Stuck abroad and pay

MISSY123

I have a family  member stuck abroad . The country is in lockdown and airports closed. She is due back to work this week,  but unable to. She has let her employer know and they have said she will be on unpaid leave and not qualify for furlough. Is this correct ? 

EimearF

This is not the best part of the site for this info. She can ask them to furlough her, but it’s their choice if they do. As far as I know furlough is minimum 3 weeks so if they think she can get back to work by then they probably won’t. 

MISSY123

She has done that and they have refused. Abe works at a habitat store and as they are part of sainsbury,they have refused.  Even though her store is closed  they said they cant furlough as sainsbury made a profit and she is not eligible. 

EimearF

None of that is true. She should go back to them and say as the store is closed she is eligible for furlough. Her current location is irrelevant, she can’t work because they are closed. The government made a mistake letting this be implemented by employers as they are not understanding the rules and leaving people without any money. 

MISSY123

Thank you for your reply. I will pass that on to her 

MISSY123

Hi she has been in touch with them and they have said it will be unpaid leave as she has a sainsbury contract and she does not qualify for furlough as sainsbury still open, even though she is stuck abroad 

EimearF

My place of work is still 'open' yet half my colleagues have been furloughed. Tell her to keep trying and link to Maritn's info on the main site. 
Anyone can be furloughed. Her employer are being very mean spirited by refusing this. Presumably they expect her to move to sainsburys store and work. 
Hopefully she gets home soon. 

Spinelli99

If she is not in the country and is unavailable for work then surely the company will take that as unplanned leave? They don’t have to furlough her if there is available shifts and she’s stuck abroad and can’t work

EimearF

Spinelli99 said:

If she is not in the country and is unavailable for work then surely the company will take that as unplanned leave? They don’t have to furlough her if there is available shifts and she’s stuck abroad and can’t work

They dont have to, but they can. They are deliberately being obstructive and leaving her without money they can legally claim on her behalf.