No mans land

_Steve_

Hi all wondered if I might ask for some advice please.

I tendered my resignation in a full time engineering job on the 2nd of March this year.

I spoke with the MD of the company about my leaving before my actual finish day the 28th March and leaving there and then on the 24h March as my Wife is on immune suppressant drugs and makes her vulnerable and social distancing wasn't really being adhered to at this point in time.

But they were doing their best to deal with the circumstances as are we all!

He said although not ideal he understood and wouldn't hold it against me if I decided to leave earlier than agreed.

I have a letter of intent email for my new job prior to my resignation, In my last week of my 4 week notice I was given an open ended contract in regards to start and end date from a well respected employment agency to go contracting for a Formula 1 team.

It was open ended, as the summer shut down normally 2 week and extended by another week, all teams take, was bought forward to help with social distancing.  I was supposed to start on weekends with the team the 3rd April.

I was prepared to take the financial hit until I started my new job but as time goes on and it has been extended another 2 weeks taking it up to 5 weeks at the moment.

I'm wondering if I can ask for furlough from my old employer but also does this mean I would have to do my notice period again ?

Although my work colleague is still working and another member of staff is covering some of my old duties would I be asked to come back to work!

I realise this does sound like I want my cake and eat it but I'm curious to know.

KatrinaWaves

_Steve_ said:

Although my work colleague is still working and another member of staff is covering some of my old duties would I be asked to come back to work!

I realise this does sound like I want my cake and eat it but I'm curious to know.

It does a bit, you want to be back on for money but have no intention of actually going back to work to help them.

They would be advised to say no to this. It honestly looks like fraud. You have left. 

_Steve_

I would have no issues with going back to work there it’s a good place and good people! However the virus issue is preventing me moving forwards to my new job and going potentially backwards! Which I understood the recent Furlough update was supposed to address this situation if I was in full time employed on the 28th Feb which I was.

KatrinaWaves

It is to prevent companies having to make staff redundant, not supplement those who have left already. 

_Steve_

KatrinaWaves said:

It is to prevent companies having to make staff redundant, not supplement those who have left already. 

Really appreciate your input but contrary to your personal opinion on the matter this is what factual info is in Martins revised need to know furlough information from the money saving expert website.

11. If staff left after 28 Feb for redundancy or a new job, they can be rehired and furloughed. Employees on the payroll on 28 Feb can be rehired to be furloughed, providing the reason they don’t have income now is an economic knock-on effect of coronavirus (eg their new employer retracted job offer/made them redundant).

KatrinaWaves

Ask Martin your questions then  

nicechap

and maybe double check the definitions of 'can' and 'will'.

Manxman_in_exile

As you have already researched the answer, why not put it to your old employer and ask them if they will require you to come back to work?  What have you got to lose?