FURLOUGH AND SABBATICAL

RUBYJACK

Family member is employed by an International Airline who offered 3 choices to staff to help the Company remain financially viable during the Coronavirus situation.  (8 weeks unpaid leave / 6-12 months unpaid sabbatical / Severance).  Staff had to commit to a decision in a very short time and deadline was the day before the furlough option announced by the Government which obviously may have made some staff rethink their options had the wider picture been known.
Airline is now choosing to furlough those staff members who opted for unpaid leave but refusing to furlough those who opted for a sabbatical.  As those that have opted for a sabbatical are losing more than 8 weeks pay in total to help the Company, is there any legal reason why the sabbaticals cannot start after the two month furlough period with the sabbatical time either being by reduced or extended by two these months?  Any thoughts or help gratefully received. 

Jeremy535897

The employer is entitled to do as it wishes. It can choose who it furloughs, so long as it is within the scheme rules.It is permitted to furlough employees who were placed on unpaid leave after 28 February.