Training whilst on furlough

chestermum

Hi
Thanks to MSE for setting up this forum to help us.
I work part-time on a 32 hour per month contract. My hourly rate is minimum wage. I was put on furlough by my company. They have announced that the venue (leisure industry) will re-open on 1st October. Meanwhile, they have issued a rota for 5 days training for week after next. Normally, we get our rota about a week before the start of the month. As a working mum, during school holidays it's tricky for me to deal with being called in at such short notice. They also haven't stated whether or not we will be paid for these training days. I am checking with them on that. When I read the notes on furlough, I understand that employers are allowed to bring employees back part-time and pay for the hours worked. Because they are asking us to go in for training more than a month in advance of the planned re-opening, I'm wondering if they are not going to pay us for the training days in August, and if they are allowed to do that. Normally, the payroll calendar means work done in the 2nd half of the month is paid the following month. e.g. last 2 weeks in August and first 2 weeks in September are paid at the end of September.
Look forward to getting some guidance! Appreciate the feedback.

Jeremy535897

If your employer requires you to do training, they must pay at least minimum wage for the time spent training.

Diamandis

Furloughed employees can engage in training during hours which you record your employee as being on furlough, as long as in undertaking the training the employee does not provide services to, or generate revenue for, or on behalf of their organisation or a linked or associated organisation. Furloughed employees should be encouraged to undertake training.

Where training is undertaken by furloughed employees during hours which you record your employee as being on furlough, at the request of their employer, they are entitled to be paid at least their appropriate national minimum wage for this time. In most cases, the furlough payment of 80% of an employee’s regular wage, up to the value of £2,500, will provide sufficient monies to cover these training hours. However, where the time spent training attracts a minimum wage entitlement in excess of the furlough payment, employers will need to pay the additional wages. 

chestermum

Thanks @Jeremy535897 and @Diamandis for your replies. 
I am on the hourly rate for the minimum wage. I have yet to get a reply from the company about the pay. 
Checking my understanding: if I go in for the training for say 20 hours then the company needs to pay me 20hours at minimum wage. 
My furlough pay is calculated by the company at a daily rate then multiplied by the number of days in the calendar month.
I'm wondering if the company can say that the entire month's furlough pay covers the training hours so there won't be any top up on the furlough pay.

Jeremy535897

No, they cannot do that. They must pay you NMW for the hours you are in training, and they can't compensate for that from elsewhere.