Furlough

cathy_lynch

My mum is 65 works for a catalogue company which at start of furlough was quiet, it furloughed 250 people and now they are really busy have no intention of bringing staff back, all the remaining staff are being worked to the core, does anybody know if they can do this or should they be bringing staff back, or can she request they put her on furlough 

Dottydoolay

Realistically they should indeed be bringing staff back if there is now a need ie paying their own wage bills instead of using government money.

The point is I guess they won’t as they’re not forced to, many companies prior to Covid would run their business on a shoe string running staff into the ground.
There is no entitlement whatsoever to furlough I’m afraid but I would suggest your Mum raises concerns to management about the increasing workload and maybe query why staff are not being brought back.

Sadly I see this as yet another loophole in the furlough process that helps employers and no one else.

prowla

It's up to the company to manage its workforce requirements to meet the workload.

I suppose they may be cautious about bringing people back if the surge in orders may be temporary.

I would think that the people kept in working would be the ones they perceive to be more productive, so being on furlough may seem a free holiday, but those on furlough may be wondering if they will get their jobs back.

The companies are going to have to start paying towards furloughed employees imminently, so then there will be some decisions to be made.

So my thought is that you are better off in the job at the moment.

As far as workload goes, you can only do so much in your 8 hours.

But "better busy than bored" is my motto!

sharpe106

Nothing stopping them from doing that and I am sure that quite a lot of companies are using it save a bit of money rather then it being lack of business. A lot of companies will also be finding out they were previously overstaffed, the work is getting done with less staff.

viking1956

my employee has been on furlough since 27 Feb, I asking him on Thursday to come back to work on Monday and he said no as he had found a new job, this means he will not be working the 2 weeks notice agreed in contract, so do I need to pay him. Turns out he has been working for new company for 3 weeks. Also does this mean he gets no furlough payment from our company,
he was last paid on the 4th June.

poppy12345

viking1956 said:

my employee has been on furlough since 27 Feb, I asking him on Thursday to come back to work on Monday and he said no as he had found a new job, this means he will not be working the 2 weeks notice agreed in contract, so do I need to pay him. Turns out he has been working for new company for 3 weeks. Also does this mean he gets no furlough payment from our company,
he was last paid on the 4th June.

Your question is totally different to what the original poster has asked, please start your own thread. Confusion sets in when asking questions on other peoples threads.

Grumpy_chap

cathy_lynch said:

My mum is 65 works for a catalogue company which at start of furlough was quiet, it furloughed 250 people and now they are really busy have no intention of bringing staff back, all the remaining staff are being worked to the core, does anybody know if they can do this or should they be bringing staff back, or can she request they put her on furlough 

Maybe I read this incorrectly, but you seem to be saying that your Mum wants to be furloughed because she is too busy at work.  That won't work as the furlough scheme is there to support companies retain jobs when there is insufficient work because of coronavirus.

Your Mum could ask about the plans for bringing people back from furlough.  Best to do so in a positive manner, and probably informal coffee-machine chat with the boss.  "Hey, isn't it great that we are getting busy again?  Hopefully it means people will be able to start coming back soon."

sharpe106

viking1956 said:

my employee has been on furlough since 27 Feb, I asking him on Thursday to come back to work on Monday and he said no as he had found a new job, this means he will not be working the 2 weeks notice agreed in contract, so do I need to pay him. Turns out he has been working for new company for 3 weeks. Also does this mean he gets no furlough payment from our company,
he was last paid on the 4th June.

There is no reason to pay him the notice period as if he wants the notice period he has to work. He has voided the contract by not giving notice. If you don't want to pay him any more furlough you would have to seek further specialist advice as yes although he has been working for the new company can you prove it before a judge?