Employer refuses to furlough me but says there’s no work in And cut my hours by 70%

shirley1971

I’ve worked for my employer for over 4yrs doing an 8-6, 5 days a week.  However he cut my hours earlier this year with no notice to 9-5 while keeping the other employees working hours untouched, I’m a mechanic in a local specialised diesel garage.  Then when the corvid19 shutdown started, He then cut my working hours even more and I’m only working 9 - 12:30. However the other full time and a part time member of staff haven’t had their hours cut at all?  He’s gone even further and told me not to come in on Fridays.  Please help, due to the fact he’s no work for me, could he furlough just me?  At least then I’d receive 80% of my salary compared to whatever scraps I’m being given at the moment.  I’ve tried talking to my boss to find out why it’s only my hours being but compared to all the other staff.  But he’s hesitant to reply and changes the subject.  I had a grievance regarding a separate matter which I took to him last December and I believe this might be the reason I’m being singled out and financially punished. On top of this my fiancé is a vulnerable person with liver damage and a weak chest and can’t afford to catch the virus which her GP has confirmed her vulnerability which my boss is aware but  still chooses to send me out to deliver and collect parts in the few hours I am at work instead of sending one of my colleagues.  

Please help and advise, I’m hoping he is allowed to furlough me on the basis that his business is only part open and there’s not enough work to keep me on at the moment 

[Deleted User]

He's allowed to furlough you but then you wouldn't be able to work. It seems there's enough work for you to do half days and it's unlikely he'll want to reduce his labour force while he's still got enough work going through.

Ultimately, it's his choice.  He's not punishing you as it's costing him to do so.

Dox

shirley1971 said:

I’ve worked for my employer for over 4yrs doing an 8-6, 5 days a week.  However he cut my hours earlier this year with no notice to 9-5 while keeping the other employees working hours untouched, I’m a mechanic in a local specialised diesel garage.  Then when the corvid19 shutdown started, He then cut my working hours even more and I’m only working 9 - 12:30. However the other full time and a part time member of staff haven’t had their hours cut at all?  He’s gone even further and told me not to come in on Fridays.  Please help, due to the fact he’s no work for me, could he furlough just me?  At least then I’d receive 80% of my salary compared to whatever scraps I’m being given at the moment.  I’ve tried talking to my boss to find out why it’s only my hours being but compared to all the other staff.  But he’s hesitant to reply and changes the subject.  I had a grievance regarding a separate matter which I took to him last December and I believe this might be the reason I’m being singled out and financially punished. On top of this my fiancé is a vulnerable person with liver damage and a weak chest and can’t afford to catch the virus which her GP has confirmed her vulnerability which my boss is aware but  still chooses to send me out to deliver and collect parts in the few hours I am at work instead of sending one of my colleagues.  

Please help and advise, I’m hoping he is allowed to furlough me on the basis that his business is only part open and there’s not enough work to keep me on at the moment 

You need to talk to him again, and don't let him change the subject - or more accurately, if he changes it, you go back to where the discussion was. Easier said than done, but being messed about like this isn't good for anyone or good for the business.

Slight aside....Shirley is normally a girl's name. If you are indeed female, are all the other mechanics male?

zagubov

shirley1971 said:

I’ve worked for my employer for over 4yrs doing an 8-6, 5 days a week.  However he cut my hours earlier this year with no notice to 9-5 while keeping the other employees working hours untouched,

I’m a mechanic in a local specialised diesel garage.  Then when the corvid19 shutdown started, He then cut my working hours even more and I’m only working 9 - 12:30. However the other full time and a part time member of staff haven’t had their hours cut at all?  He’s gone even further and told me not to come in on Fridays.  

Please help, due to the fact he’s no work for me, could he furlough just me?  At least then I’d receive 80% of my salary compared to whatever scraps I’m being given at the moment.  

I’ve tried talking to my boss to find out why it’s only my hours being but compared to all the other staff.  But he’s hesitant to reply and changes the subject.  

I had a grievance regarding a separate matter which I took to him last December and I believe this might be the reason I’m being singled out and financially punished. On top of this my fiancé is a vulnerable person with liver damage and a weak chest and can’t afford to catch the virus which her GP has confirmed her vulnerability which my boss is aware but  still chooses to send me out to deliver and collect parts in the few hours I am at work instead of sending one of my colleagues.  

Please help and advise, I’m hoping he is allowed to furlough me on the basis that his business is only part open and there’s not enough work to keep me on at the moment 

Just paragraphing it so more people may read it and give answers.

BrassicWoman

So if there is enough work to keep the business going, he can't furlough you; it is for businesses which would otherwise be in trouble.

It seems he just does not like you. If your contract has a set number of hours in it, he should pay you for those, whether or not you work. Start there. 

lincroft1710

Dox said:

shirley1971 said:

I’ve worked for my employer for over 4yrs doing an 8-6, 5 days a week.  However he cut my hours earlier this year with no notice to 9-5 while keeping the other employees working hours untouched, I’m a mechanic in a local specialised diesel garage.  Then when the corvid19 shutdown started, He then cut my working hours even more and I’m only working 9 - 12:30. However the other full time and a part time member of staff haven’t had their hours cut at all?  He’s gone even further and told me not to come in on Fridays.  Please help, due to the fact he’s no work for me, could he furlough just me?  At least then I’d receive 80% of my salary compared to whatever scraps I’m being given at the moment.  I’ve tried talking to my boss to find out why it’s only my hours being but compared to all the other staff.  But he’s hesitant to reply and changes the subject.  I had a grievance regarding a separate matter which I took to him last December and I believe this might be the reason I’m being singled out and financially punished. On top of this my fiancé is a vulnerable person with liver damage and a weak chest and can’t afford to catch the virus which her GP has confirmed her vulnerability which my boss is aware but  still chooses to send me out to deliver and collect parts in the few hours I am at work instead of sending one of my colleagues.  

Please help and advise, I’m hoping he is allowed to furlough me on the basis that his business is only part open and there’s not enough work to keep me on at the moment 

Slight aside....Shirley is normally a girl's name. If you are indeed female, are all the other mechanics male?

Probably the most famous male Shirley was Shirley Crabtree aka wrestler Big Daddy. A guy who worked with my father a few decades ago was called Shirley.