Employer Still Claiming Furlough After Termination

sharpe106

I have now been made redundant and served 1mth working notice. This has been confirmed on a call and in writing, and it has also been stated in writing that I will be paid at FULL PAY during my working notice. However, what they have also said in writing is that they plan to
leave me on furlough during my notice, therefore still claiming from the scheme but, they’d have to top up any money to reach my full salary.
So, in the same letter I am told both that it’s a working notice, and that I’m on furlough and I’m not required to work. So, which is it; you tell me. I did ask them if they meant Garden Leave instead, but they confirmed again in writing that they meant I’m still on furlough.

 They are getting you to work your notice, but to save themselves a bit of money they are keeping you on furlough, so only have to pay you 20%. If they put you on garden leave they may have to pay you it all themselves, although that is unclear.

What troubles me is that the scheme is meant for companies who are planning to retain employees, to claim some financial support to do so. As they have no plans to retain me, surely this scheme is null and void, and therefore subsidising my notice pay up to £2500 from the scheme is surely not right, and they should pay me 100% salary from their own funds rather than £2500 plus extra to 100%. Is this correct, or can they subsidise it?

The idea of the scheme was to protect jobs, but it is being used for many other things now, which the government seem quite happy over. The only thing they have stated is that it can’t be used for redundancy pay.

Grumpy_chap

This might not seem correct, what you have said the company are doing.
Indeed, it might not be correct.

BUT, it does not affect you financially (from what you have said).  You have done the right thing by raising your concern but, presumably, there is no reason for you to be particularly expert on the application of the furlough scheme.  Take your money and let the company sort out their money.  If you are ever challenged in the future by anyone (extremely unlikely imo), you have the evidence that you queried it at the time.

It is entirely possible that the person making the statements now, maybe HR, also does not know the rules on furlough and the company will get it right when the payments are made (payroll/ accounts).