Furlough Advice Please

Nicole238

Hello. I have been furloughed since April and have been recalled to work as of June. I am on a fixed term contract due to end 10th July. I have found it quite difficult to source a new role in the current climate. I thought that perhaps my current employer would be able to extend my current contract past 10th July and place me on furlough again so that I have at least some income. However my employer has said that unfortunately this is not possible and that it would be a breach of the terms of the scheme and they would be liable for litigation/fines etc. Does anyone know if this is the case please? Many thanks for any help. 

sharpe106

If they were willing to pay for you they could, it is against the spirit of the scheme but nothing actually stopping them. But the scheme is not free so I doubt they will want to. 

Grumpy_chap

Hang on - you have been recalled to start work again as of June, yet the fixed term contract expires 10th July.  You wondered if they could pay you furlough after July.  Rather than furlough, could you not ask if the fixed term contract can be extended (or another fixed term) and you actually do work for them?

Nicole238

Grumpy_chap said:

Hang on - you have been recalled to start work again as of June, yet the fixed term contract expires 10th July.  You wondered if they could pay you furlough after July.  Rather than furlough, could you not ask if the fixed term contract can be extended (or another fixed term) and you actually do work for them?

Hi. Yes I did ask that first. However I have been told that with the current levels of uncertainty in the business they will not be able to extend my contract and have me continue to work for them. This was why I hoped to be kept on but under furlough instead. Many thanks 

poppy12345

Nicole238 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Hang on - you have been recalled to start work again as of June, yet the fixed term contract expires 10th July.  You wondered if they could pay you furlough after July.  Rather than furlough, could you not ask if the fixed term contract can be extended (or another fixed term) and you actually do work for them?

  However I have been told that with the current levels of uncertainty in the business they will not be able to extend my contract and have me continue to work for them.

For this reason it's very unlikely they will furlough you once your contract has ended. It costs them to do this.

sharpe106

I would be making my plans for it to end. How long have you been there for?

Nicole238

sharpe106 said:

I would be making my plans for it to end. How long have you been there for?

A couple of years now. A 1 year contract initially that has been extended multiple times since. I guess I was just hoping for a plan B as I am finding current vacancies in short supply. 

sharpe106

Although not an area I know anything about , the below link could be worth a read.
https://smallbusiness.co.uk/how-long-does-a-temporary-contract-last-26435/

Grumpy_chap

Good idea for the OP to plan for the contract to end as scheduled and keeping hope that things will change by 10th July.  A lot could happen between then and now, especially in these strange times.

Semple

Nicole238 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Hang on - you have been recalled to start work again as of June, yet the fixed term contract expires 10th July.  You wondered if they could pay you furlough after July.  Rather than furlough, could you not ask if the fixed term contract can be extended (or another fixed term) and you actually do work for them?

Hi. Yes I did ask that first. However I have been told that with the current levels of uncertainty in the business they will not be able to extend my contract and have me continue to work for them. This was why I hoped to be kept on but under furlough instead. Many thanks 

With the recent announcements regarding employers soon having to pay out some costs themselves, there won't be many employers happy to keep people on the CJRS who won't have employment with the company at the end of the scheme. 

Mrsn

Semple 
With the recent announcements regarding employers soon having to pay out some costs themselves, there won't be many employers happy to keep people on the CJRS who won't have employment with the company at the end of the scheme. 

^^^ This.

I suspect we will see a lot of posts coming along soon saying my ex employers have stopped my furlough from those who were lucky enough to have their ex employers do so for them.

Lots will be changing in the business sector over the coming weeks/months. Vacancies won’t be necessarily easy to come by but it will take some perseverance I think.

Have a look at the benefit entitlement calculators such as entitled to or turn2us to see what you may be eligible for once the 10th July has arrived. Universal credit takes 5 weeks from applying until you receive your 1st payment but bear in mind if you apply say on the 11th July and you are paid your last wage in between your 1st assessment period those wages will be taken into account for your monthly entitlement.