Company not letting me work or furlough

Andy_L

Shielding is people who have been identified as a high risk group who isolate for the next 12 weeks. Self isolating is people not in that group who show symptoms of cv isolating for a week 

j_danie1

Due to the lack of work my hours have dropped from an average of 34hours per week to only 14hours. I have asked to be furloughed as I would be better off even only receiving 80% of my usual pay, however my employer said I would be dropping them in it by not doing the hours on offer as well as them suggesting I would be the last one called in when the work does get back to the normal levels. Is that fair or is there anything I can do to overcome this this? 

neilmcl

Bradden said:

Is there a difference between shielding and self-isolating or is it just semantics?

Yes, there's a clear difference. Those shielding are supposed to stay in isolation for 12 weeks. If you self-isolate then it's usually for 14 days.

gary83

Andy_L said:

unforeseen said:

They can't furlough you but, if they wish, they can allow you to work from home. 

"Employees who are shielding in line with public health guidance can be placed on furlough."

The only reason I can think for them not doing it is that they don't have the cash flow  to pay you the 80% salary for the 2 months it takes before the government money comes through

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

No you are misunderstood, employees that are shielding already at home can be placed on furlough as long as they fulfil the eligibility criteria which is the opening two lines of the guidance:

If you and your employer both agree, your employer might be able to keep you on the payroll if they’re unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This is known as being ‘on furlough’.

if you don’t meet that criteria then there’s no point reading the rest of it, it refers to “they’re unable to operate” clearly meaning the employer, it doesn’t refer to “you’re unable to operate” so that doesn’t make you eligible regardless of whether you have health concerns or childcare issues.

GazNicki

Bradden said:

Is there a difference between shielding and self-isolating or is it just semantics?

Shielding is for the most vulnerable, and will have likely received a letter. It is for 12 weeks. Literally not to leave the house.

Self-Isolating is for people with symptoms of Covid-19, and is for 7-days (for an individual living at home alone) or 14-days (for those who live in a household with more than themselves).

There is also Social Distancing, which is what everyone should be doing. The over 70s, those with certain underlying medical conditions, and pregnant ladies should be working from home along with all non-key workers.

Llerryt

gary83 said:

Andy_L said:

unforeseen said:

They can't furlough you but, if they wish, they can allow you to work from home. 

"Employees who are shielding in line with public health guidance can be placed on furlough."

The only reason I can think for them not doing it is that they don't have the cash flow  to pay you the 80% salary for the 2 months it takes before the government money comes through

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

No you are misunderstood, employees that are shielding already at home can be placed on furlough as long as they fulfil the eligibility criteria which is the opening two lines of the guidance:

If you and your employer both agree, your employer might be able to keep you on the payroll if they’re unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This is known as being ‘on furlough’.

if you don’t meet that criteria then there’s no point reading the rest of it, it refers to “they’re unable to operate” clearly meaning the employer, it doesn’t refer to “you’re unable to operate” so that doesn’t make you eligible regardless of whether you have health concerns or childcare issues.

I think what you quoted from the link has now been updated. Originally I think your quote was correct, however, if youo click on your link now, Gary, the opening paragraph States 

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a temporary scheme open to all UK employers for at least three months starting from 1 March 2020. It is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

So surely and employer that has employees that are shielding for 12 weeks can claim they are severely affected? 

gary83

good spot the guidance has just changed, (the February 28th date remains in force though), if you’ve been told to self isolate you can now claim for SSP for upto 28 weeks, that’s a new change as well:

You can get £94.25 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. It’s paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.

If you are staying at home because of COVID-19 you can now claim SSP. This includes individuals who are caring for people in the same household and therefore have been advised to do a household quarantine.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees

So obviously those who are advised to stay at home are intended to claim that & not furlough

unforeseen

But who advises to do a household quarantine? 111?

p00hsticks

Bradden said:

Is there a difference between shielding and self-isolating or is it just semantics?

Yes there is a difference.

Shielding is for the extremely vulnerable who have severe respiratory conditions or suppressed immune systems - the 1.5 million who have been written to individually by NHS England and told not to leave their homes at all for 12 weeks (other than for urgent ongoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy) 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

There is also a section of the population that is more generally vulnerable (e.g the over 70's, pregnant women, diabetics and the seriously overweight) who have been advised to be 'particularly stringent' in practising social distancing  and to self-isolate if possible

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

Self isolating is for those showing symptoms (high temperature and/or a repeditive dry cough) or who have recently come in contact with someone else who has