Shielding and furlough

phil_davis

I'm shielding as extremely vulnerable until July 30, also on furlough my boss asked me to go back to work 
On July 30 I said no as I'm shielding now they're taking me off furlough and onto ssp, is this allowed or legal?

poppy12345

Yes perfectly legal. You were lucky to have been furloughed because all you were really entitled to was SSP.

[Deleted User]

Up until the end of July your employer's only cost is the holiday you accrue whilst on furlough. From the start of August this increases to er's NI, pension contributions and holiday which works out around 20% of your salary PCM, rising to 30% in September and 40% in October. Where as at the moment they can reclaim the SSP from the government, meaning it will cost them nothing.

What conditions have you decided are suitable for you to return to work? The government have said that is the end of July, have you decided on a date, a specific threshold in the data? Just saying "no" will not be enough for most employers, they obviously want you back, but probably can not afford to pay increasing costs for you to not work. 

Jeremy535897

At present the intention is to pause shielding from 31 July, so there may be some changes regarding SSP.

phil_davis

Yes MadMattUk, I've told I have been told to shield until July30 then back to work. This wasn't my decision but the governments, I'm not I'll so shouldnt qualify for ssp but furlough

calcotti

MadMattUK said:...Where as at the moment they can reclaim the SSP from the government, meaning it will cost them nothing...

That is not correct. They can reclaim a maximum of two weeks of SSP from the government (if they employ less than 250 people). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19

calcotti

phil_davis said:

Yes MadMattUk, I've told I have been told to shield until July30 then back to work. This wasn't my decision but the governments, I'm not I'll so shouldnt qualify for ssp but furlough

There is no entitlement to be furloughed. You are entitled toSSP. Your employer can choose to furlough you but it is entirely their choice.

Mrsn

Furlough was never intended for those needing to shield. As others have said your entitlement is to SSP anything above that is a bonus. 

They’ve tried to recall you from furlough which they can do at any point and you said no so they are giving you a further option of SSP. You might feel this is unfair but honestly that’s really not the case.

phil_davis

as mentioned by Martin Lewis.com

bradders1983

Yes we know what Martin said. It doesnt change anything said in this thread up until the point you posted that.

NOBODY has a legal right to furlough.  Nobody. Not one soul. 

LilElvis

And in the fourth sentence Martin says that it is the employer's choice whether to furlough.