Furlough Question Assistance Needed Please

Hoomz

Hi. I was on a part time contract. I worked in Hotel. Passed my probation. Recognised employee etc. I was made redundant on 19th March. Contract end date 17th April. My employer said it was purely due to Corona circs. I asked if I could be furloughed. My employer said I had to sign a new zero hours contract. This was the only way they would proceed with furlough. It was all very rushed and I was urged to sign a new agreement that same day. The agreement didn’t state much, just that I agreed to the zero hours. I want to know if this is legal? Why did I have to be switched to zero hours. I am an international student. I don’t know the employment laws here so its all very confusing. Have I been shafted by my employer? Could/should this have been done another way?

daKlone

I'd guess they wanted you to have a zero-hours contract as they don't actually have any work for you to do.

Whether that contract is a problem or not will all come down to how they calculate their CJRS claim, and therefore how much they pay you.

Have you asked them how much they intend to pay you whilst on furlough, or which of the calculation methods they are using?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

poppy12345

Of course it's legal. Your contract was due to end in April anyway so they didn't have to renew it and furlough you. I think you've been very lucky because a lot of employers may not have done this and people have been left with nothing.