Volunteer furlough

sprinkles79

Hi.  

I work 37 hours a week for a not for profit and an 10 additional volunteer hours (roughly).  I’m being furloughed March, April and May. 

I’m keen to continue volunteer work for them, but the accountant is unsure if I can continue volunteer work.    

Can anyone provide more clarity on the volunteer issue? 

gary83

No you can’t volunteer for them, you’re not allowed to either make money or provide services for the employer.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Jeremy535897

This stuff is a minefield, because if you look at the equivalent briefing to employers
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for
you will find this in it:

If your employee does volunteer work or training

A furloughed employee can take part in volunteer work or training, as long as it does not provide services to or generate revenue for, or on behalf of your organisation.

However, if workers are required to for example, complete online training courses whilst they are furloughed, then they must be paid at least the NLW/NMW for the time spent training, even if this is more than the 80% of their wage that will be subsidised.

gary83

What would you be doing though that doesn’t either make them money or provide them with a service? That seems to rule out anything worth doing.

calcotti

TheJob Retention Scheme only excludes you from doing work for the employee who has furloughed you.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#employees-you-can-claim-for

A furloughed employee can take part in volunteer work or training, as long as it does not provide services to or generate revenue for, or on behalf of your organisation.

Jeremy535897

I don't know. Health and safety? First Aid? I don't know how limiting this is supposed to be. Get Carol Vorderman in and teach them all basic maths.

gary83

exactly, the OP wanted to continue to volunteer for the charity that usually employs him.

calcotti

Apologies I didn’t read the original post properly. I can see why there is a question mark.

in the context of a volunteer in a charity I can see that is a problem if they’re are doing voluntary fundraising. However if they provide free advice or afree service to members of the public they are not making money for the charity. Arguably also they are not providing a service to the charity, they are helping the charity provide a service to the public. It’s going to depend on the nature of the volunteering.

sprinkles79

Thanks,  
we provide a community service to the public as you’ve said.  It doesn’t generate a profit for the charity at all. (And right now the community needs volunteers.) 

The work would involve the usual volunteer work I do, helping with social media, sharing critical info etc, replying to or forwarding any essential communication to directors. 

It’s frustrating that I’m being told I can’t volunteer time to help when it’s making money for no one. 

calcotti

sprinkles79 said:

Thanks,  
we provide a community service to the public as you’ve said.  It doesn’t generate a profit for the charity at all. (And right now the community needs volunteers.) 

The work would involve the usual volunteer work I do, helping with social media, sharing critical info etc, replying to or forwarding any essential communication to directors. 

It’s frustrating that I’m being told I can’t volunteer time to help when it’s making money for no one. 

Dealing with the communication of directors could be construed as providing a service to the charity.

i suspect this rule hasn’t been thought through in the context of charities.