Returning to work on a reduced salary

samboway

Hi all.  

I’m just after some advice here recently. 

I have been working since lockdown as a PAYE employee to a company in central London. Half our staff were furloughed but those of us who were kept own were asked to have our salaries reduced to 80%.  

They are now starting to ask us all to go back into the main site in the next week or so but I now cannot afford to do so because I won’t be able to afford the £300 cost of travel into central London from my home. I will basically be paying to work for them and also placing myself at risk due to now having to use public transport. There has been no information as to when they will be putting our salaries back up but I simply cannot afford to start putting myself into debt simply to benefit them.  

I have been working successfully from home for the last 8 weeks and will still be able to do so which is what I just don’t understand in terms of their welfare towards me. I will also be putting my son at risk as well if I’m having to go into London and being exposed to others. 

Any advice would be very much appreciated. 

jayzor

It’s pretty simple, if they want you to go back, they are within their rights to ask you to go back. I’m sure they will probably be able to find someone else to do the job if you can’t/don’t want too. 

Semple

Not really much you can do. You can only put it to your employer that the 20% drop in salary and having to pay commuting costs will put you in financial issues. Ask to continue wfh. 

Grumpy_chap

You appear to be saying that, at 80% salary, your pay will be less than the cost of commuting?  Is that correct?

Your contract of employment still stands.  What exactly did you agree to when going to furlough / 80%?  If that was a permanent change, then you may not have a right for it to be reversed.

samboway

I am currently £500 net less off a month whilst working from home as the company asked those who would be continuing to work to accept a temporarily reduced salary that was written would be reviewed at the end of May but we’ve heard nothing about it going back up. 

Having to then pay to fully travel into town will cause me to start going into debt as I Do not have enough money to cover bills/expenses as well as travel on my salary at a 20% reduction.  They understood that the reduction was largely travel cost related for most of us accepting it but now that we are being asked to go back in most of us cannot afford to do this. 

sharp910sh

Why did you agree to the reduction in salary? Was the reduction permanent or temporary? What did you agree to when you were working from home. 

You say you will be worse of working at the office but if they dismiss you then you will be much worse off as you will have no salary. The company has the right to tell you where you can work, if you do not agree you should try negotiate or hand in your notice. 

Thrugelmir

Negotiate with your employer to perform some of your duties at home. Reducing your travelling cost. For your employer to ask employees to take a pay cut is a clear indication that they too have financial pressures. Challenging times lie ahead for many. Having some form of employment is better than none at all. 

Grumpy_chap

So, the OP has taken a 20% cut (£500 per month) but much of that was off-set by saving on commuting (£300 per month).  The company agreed that the pay cut would be reviewed 'at the end of May' and the OP is now being asked to return back to the office next week, which is the last week of May.

It seems like the OP has got to return to the office, but also have an adult conversation with the company about reversing the pay cut.  Next week is 'at the end of May' after all.  It is not clear that the company have said they do not plan to honour their word and reverse the pay cut.

It seems that there is only any issue when the conversation happens and the company don't reverse the pay-cut.  How likely is that really?  Assume the company don't want their entire work-force looking to leave and, presumably, those kept working at home are more valued by the business than those furloughed.

Potbellypig

Only you can make the decision whether taking a reduction is better than potentially not having a job. People need to understand that they've got to work with employers and not just pull the shutters up and say ''that doesn't work for me''. There's going to be so many job losses from all this, which can be reduced the more that people are flexible. 

Jonesy1977

Set out your case, particularly if you can continue to work from home perhaps you could even argue that productivity will be higher due to the lack of commute, perhaps you can sell the idea of you essentially working additional hours? however the fact that you are worse off due to your living costs is not material, you have already accepted a pay decrease (likely temporary) and I think you know what the alternative is likely to be.  Don't take this the wrong way but "You cant afford to be putting yourself in debt to benefit them?"  You are happy for them to struggle and be in debt to benefit you though?  Cut your living expenses if you can and keep your job mate, 80% of a good wage is better than joining the millions who will be looking for jobs.

samboway

Thank you all. 

I am going to discuss with them that I can’t financially afford to pay for full travel in monthly or weekly and have been working perfectly well since lockdown started and all future jobs are capable at home too so I just need them to be as flexible as myself and my colleagues have been as we’ve each done over a hundred hours overtime and working weekends but aren’t being paid for that either. 

Thanks once again for everyone’s responses.