Local Authority refusing to furlough me

sharpe106

I think a few local authorities tried at the start but were told no as they were expecting to redeploy people, this never happened. The rules have changed a bit since the start but as the government has already given local authorities extra money I doubt they will be in a hurry to basically give them even more. But you never know with the current government. 

[Deleted User]

rob1231 said:

Can anyone clear this up for me please? I am a civil enforcement officer (Formerly known as a traffic warden), and as I have terminal cancer with post chemo, am considered to be very vulnerable and am currently self isolating for 12 weeks. My wife works for a national supermarket and has been furloughed by them as she will increase my risk of serious infection by Covid 19.
 However, my employer will not furlough me as they are financed by government funding and, as such, cannot claim under the furloughing system. I receive SSP but cannot claim anything else because of my wife's furlough earnings. Should my employer claim furlough for me?

Thanks, in anticipation,

Rob

Rob, I can tell you that a number of parking contractors have put staff on furlough. As you will be aware all on-street parking contractors are funded by the council and thus via public money. 

I don't think your situation is a questions surrounding furlough, you should be looking at 'what should my employer be doing to protect me from harm'. Speak to HR and explore the options they have in place for those vulnerable people. 

Appreciate nobody understands the circumstances until they are in the situation, but what on earth are you doing in this role at such a time? It must be very tough everything considered! 

Dr_Crypto

My understanding is that furloughing isn’t really for the public sector. It is money from the government to support private enterprises which would otherwise fail.

In my job (NHS) they have redeployed people when possible. If an employee is high risk they can be working from
home. If they have no work they can do at home then they are simply sent home on full pay although this is a very small number I believe. From the government’s view this is about the same cost as furlough since it all comes from the Treasury anyway. 

margaretx9

Transport for London has furloughed one in four of its staff - its legally a local authority.
If it can - why can't a local council?

Dr_Crypto

margaretx9 said:

Transport for London has furloughed one in four of its staff - its legally a local authority.
If it can - why can't a local council?

I don’t think TfL is a local authority in quite the same sense but I’m not sure. 

margaretx9

Dr_Crypto said:

margaretx9 said:

Transport for London has furloughed one in four of its staff - its legally a local authority.
If it can - why can't a local council?

I don’t think TfL is a local authority in quite the same sense but I’m not sure. 

It is legally - its a local government body under the 1972 Local government act reporting to the Mayor of London. Its funded by business rates and council tax - just like local councils. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_for_London
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/how-we-are-governed
As this LGA guide makes clearly legally councils can use it - they haven't yet but as their finances deteriorate who knows.
https://www.local.gov.uk/lga-workforce-update-job-retention-scheme

sharpe106

I think most local authorities will fall down on the part where it says,
is there any duplication of public money? Furloughing should not be used to secure funds from HMRC that are forthcoming from other public sources.