Employed by Boots Pharmacy

Beth260805

Hello. 
I am employed by Boots but work for a beauty counter. I am on furlough but have been asked to come back. I have 2 small children in primary school, husband back to work. None of us are key workers, the school is at maximum capacity and I have no one to have my children. I am wondering if there is anyone else that works for Boots with children to care for who has been allowed to be kept on furlough?? 

Also I was u see the impression if companies asked you to take the holidays you had accrued during furlough they had to give you ‘double the notice’ so for instance I have accrued 6.4 days during my furlough period which comes to 48 hours holiday. But instead of giving me 12.8 days notice (double the length) that have given me 48hrs notice so 2 days. They rang me at 3pm Monday 29th and told me to come back on Wednesday 1st???  I feel they are being very sly in asking this. Can anyone clarify? 

Kind regards 
Beth 

phillw

Beth260805 said:

But instead of giving me 12.8 days notice (double the length) that have given me 48hrs notice so 2 days. They rang me at 3pm Monday 29th and told me to come back on Wednesday 1st??? 

The double the length notice period is if they won't have work for you and want you to take holiday instead.
From your message it seems like they have asked you to come back and you don't want to & they have suggested you could take holiday. You don't have to, but the alternative (if they don't wish to furlough you) is probably unpaid leave.

Grumpy_chap

In reverse order:
Asking you to return at short notice seems fair and reasonable - you are on furlough until there is work to do.  There is now work to do.

The lack of holiday notice is wrong, but seems to be common and, in the greater scheme of things, probably something to ignore and be grateful to have a job to go back to.  It actually seems unfair to employers that some people had three months not working (not generating profits from which annual leave can be paid from) yet still accrued 6 days annual leave.

How do you normally manage child care when schools are closed?

mattyprice4004

You can either go on unpaid leave once you’ve used your holidays up, or go back to work.

While it might seem harsh, childcare isn’t their issue to resolve - if you can’t attend work now they need you then you can’t realistically expect to be paid. 

Beth260805

Usually I save up all my holidays and use them to look after the children during 6 weeks summer holidays, 2 week October holidays, 2 week half term in Feb and 2 weeks at Christmas. I don’t have holidays to take for the next 3 weeks straight on top of that. That already equals 12 weeks which between my partner and I we split. 

What I would like is anyone who works for boots (not pharmacy dept) who has children to comment on here on their circumstances please to see what has been done for them? I am the only person In my store with children and Boots don’t have a HR for staff so could do with some other colleagues info please... 

Beth260805

Just to clarify - I can’t work because the government have closed schools. I am happy to work - and I’m getting a bit sick of people assuming it’s because I just ‘can’t be bothered’ I was off work for 4 year bringing up 2 little ones but I chose to go back work when they were 2&4 I wanted to work I didn’t want to just sit around and claim benefits, I like my job I miss my friends, I pay my taxes. I’ve been at Boots for 4 years. I have 2 children with no school places, no family or friends to have them. I physically can’t take them to work with me or leave them in the house alone. The furlough scheme is there for people with dependants who are struggling. All I’m after is some advice from people in the SAME situation as me. Not people’s opinions on weather I’m just someone who ‘doesn’t want to work’ and ‘lucky to have a job’ I’m perfectly aware of what I have and how lucky I am. 

All I would like is facts (HMRC/ACAS) not people’s personal opinions. 

Beth260805

phillw

From your message it seems like they have asked you to come back and you don't want to & they have suggested you could take holiday. 

No I didn’t say ‘I don’t want too’ I said ‘I want too’ but I don’t know HOW as I have 2 children in front of me with nowhere to go as the government have closed schools. And no, they haven’t ASKED me to use my holidays. Boots have told all their staff on furlough will be asked to take any holidays accrued over this period to take those holidays at the end of the furlough period before returning. But it states by law on ACAS & HMRC that your employer needs to give double the notice of the holiday length if they are to do this. 

Mrsn

Actually the furlough scheme isn’t there for those who have dependants that cant be left alone - that is a fact. Whilst it could have been used for childcare purposes at a stretch it’s certainly not what it was intended for. There’s also the fact it is changing very very soon and employers will stop using it as freely as before.

I don’t believe you are saying you don’t want to go back to work etc, I’m sure you do. But the reality is employers aren’t bothered about your childcare problems (that goes for everyone parent not just you). They want you there to work... Your options are unpaid leave or you use your annual leave.

In any event I don’t think you’ll find any others from boots in your situation on here because let’s say have they have been left on furlough this will have been a discretionary decision which I’m sure if they went talking about to other colleagues which then results in them saying well so and so is still on furlough why aren’t I? Probably won’t be looked upon too kindly.

I truly do understand the position you find yourself in at the moment but I don’t see this being resolved in the way you wish.

Beth260805

Mrsn said:

In any event I don’t think you’ll find any others from boots in your situation on here because let’s say have they have been left on furlough this will have been a discretionary decision which I’m sure if they went talking about to other colleagues which then results in them saying well so and so is still on furlough why aren’t I? Probably won’t be looked upon too kindly.

Thank you for your ‘personal opinion’
If I go on unpaid leave I will have no wages - the furlough scheme IS there for people to use who are losing out on wages and struggling due to the effects of Covid. That’s exactly what Rishi said. It’s put in place so the people won’t be left at a loss. 

Also as as per your comment about it being a discretionary decision - that’s where your wrong. Martin Lewis has been campaigning for equal rights for people in the same situation from the same company and that you cannot allow one person furlough and send the other one back and it just be down to one persons decision. Otherwise it goes down an discrimination. He has just been trying to fight for it to be discrimination and everyone be treated equally. Read about it on this very website. So yes that’s exactly what I would like. I repeat.. I would just like to hear anyone who works for Boots in the same situation (not pharmacy staff) 
I’m sure I’m looking for a needle in a haystack but I just thought I’d reach out for some facts from Boots colleagues. 

LilElvis

Have you looked into summer playschemes? The one that operates out of my daughter's primary school has already started enrolling children for the summer holidays.

The_Fat_Controller

The furlough scheme is for instances where employers have no work for you.
Your work is now available, so your employer can legitimately ask you to go back.