Furlough advice

garynhead

I resigned from my job last month, (I was there 12+ years) & was intending to travel and find work on my return but I have been forced to return home due to Covid19. I contacted my former employer to ask if they would rehire me under the government furlough scheme as I am having self isolate & Martin Lewis suggested on TV that under the circumstances, organisations can do this ethically and legitimately. Is there any evidence I can provide my employer to prove it is legitimate and not illegal?!!! Please help as I am likely to lose my rented house without income over the next few months! Thank you
former employer response pictured 

Luvoj

garynhead said:

I resigned from my job last month, (I was there 12+ years) & was intending to travel and find work on my return but I have been forced to return home due to Covid19. I contacted my former employer to ask if they would rehire me under the government furlough scheme as I am having self isolate & Martin Lewis suggested on TV that under the circumstances, organisations can do this ethically and legitimately. Is there any evidence I can provide my employer to prove it is legitimate and not illegal?!!! Please help as I am likely to lose my rented house without income over the next few months! Thank you
former employer response pictured 

Perhaps you could show your old employer the video of Martin?
But that is not law.
As was mentioned by another yesterday on this board, I can't see many former employers willingly taking back those who have already told them what they can do with their job. If the job still needs doing, then the employer has probably recuited a repplacement by now, and may need to furlogh them.

It's a Job Retention Scheme. If an employer does take you back they are supposed to undertake not to make you redundant. If they have already employed a replacement, I'm not sure how many can give that undertaking especially at this difficult time.

The authorities are alive to the potential of fraudulent activity, such as employing friends and family just to maximise the state benefit being made available during this crisis.

Luvoj

You say you have up a 12 year old career in order to spend time travelling.
Presumably you saved up quite a bit for all that travelling, yet due to resons beyond your control, you were forced to curtail those travel plans. So what has happened to the remainder of your travel funds as you only planned to look for work once you returned.

In regards your rented accomodation, when did you take this on?
You see, most resnted accomodation is let on the basis you use it as your regular residence. Leaviing it empty long term causes all sorts of issues. But if that is waht you were doing, then you were planning on paying that rent anyway.

Or have you just rentedv this new accomodatiion. i.e. since you returned from your travels. If so, how did you expect to pay for it without a job?

But I see your former employer has already kindly given you guidance on where you could possibly seek new employment at this time.

HornetSaver

I think the specific situation you are in, is that the employer would be open to helping you if it doesn't hurt them, but will not if it does. I therefore think the position you find yourself in is subtly different to most - for you whether you're going to get furlough would depend on the more detailed advice regarding how it's going to work in practise (whereas I think most other employers have decided and their decisions are not going to change) though sadly I don't think we have an ETA on that.

My advice would be to do as the employer says with regards to applying for some of the other work currently available, assuming you can get it at £2000 per month or more then you're in as good a financial position as furlough, if you can get work but not at that rate it might be a slightly more balanced decision. Failing that, I'm not going to make the assumption that you have money to fall back on, but if you do then a combination of that and UC.

With regards to rent, it's likely to be a while before you can be evicted, though I'm certainly not suggesting that you get into arrears if it can be avoided.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/#rent

Bearing in mind you were going to travel, just curious if you've spent any money which you might be able to claw back?

Ptimmis

Hi

I left a job on Wednesday after serving my 4 week notice period. Leading up to my last weeks all was positive from my new employer. Thursday after I left I checked in with my new employer who were again optimistic that work was abundant and I'd be starting on the Monday. Come Friday I was informed that my start date was to be delayed. Ive since been told that my earliest start date is May. I'm applying for temp work but am I eligible to claim on my salary from my previous or current employer?

Thank you

Melloz

Hi I was made redundant on the 17th March due to Covid-19 and I am currently working my months notice.  Since the government announcement with regards to Furlough should I be covered by this and therefore the company will apply for this on my behalf?

HornetSaver

Ptimmis said:

Hi

I left a job on Wednesday after serving my 4 week notice period. Leading up to my last weeks all was positive from my new employer. Thursday after I left I checked in with my new employer who were again optimistic that work was abundant and I'd be starting on the Monday. Come Friday I was informed that my start date was to be delayed. Ive since been told that my earliest start date is May. I'm applying for temp work but am I eligible to claim on my salary from my previous or current employer?

Thank you

Previous. Ask them if they would be willing to re-hire and furlough you.