Company say no guarantee work after furlough

Sparx8

Hi guys just need a bit of help with this question . 

Company rang me up and have asked me to return to a work , I said I wasn’t happy about it as the government have extended furlough for atleast two more weeks . He said he respected my opinion and that he can’t force me back to work , but then followed up with well the people that do want to come back now will be first priority to carry on working after the furlough and the ones that don’t well he can’t guarantee their be anywork for when I return . And that I would have to stay at home after furlough until there’s work unpaid . 

Can he do this? I feel like I jumped to being employed for a bit of stability but seems like it’s not different from when I was self employed if they can get rid of you when they want . 

Kind regards 

bradders1983

Course he can.

Put it this way, if you were an employer, you had two employees of which one wanted to work and the other who just wanted to sit at home, who would you continue to employ if you could only pick one?

Undervalued

Basically yes he can.

No employer is obliged to furlough staff and can unfurlough them if they wish (although there is a three week minimum furlough period if they want the government to pay).

If they prefer they can make staff redundant or if staff refuse to work they can be dismissed. If you have worked for less than two years there is little protection against unfair dismissal and no entitlement to redundancy pay.

Grumpy_chap

From what you have said, I agree with your employer.
Why are you not able to return back to work?  Or is it just that you don't want to return?  If there is a genuine reason rather than "being unhappy about it" it would be easier for readers in this forum to understand your position and even provide constructive support.

epm-84

The whole idea of furlough is you are an employee on standby, ready to go back to work when the situation improves.

Presumably you requested furlough due to childcare needs/health reasons/similar opposed to the company forcing you to go on furlough.  If not I don't understand why you're reluctant to go back.

heatherw_01

Of course he can, I would do the same as him.

Sounds like you don't want to work but get paid to sit at home, that is my opinion from your wording.

Thrugelmir

Your employer may well be looking at restructuring the business. Employees who are less flexible and adaptable. Who aren't willing to approach the challenge in a positive manner. Will the ones most at risk of redundancy. The last thing your Company can do is afford you to sit around doing nothing productive. 
Work with your employer to find solutions to allay your concerns. 

LilElvis

My husband and his entire direct team are all working from home. All of them, bar one, have put their hours in. When he had to place some on furlough guess which person was first on the list? Guess which employee is now top of the list for any future redundancies? Employers will remember which staff they could rely on in a crisis.

Sparx8

I’m just following government guidelines . I wouldn’t say wiring a building for a co-op is an essential job when there is one down the road, with 100 people of many are foreigners and don’t keep the 2 meter rule. 

bradders1983

Sparx8 said:

I’m just following government guidelines . I wouldn’t say wiring a building for a co-op is an essential job when there is one down the road, with 100 people of many are foreigners and don’t keep the 2 meter rule. 

Lovely bit of racism there because nobody is agreeing with you.

Thrugelmir

Sparx8 said:

I’m just following government guidelines . I wouldn’t say wiring a building for a co-op is an essential job when there is one down the road, with 100 people of many are foreigners and don’t keep the 2 meter rule. 

Choice is yours whether to work or not. Difficult times most certainly lie ahead. There's no flick of a light switch that's going to restart the economy overnight.