Furlough /vulnerable category

Silverbird65

Hi anyone advise or experienced same dilemma. My hubby has chronic heart disease is in vul erabke not extreme category. Doc advised 12 weeks self isolating as work cannot offer sufficient protection. He has requested furlough in line with Govt promise that noone should suffer financial loss due to cv19. That sat he can have  and is only getting SSP. Surely this is wrong . Just feel in no man's land. ACAS have not been helpful. What can we do?

Comms69

Furlough is NOT an option for employees, but for employers. 

He's not sick, and therefore should not be getting SSP.

Silverbird65

Sorry don't understand are you saying he should be furloughed then.

Comms69

Silverbird65 said:

Sorry don't understand are you saying he should be furloughed then.

If that's what the employer chooses to do. Otherwise it's unpaid leave

Undervalued

Silverbird65 said:

Sorry don't understand are you saying he should be furloughed then.

Sorry but I think you are one of literally hundreds of people asking questions because they are misunderstanding the furlough scheme.

No employer is obliged to furlough any eligible employee. It is entirely the employer's decision, they cannot be made to do it.

Unless his doctor is willing to "up" his advice and sign him off sick he is not entitled to SSP. He should be allowed to work from home, if that is possible, but if not then allowing unpaid leave is actually more than the employer is obliged to do. They could also insists he takes any accrued holiday (although obviously they would have to pay him for that time).

sharpe106

Silverbird65 said:

Hi anyone advise or experienced same dilemma. My hubby has chronic heart disease is in vul erabke not extreme category. Doc advised 12 weeks self isolating as work cannot offer sufficient protection. He has requested furlough in line with Govt promise that noone should suffer financial loss due to cv19. That sat he can have  and is only getting SSP. Surely this is wrong . Just feel in no man's land. ACAS have not been helpful. What can we do?

The reason why ACAS has not be helpful is that nobody is entitled to furlough. It is the company’s choice. Did he get a letter saying to shield or is the self-isolation just advice form the doctor? The doctor can advise whatever they like but they can’t make somebody pay you. Although the rules around SSP has changed I do not think it has changed for voluntary 12 weeks isolation. So you are probably not entitled to that, so rather than complaining you should be thanking them.

MinuteNoodles

The government made no such promise that nobody should suffer financial loss. Unless your husband was already going to be furloughed because there was no work then he would only be entitled to SSP. The fact the employer can't offer sufficient protection is not a reason to be furloughed. Furloughing is meant for when a business has to partially or fully close to retain staff so they can start up again with as little issues as possible once this is over.

jonnygee2

He's not sick, and therefore should not be getting SSP.

If you have been told to self isolate by a doctor because of Covid 19, and cannot work as a result, you are entitled to SSP 
https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus/self-isolation-and-sick-pay

74jax

jonnygee2 said:

He's not sick, and therefore should not be getting SSP.

If you have been told to self isolate by a doctor because of Covid 19, and cannot work as a result, you are entitled to SSP 
https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus/self-isolation-and-sick-pay

The doctor hasn't told him too though.  Just advised. If the doctor wants to tell him he must and provide a sick note that's different.