JOB RETENTION SCHEME , FURLOUGH EXPLOITATION

jgpp63

Hi my sons employer is forcing him to accept 'Furlough leave' @80% of wages but instead of not working he is forcing him to work his full week for 80% of pay with a threat of losing hours or his job if he doesn't accept.

He obviously doesn't want to lose his job at the moment and is doubtful that his employer will do the right thing as he appears to want to exploit the situation, not sure how to handle this without him losing his job as he doesn't want to agree to it.

neilmcl

Gather as much evidence of this and report your employer. If they furlough you then they cannot expect you to do any work, if they do then they will be committing fraud.

HornetSaver

neilmcl said:

Gather as much evidence of this and report your employer. If they furlough you then they cannot expect you to do any work, if they do then they will be committing fraud.

This.

Short term, I think your son's best option is likely to do the work "under protest". If you have hard evidence that they have said 80% is due to Furlough and that they have also said - preferably in the same way - that he'll be dismissed if he doesn't work a full week for Furlough pay, then that's something you should be able to action down the line.

jgpp63

Hi, thanks, yes, the demands are via text. It's so unfair and an almost impossible situation to be in at this time, blackmail to be honest.

Luvoj

jgpp63 said:

Hi my sons employer is forcing him to accept 'Furlough leave' @80% of wages but instead of not working he is forcing him to work his full week for 80% of pay with a threat of losing hours or his job if he doesn't accept.

He obviously doesn't want to lose his job at the moment and is doubtful that his employer will do the right thing as he appears to want to exploit the situation, not sure how to handle this without him losing his job as he doesn't want to agree to it.

Does your son have a contract of employment? Lets hope so as it sounds like he now needs to rely upon it.

There is, of course, the real risk that anyone may end up losing their job during this difficult time.

But it sounds like your son's employer fortunately still has the work to keep him fully employed, so if they can't pay him his full wages then there is something seriously wrong with their business.

jgpp63

Hi, yes they have the work to employ him but they have seen an opportunity to essentially force him to work, the Government will pick up his wage for the coming months and also giving him a pay cut by him working full hours for 80% of salary. Nothing other than opportunistic greed helped along by a dwindling job market where people are fearful of losing employment

Luvoj

jgpp63 said:

Hi, yes they have the work to employ him but they have seen an opportunity to essentially force him to work, the Government will pick up his wage for the coming months and also giving him a pay cut by him working full hours for 80% of salary. Nothing other than opportunistic greed helped along by a dwindling job market where people are fearful of losing employment

Your employer cannot force your son to accept anything other than what he has already accepted to in the contract of employment they both entered into.

jgpp63

Hi, unfortunately the very real threat is that he accepts to being 'furloughed', accept 80% of his wage via this scheme and still have to work his full week OR have his hours cut or job terminated. His contract is neither here nor there with an employer willing to exploit this Government help illegally. Of course my son can raise this with Acas / employment lawyers etc down the line but the job is now and in a very unsure market this job is very important to him.
It's pure exploitation of a scheme that is there to help people

HornetSaver

jgpp63 said:

Hi, unfortunately the very real threat is that he accepts to being 'furloughed', accept 80% of his wage via this scheme and still have to work his full week OR have his hours cut or job terminated. His contract is neither here nor there with an employer willing to exploit this Government help illegally. Of course my son can raise this with Acas / employment lawyers etc down the line but the job is now and in a very unsure market this job is very important to him.
It's pure exploitation of a scheme that is there to help people

I am confident that the employer will get what they deserve down the line but unfortunately, as I think you've indicated, in the short term the power is absolutely, 100% with the employers. It's disgusting (and in this particular case, fraudulent), and if the Government think they're going to last four and a half years without doing something about employers crossing the line they're in for a rude awakening. But, here and now, it would be wrong not to acknowledge that that's where we are and there's little to be done at this moment.

Smodlet

From what you have said, it sounds as if you should report this employer to Action Fraud, the police, the Chamber of Commerce, HMRC or somewhere.  Why not name and shame on here at least?

Who do you think is paying for all these 80% salaries?  We, the taxpayers, that's who.  This employer is defrauding not only we, the little people but also the UK government.  I want to believe someone, somewhere actually gives a damn about that.

jgpp63

As I pointed out, this job is very necessary financially to my son as I'm sure you can understand given the current situation but rest assured if the owner forces the issue and doesn't listen to my sons views my son will lose his job and the business will be named but I'm not sure they would be shamed. 
Indeed, just when we see the World getting on together and helping each other out someone sees an opportunity to screw the system we all rely on.