Given notice on furlough...

MrsO13

Hi, I have currently been working for my current employer for just under 1 year. I started employment with this company on a temporary contract. Given the current circumstances I have been put on furlough. I have been receiving this for the last 8 weeks. Today however I have received an email giving me a weeks notice that my current contract of employment will end. 

My question here is can they do this? 

I’m confused as to why they would even do this and not keep me on furlough. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you 

bradders1983

Furlough isnt a "freebie" for employers. You still accrue holiday as one example. 

Jeremy535897

The CJRS was originally intended as a job preservation scheme. It was only intended to support jobs that would have a reasonable prospect of continuing once the pandemic has passed. If your employer has reached the conclusion that your job cannot be preserved, as bradders says, there are risks and costs to keeping you on furlough.

Grumpy_chap

Sadly, yes, this is something that can be done. 

Having only been there for a year, you have few rights unfortunately.  Does the year include the original time you were on the temporary contract?

It does seem as though some employers are using CJRS not as job retention, but as notice subsidy.

daveyjp

Furlough is there to keep those needed by a business in post.

If your employer does not think this will be the case it is better to make staff redundant now, rather than take furlough payments, then make you redundant and open themselves up to a possible HMRC investigation.

Mrsn

They can do this and have given you the correct notice to terminate the contract. 

Furlough whilst great in some aspects does mean the employer has certain aspects re holiday accrual etc that the employer may not be able to afford to pay. Lots of businesses will be reviewing their position and many more people will be affected going forward.

MrsO13

Thank you. Obviously this is all brand new so just looking for advice. Greatly appreciate your reply’s.

Grumpy_chap

You can ask the employer to keep you on furlough, passing you the 80% without top up until end July and then notice from 1st August.  Play ignorant of the rules and say you understand that will not cost the company anything but helps you.  If you don't ask, you won't get.

spiro

I think there will be lots more of this now the government have outlined a roadmap for the decrease in furlough payments.

sharpe106

A lot of companies will be planning on giving notice in the not distant future as the government will pay most of the notice period if they plan it right so a significant saving for companies that are planning on making redundancies.

 

Grumpy_chap

Yes, the Job Retention Scheme has become the Notice Period Subsidy Scheme.

Hopefully this will be a loophole the Government close down soon.