Furloughed on no pay

Jue_xx

I work in field sales covering the north of the UK, but my company is based in Australia.  We were told yesterday that the UK sales team are to be furloughed for a month following Boris's announcement, but  we will be unpaid.  We will be paid for our outstanding holidays for 2020 (of which I have 13 remaining, which is many more than my colleagues), but are effectively being forced to take a month of unpaid leave.  Can they do this?

macman

What are your contracted hours? Is this a zero hours or commission only contract?
If it's not, then no they cannot. You must be retained on your full contractual pay, furloughed with furlough pay as per the extension rules (80% for November), or made redundant.

Jeremy535897

You need to look at your contract of employment, and see whether it provides for unpaid leave at the employer's discretion. One thing they cannot do is furlough you on a wage less than what they must put in their claim from HMRC.