

No. You don't.

dglc2410

thats crazy, i find that outrageous.

so on monday, when im supposed to go back in and check sites.  Do i call up and say im self isolating and working from home?
 

Jeremy535897

That's your choice, but you could face disciplinary action.

dglc2410

Right ok, Thanks for the info

dglc2410

One last thing, but if the government is wanting and telling people to stay at home. I want to follow and obey those instruction. 

how will that go against me?

Waxy666

dglc2410 said:

thats crazy, i find that outrageous.

so on monday, when im supposed to go back in and check sites.  Do i call up and say im self isolating and working from home?
 

Without being too blunt, how is it outrageous that the company who you work for is asking you to do your job?  If your job can't be done from home (and I can't see how checking job sites could be) then your company has every right to ask you to go in (under the gov's current guidelines anyway).  Your employer clearly feels they've got work which they need you to do, so why would they furlough staff that they need to continue to operate?

calcotti

Waxy666 said:  Your employer clearly feels they've got work which they need you to do, so why would they furlough staff that they need to continue to operate?

Indeed. If they have work to be done they cannot furlough staff. The Job Retention Scheme is to help employers retain staff who would otherwise be laid off.

phillw

dglc2410 said:

I told them im not happy with that and my money cant be varied,

What does your contract say about that? 

dglc2410 said:

One last thing, but if the government is wanting and telling people to stay at home. I want to follow and obey those instruction. 

That isn't exactly what the government is saying though.
Outside of work they want people to stay at home & you should work from home if you can. Your employer says you can't and if they want you to inspect roads then that seems reasonable. Someone needs to inspect, it would seem rather unfair to let you stay at home safe on more money than your poor colleague that has to travel around.
Your job sounds essential and as long as your employer isn't making you go within two meters of anyone then I can't see how it goes against government instructions.

dglc2410 said:

so on monday, when im supposed to go back in and check sites.  Do i call up and say im self isolating and working from home? 

I would check your contract, but if sick pay was at the discretion of your employer then you could end up on SSP. If they don't believe you then you are ruining your relationship with your employer, which isn't going to make them more willing to listen to you.