Issues with non-furloughed colleague

Tinkberbell

I am on furlough, however my colleague and another member of staff are both not - this obviously means that my colleagues will go into the store on a regular basis to carry out all the H&S checks and completed our Time & Attendance.

However, today it was brought to my attention by my Team Leader (I am a Manager) that my colleague (also a Manager) has been calling her and asking her questions such as my T&A password or questions regarding members of staff on my departments. As my colleague is still working for the business I understand there may be a reason behind these questions which I would be happy to answer so I'm not sure why I'm not being asked directly.

This colleague did call me before however they were specific questions about cases that were logged with our HR so only I would be able to answer them.

I do want this logged in terms of having a record that I am aware she has been approaching my TL to ask for my password etc and had I not called her today I believe I would not have known all this as my TL said that she's been calling her numerous times over the past few days. What would you all suggest? Taking the emotion out, do I word an email asking for all queries to be directed to me going forward?

General_Grant

If you are dealing with queries while you are furloughed you are not really furloughed but working from home.

Tinkberbell

General_Grant said:

If you are dealing with queries while you are furloughed you are not really furloughed but working from home.

Well, it's more or less an odd question here or there.

JustAnotherSaver

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Just over halfway down the page.

Once you are on furlough you will not be able to work for your employer. You can undertake training or volunteer subject to public health guidance, as long as you’re not:

• making money for your employer or a company linked or associated to your employer
• providing services to your employer or a company linked or associated to your employer

It's pretty black and white.

Personally i wouldn't be helping anyone to work while they're furloughed at the time.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Tinkberbell said:

I am on furlough, however my colleague and another member of staff are both not - this obviously means that my colleagues will go into the store on a regular basis to carry out all the H&S checks and completed our Time & Attendance.

However, today it was brought to my attention by my Team Leader (I am a Manager) that my colleague (also a Manager) has been calling her and asking her questions such as my T&A password or questions regarding members of staff on my departments. As my colleague is still working for the business I understand there may be a reason behind these questions which I would be happy to answer so I'm not sure why I'm not being asked directly.

This colleague did call me before however they were specific questions about cases that were logged with our HR so only I would be able to answer them.

I do want this logged in terms of having a record that I am aware she has been approaching my TL to ask for my password etc and had I not called her today I believe I would not have known all this as my TL said that she's been calling her numerous times over the past few days. What would you all suggest? Taking the emotion out, do I word an email asking for all queries to be directed to me going forward?

If you want to risk losing your pay yes.

As others have explained you cannot work whilst furloughed.

Dox

Tinkberbell said:

General_Grant said:

If you are dealing with queries while you are furloughed you are not really furloughed but working from home.

Well, it's more or less an odd question here or there.

Then don't blow it up into something it isn't (and as others have said, you are either furloughed or you aren't).

Wyndham

You should not be answering any questions at all if you are furloughed.
And no one else should know any of your passwords, and if they do I can pretty much guarantee it will be a breach of your company IT policy.  If they need access to the information, they need to find another (legitimate) way to get to it that does not involve sharing passwords.
Move away, don't get involved.  Enjoy the time off with pay!

JReacher1

You’re furloughed so it’s as if you’ve left the company. As such they can’t ask you anything about this which is why they are contacting other people. 

If they do use you for work then you’ll still get paid but the company won’t be able to claim the furlough money back from the government. As a result they won’t want you involved in this. 

If you contact your company they will politely tell you to not contact them again. 

DCFC79

Someone else should have a password but as mentioned if your furloughed then your furloughed, it cant be half in and half out.

Forum_Name

JReacher1 said:

If they do use you for work then you’ll still get paid but the company won’t be able to claim the furlough money back from the government. 

Only if the powers that be find out that the individual has been working while being furloughed.
My workplace for example are going to tell porkypies which has resulted in me losing out on a days worth of furlough. No i'm not happy about it but for the sake of a day and what would happen to me if i spoke out, it's in my interest to not rock the boat. 

Tinkberbell

I appreciate all the responses and am more than happy to adhere (as I have been since I have been furloughed) but I don't think the company is aware that my colleague is making these phone calls - I understand that to an extent I am at fault for picking up as is my Team Leader. 

Obviously I am now concerned about her needing my password and secondly for the phone calls I've answered - is there anything I can now do to cover my back should anything come out of this?