Employer refuses benefits for furloughed staff

mobilejo

Lulabell_99 said:

Thanks for all of your comments and advice, whether helpful or critical. In quick summary
Yes they have refused to give the hardship payment to furloughed workers, I have this in writing
No it is not a bonus, the employees still working will all get a well deserved productivity bonus in Q4 (assuming the company meets shareholders expectations)
Furloughed workers are not productive and are therefore receiving no money from the company, we are getting 80% of our pay from the government in order for the company to keep everyone else employed. Furlough is not a holiday.
Everyone else is on 100% pay.
£500 would pay some peoples rent for a month. This could be critical in the coming months if we are all let go. Given the company lack of support for those on furlough, this looks very likely.
I understand that payments are at the company's discretion and completely understand this. I guess I would agree with the comment that they are just not a very good employer.

The only issue then is one of semantics? Had they called it a bonus for working through, you would have no issue?

If that is the case, I personally would stop worrying about it for my own sanity more than anything. As said, whatever the name, it is still deemed a bonus and is discretionary, no claim of discrimination would stand. It may create some ill-will, and that is something the employer/employees need to deal with in their own way. But nothing that can actually be done about it.

Feeling unfairly treated when that treatment is 'legal' is frustrating, but its best to pick your battles.

Fire_Fox

Given that the Q4 'productivity bonus' is shareholder-dependent, this 'hardship payment' might be a Q2 'productivity bonus'. Just with a title that management hope won't be challenged by the accountants/ shareholders or suchlike.

Seems like most groups are feeling hard done by.  Those who have worked throughout with extra stress (+childcare, - public transport, +exposed). Those who have been furloughed with extra stress ( -20% salary, -perk/ wage rise, +childcare). Those who have been made redundant ( -loads salary but +£1k UC), newer self-employed or newer businesses, those 'shielding', housebound or home alone despite 'lockdown' eases.

Suppose partly because it caught so many of us wholly unprepared (eg. no rainy day savings, no grocery stocks, no help with kids, no internet, no income insurance).