Furloughed employees

Anna16Church

My partner is currently still furloughed in his job as a HGV driver, there are still around 25% of the drivers off on furlough in total.  However there are rumours that new drivers are being employed, is this allowed when existing staff are still being paid by the government scheme? 

bradders1983

Yes. Certainly not in the spirit of things, but yes.

gettingtheresometime

As the rules on the furlough scheme are changing 01/08 then if they are then it will become less cost effective to do so.

Grumpy_chap

It is legal, yes.

Has your husband asked about when he can return?  Is he willing to go bon flexible furlough?

epm-84

Are the new drivers fully qualified or are they people who are going to be trained up?  If they've got a new contract starting in a few months and are training up new drivers then perhaps it wouldn't sound so strange that they are bringing in new people before recalling everyone from furlough. 

unholyangel

The amending direction states integral to the  purpose of CJRS is to use the funds to continue the employment of employees they are claiming for, the employment activities of whom have been disrupted by either covid itself of the measures taken to prevent spread. 

I agree with others that it's not clear whether the employer are replacing lost staff or hiring additional staff, but I disagree that hiring new employees and keeping existing ones on furlough would be allowed under the new rules. I'm not sure they can argue the employees employment activities have been disrupted if they're having to hire new staff to undertake those employment activities. 

yksi

They can certainly hire new people, on lower wages and temporary or part time contracts, because it's cheaper than taking your husband back to work. You can't blame them, they are trying to keep their business from going under and most of us would do the same.