Can I get furloughed?

Jamesp31_2

My seasonal contract is due to end at on 6th November and I have a new job lined up to start next week - however that job now won’t start until early December at least as it’s in non essential retail.  Can I reasonably expect my current employer to furlough me until 2 Dec when this current scheme ends as I won’t be eligible with my new employer?

Mrsn

Honestly I wouldn’t think so.

Its a seasonal contract whereby the employment would naturally end as planned, this goes against the core rules in that there wouldn’t be work/hours due to COVID. This clearly isn’t the case for you in the this particular situation despite the impact it has on the next part.

gary83

you can ask them to furlough you, you shouldn’t expect it though, it’s a plan for the worst and Hope for the best scenario.

Grumpy_chap

You cannot lose anything by asking, but I would not be hopeful.

Jamesp31_2

I know it’s up to the employer, but I’m wondering how this will be any different to March/April when many employers were being encouraged to rehire ex employees so that they could benefit from furlough, eg staff who’d left or been made redundant 

MattMattMattUK

The difference is that in March many companies made people redundant thinking that there would be no help coming, they had to make redundancies to survive and with the announcement of the CJRS which would pay the wages and allow those staff to be retained they were encouraged to do so.

No the economy is in a different position, companies also had the option of the JSS, before CJRS was extended. Companies are also in a different position, many have burned through a lot of their reserves, CJRS was not and is not free to the employer, it cost them 14% NI, accrued holiday and pension contributions at a minimum even if they do not top up, even if they just pay the 80% the reality of it is that it costs around 20% of the wage bill to keep someone on furlough, something most will not be willing to do. If they have already made the decision that those staff are no longer required it is highly unlikely they would commit themselves to further costs for another month. 

adamp87

I think we all need to give companies time to digest yesterday’s announcement the government haven’t even release information firmly about the furlough scheme extension.

I read on the BBC that you have to be on payroll and paid by 30/10 but our payroll team haven’t had anything sent to them yet, nor can we find definitive direction for it either.

in your case as it’s a season role due to end I’d say it’s unlikely you would be furloughed - there’s still a cost to the employer in NI/Pension & if you were due to end anyway there’s no benefit for the employer.

MattMattMattUK

adamp87 said:

I think we all need to give companies time to digest yesterday’s announcement the government haven’t even release information firmly about the furlough scheme extension.

Yes they have. The detail on exactly how to claim has not been published, but there is more than enough information to make a decision on.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced

adamp87 said:

I read on the BBC that you have to be on payroll and paid by 30/10 but our payroll team haven’t had anything sent to them yet, nor can we find definitive direction for it either.

The date for an RTI submission is 30/10, that is correct, that has already been confirmed by the government. It does not matter that your "payroll team" have not had anything send to them, the information is available on gov.uk.

Yahoo_Mail

MattMattMattUK said:

adamp87 said:

I think we all need to give companies time to digest yesterday’s announcement the government haven’t even release information firmly about the furlough scheme extension.

Yes they have. The detail on exactly how to claim has not been published, but there is more than enough information to make a decision on.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/furlough-scheme-extended-and-further-economic-support-announced

adamp87 said:

I read on the BBC that you have to be on payroll and paid by 30/10 but our payroll team haven’t had anything sent to them yet, nor can we find definitive direction for it either.

The date for an RTI submission is 30/10, that is correct, that has already been confirmed by the government. It does not matter that your "payroll team" have not had anything send to them, the information is available on gov.uk.

In fact, it's on the page you linked under "Who is eligible?"

[Deleted User]

Doubt there going to furlough you when your contract is ending anyway. If you need help in between jobs you’ll need to check eligibility for benefits. 

Jamesp31_2

MarkN88 said:

Doubt there going to furlough you when your contract is ending anyway. If you need help in between jobs you’ll need to check eligibility for benefits. 

That’s the problem, my partner is likely going to get furloughed at 80% and we won’t be entitled to any other benefits due to her salary so we will suffer financially for those 4 weeks.