Extending furlough

sghughes42

I've been on furlough since April 6th. I've just been re-furloughed for another three weeks, taking me to May 17th.

My understanding is that the scheme ends at the end of May and that you can only be furloughed for a minimum of three weeks, so does that mean I can't be furloughed again as there are only two weeks left when my next furlough ends? Or can you be furloughed for 3 weeks but the government will only pay for the first two?

I'm just wondering if I'd be better off asking for a longer furlough this time to take me to the end of May rather than have this odd two-week period where nothing is possible?

sharpe106

I would think when it ends then the 3 weeks minimum will not apply, as there is no set date. Otherwise it leave companies with no employees for a week or two or companies unable to claim for 2 weeks.  

7Phil

If you were furloughed since 6 April and that keeps getting extended right through to 31 May then you'll have been furloughed for 8 weeks continuously, if my ability to read a calendar is OK.
I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Hypothetically, if you ended up back at work for a day and then furloughed again for the last 2 weeks of the scheme then it's not really clear yet how the minimum period works in relation to the end date of the scheme.
That's because the end conditions haven't been addressed yet. They will definitely come in due course.

For now just sit tight and assume you are all OK - especially if your furlough just keeps getting extended without breaking.

ThePeopleDirector

I agree with the other posts, your furlough lasts until you get back to work, you do not need to worry about the reclaiming as a company can furlough people and not claim.  Most employers are furloughing people to the end of May and then calling people to bring them back to work as and when required - remember you are still employed during your furlough and must remain available to work.

sghughes42

I wonder if my company has an incorrect understanding of Furlough? We've been told we can only be furloughed for a minimum of three weeks and that they can't extend a furlough, they have to start a new period when one ends. That is where the multiples of three come from and why 8 weeks won't work.

They also are under the belief they can't cut longer furloughs short, once you've been furloughed for a period of time that is it, you are unavailable to them for that time. I guess if they really need you back they can cancel the furlough but would then have to pay you for the full period themselves rather than get government help.

To be fair on them, there is one HR person and one part-time legal person trying to deal with this for the whole group so it can't be easy for them with the seemingly limited clarifications coming out.

Jeremy535897

I think they could have furloughed you for 5 weeks when they renewed it. The current Treasury Directive says that payments will only be made in respect of wages up to 31 May 2020. That may change. It is not clear whether they could now amend the second furlough to cover a period of 5 weeks. Sorry not to be more helpful.

I agree with your second paragraph.

sghughes42

I wonder at what point they have to 'record' the second furlough - it doesn't start for over a week so they might have a better idea by then what our customers are doing and therefore what cashflow might be like to pay wages going forward. It's not that we don't have work (development engineers always have work!) but that the cash isn't coming in so they can't afford to pay us.

We were able to trade-in annual leave for the first period to stay on 100% salary, for the second one they've reduced that to 90%.

Jeremy535897

You raise a good point. If they amend the second furlough notice to 5 weeks before it starts, the risk of a problem must be low.

sghughes42

My understanding is that the only reason they need to know now is for payroll - I'm paid monthly so they need to know if the last 4 days of April will be at 80% or 90% salary. Quite why they need over a weeks notice (we are paid on the 25th) I don't know!