On furlough, work for 2 weeks can I be refurloughed

mcflod

Hi

I've searched but can't find annaswer to this.  My son works for a recruitment agency and had been working with the local council but had to isolate 7 days due to a cough the week before the lockdown happened then the council  told him they didn't need him. (JOB WITH council came up but he was unsuccessful) they initially had said they would need him for a few more weeks but then lockdown happened. His agency furloughed him for the past 6 weeks, contacted him today and starts a job Tom for the next 2 weeks but CD be extended. Thry have said they can't Refurlough him. Is this correct?  If so, why would he come off furlough then?  Thank you for any help

poppy12345

There's nothing stopping them from furloughing him again but it's entirely the employers decision and they don't have to do this.

Grumpy_chap

It's allowed to be re-furloughed. Each stint has to be minimum 3 weeks

Jeremy535897

I think they have furloughed him in 3 week blocks (the minimum to qualify for CJRS), and that has expired. If he has a job starting in 2 weeks they can't furlough him for 2 weeks and claim CJRS.

unholyangel

mcflod said:

Hi

I've searched but can't find annaswer to this.  My son works for a recruitment agency and had been working with the local council but had to isolate 7 days due to a cough the week before the lockdown happened then the council  told him they didn't need him. (JOB WITH council came up but he was unsuccessful) they initially had said they would need him for a few more weeks but then lockdown happened. His agency furloughed him for the past 6 weeks, contacted him today and starts a job Tom for the next 2 weeks but CD be extended. Thry have said they can't Refurlough him. Is this correct?  If so, why would he come off furlough then?  Thank you for any help

Because he wants money to live? Has the employer indicated staying on furlough is an option? If not then the only alternatives may be unpaid leave or being let go. 

mcflod

Thanks everyone, employer has just said they can't Refurlough him. Jon starts tomorrow for 2 weeks then if no more work they have said they cant Re do it. Appreciate all your help. I thought they CD Refurlough as well but wasn't sure with it being agency

calcotti

When the two weeks work comes to an end they are allowed to put him on furlough again and claim his furlough wages through the CJRS as long as that new period of furlough lasts at least three weeks.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Minimum furlough periods
Any employees you place on furlough must be furloughed for a minimum of 3 consecutive weeks. When they return to work, they must be taken off furlough. Employees can be furloughed multiple times, but each separate instance must be for a minimum of 3 consecutive weeks. Each period of furlough can be extended by any amount of time whilst the employee is on furlough. However the scheme end date is the last day you can claim for through this scheme.

unholyangel

mcflod said:

Thanks everyone, employer has just said they can't Refurlough him. Jon starts tomorrow for 2 weeks then if no more work they have said they cant Re do it. Appreciate all your help. I thought they CD Refurlough as well but wasn't sure with it being agency

Could they possibly mean they can't from a business perspective rather than the rues of the scheme preventing it? 

mcflod

Hi
They have indicated its because he worked via them as agency for the local council for 9 months and that job is no longer there that they would have had to take him off furlough anyway, which doesn't seem correct to me.   So basically he's been with employer (thr agency who pays him) over 12 months but because the last job has finished and thry don't need him Back they have said he now Can't be furloughed again. 

Grumpy_chap

It could be linked to the job being with the Council as CJRS is not available to local authorities...