Furloughed but starting back to work, employer may be reducing hours, can they do that?

alison2608

I work in a dental practice as an apprentice, I was furloughed from 23rd March. I'm due to go back to work on 8th June.  I usually work 35hrs a week but might only be asked to go in for a couple of days which might only be 18hrs. Where do I stand on getting paid?

[Deleted User]

It depends, what are your contracted hours? Does your contract allow your employer to amend your hours? Are they bringing you back on flexible furlough? Are they asking you to work 18 hours but paying you for 35 hours? If you do not agree will they just make you redundant? 

alison2608

They haven't said what hours they are paying me yet. If they want to change my contracted hours I thought by law there had to be a consultation period, same as if they were to make me redundant.

poppy12345

When your employer agreed to furlough you, was there anything mentioned about your hours when ir if you returned to work?

alison2608

Nothing was mentioned about hours for returning to work, I was just told I was furloughed until further notice.

Thrugelmir

You need to have a full and frank conversation with your employer. More than likely that's what they intend to do when you return to work. As such matters are better addressed in person.  

silvercar

If you have been on furlough, your employer can from 1 July furlough you part time and have you working part time. So you could get full pay for the time you are working and 80% for the time you are not.
So if you came back on half hours, you would get 50% on full pay and 50% reduced to 80%, that would leave you with 90% full pay for working 50% of your hours. Tax regime means your take home pay will likely be a bit more than 90% or previous take home pay.
Would definitely be worth asking your employer if he would do this. There is a cost to employers, so they may choose not to do it.