Bank Staff - Furough Advice

j_anderson

I hve just been notified by my workplace that i m not eligible for furlough. They have said the reasons for this are that we are technically not classed as an employee even though i have a PAYE number. I hve been working for this company seince September 2017 and have worked mostly 25 hour plus months. i was already going to be losing out on a lot of money as with furlough my wage would have dropped down to around £800 before the 20% reduction.
Does anyone have any advice they would like to give me for my situation. I was due to be earning over £1000 a month for the next few months and have now had that taken away from me with no idea where I will now be able to get that money from.

poppy12345

j_anderson said:

They have said the reasons for this are that we are technically classed as an employee

No idea what they mean by that. If you were on the payroll on 19th March then your employer can furlough you but it's entirely their decision and if they chose not to there's nothing you can do. Look at claiming Universal Credit, providing you don't have savings/capital of more than £16,000.

If you're claiming tax credits a claim for UC will end the tax credits/.

TheAble

I'm struggling to understand as well. Is it that you're paid by the hour as opposed to a contracted number of hours per month? I.e. zero-hours contract or the like?

j_anderson

Hi, thanks for your rsponses. I am as perplexed as the both of you.
So my workplace, who is a well known private hospital, has stated that my contract is not a Contract of Employment and is instead just a bank contract and yes I am paid by the hour.
Does this help clear things up? Any advice would be brilliant, as I feel I am stuck at th moment.

Jeremy535897

I think, but am not sure, that you might be a limb (b) worker. If so, guidance states:

"If you’re a Limb (b) Worker

Where Limb (b) Workers are paid through PAYE, they can be furloughed and receive support through this scheme.

Those who pay tax on their trading profits through Income Tax Self-Assessment, may instead be eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, announced by the Chancellor on 26 March 2020.

You can find out more about the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, including the eligibility criteria and how to claim."

Does your "employer" actually deduct PAYE, as opposed to you just "having a PAYE number"?

j_anderson

yes they deduct PAYE.

Jeremy535897

If you are a limb (b) worker, point out the guidance to them. For employers it is at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Remember they don't have to furlough you.

TheAble

Sounds a bit zero hoursy to me. A few bells ringing here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19592412
But even if that is the case you can still be furloughed I believe.

j_anderson

yeah i have already looked at both the employers one and the employees one. I understand that they don't have to furlough but as this scheme is there to help employers AND employees, surely the morally right thing to do would be to furlough staff through this difficult time?

poppy12345

j_anderson said:

surely the morally right thing to do would be to furlough staff through this difficult time?

Of course but they still don't have to furlough you.

sliphi

j_anderson said:

I hve just been notified by my workplace that i m not eligible for furlough. They have said the reasons for this are that we are technically not classed as an employee even though i have a PAYE number. I hve been working for this company seince September 2017 and have worked mostly 25 hour plus months. i was already going to be losing out on a lot of money as with furlough my wage would have dropped down to around £800 before the 20% reduction.
Does anyone have any advice they would like to give me for my situation. I was due to be earning over £1000 a month for the next few months and have now had that taken away from me with no idea where I will now be able to get that money from.

Anyone who pays you through PAYE is your employer (or an agent providing payroll services to and on behalf of the employer). Look on your P60, it will tell you who your employer is.

But it is entirely up to the employer as to whether they wish to offer to furlough you

Refer to your contract of employment to establish what you are entiltled to.