Asked to return from furlough on vastly reduced hours

dantine

Hi,  I have been asked to provide details of my wifes working hours so I can be given some hours to return from furlough.   This would mean I could only do around 15 hours per week as I have to stay home with kids whilst she is at work.   15 hours pay per week is considerably less than the 80% of wage I am on whilst furloughed and this would put an awful strain on our finances.
Can I refuse to return under this situation and what are the consequences if I do?   They have said my job is essential to others being able to work as I am sole IT on site.

Jeremy535897

You need to look at your contract of employment, but if your employer wants you to work and you say no, they could take action. Remember that you are not entitled to furlough. They could just put you on unpaid leave.

dantine

My contract goes back 15 years and says 8:30am to 5:18pm with 1 hour unpaid for lunch, Monday to Friday.
Thanks for your reply

BrassicWoman

They’re doing you a favour here so you have childcare. I wouldn’t be refusing. 

Biscuit49

Its tough and not the response people like to hear but I think employees do have to look at the long term view in situations like this, the business clearly needs to function and needs people in to do so, even if they are not needed full time, so the options are don't bring employees back and let the business fold, meaning increased financial hardship for all concerned, or do as the employer is doing.

dantine

Thanks for your replies, at 25% of my normal wage, i'll have to resign if they insist.   
Let's hope they don't insist.

justwhat

OP remember they could just demand you do your contract hours. Instead they are attempting to work around your childminding/children. There are many companies out there that are not being flexible with there workers.

Jeremy535897

That would be a shame. As you have such a long period of service, and a contract that states you should work about 40 hours a week, you have accrued a considerable amount of redundancy rights. I am not an employment (or any sort of) lawyer, but I think that an employer asking you to reduce hours from 40 to 15 could be constructive dismissal. Even if your contract does not enhance redundancy from the statutory minimum, you should have 12 weeks of entitlement. See:
https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay

I cannot imagine that they want to be landed with this sort of bill, so there should be some room for compromise.

[Deleted User]

Get the kids an XBox and come back to work full time?

dantine

Poster_586329 said:

Get the kids an XBox and come back to work full time?

Too young i'm afraid, but nice idea!

dantine

Jeremy535897 said:

That would be a shame. As you have such a long period of service, and a contract that states you should work about 40 hours a week, you have accrued a considerable amount of redundancy rights. I am not an employment (or any sort of) lawyer, but I think that an employer asking you to reduce hours from 40 to 15 could be constructive dismissal. Even if your contract does not enhance redundancy from the statutory minimum, you should have 12 weeks of entitlement. See:


I cannot imagine that they want to be landed with this sort of bill, so there should be some room for compromise.

Thank you.    I've sent my response and await a reply and in the meantime I will read that link and line of enquiry whilst hoping it does not come to that.