Furlough and Holiday

BigMac79

A friend of mine works at a car dealership for a pretty large PLC. He has 2 weeks holiday booked starting next week for which he would usually be paid 100% of his salary plus 100% of his average commission earned in the last 12 months. Yesterday his boss told him that they would furlough him during the 2 weeks and that he would be paid the furlough money which they would then top up to 100%. He asked if that meant he would still have his 2 weeks holiday to be used in the future to which they said no. So it sounds like they intend to pay him the furlough money but for his value if his holidays to only be 20% of their normal value. Surely this cant be right?

Jeremy535897

You can be furloughed while on holiday. Most employers accept, as is the case here, that they then top up to 100%. He's getting paid 100% while on holiday. What more can he expect?

BigMac79

Given the choice he would rather be furloughed and get paid 80% and keep his holidays for another time

bradders1983

BigMac79 said:

Given the choice he would rather be furloughed and get paid 80% and keep his holidays for another time

Tough titties tbh. An employer can ALWAYS dictate when an employee takes holiday as long as the notice is given correctly, even during normal times.

diggingdude

BigMac79 said:

Given the choice he would rather be furloughed and get paid 80% and keep his holidays for another time

I would like furlough instead of working non stop this year. I'm not going to get it and your partner isn't going to get that. 

epm-84

BigMac79 said:

but for his value if his holidays to only be 20% of their normal value. Surely this cant be right?

The value of annual leave is:
1. You get your normal rate of pay for the days you aren't working.
2. Your employer cannot ask you to work on those days.

Those criteria are fulfilled.

With furlough
1. You get at least 80% of your normal pay.
2. Your employer can recall you at any time, meaning you cannot make firm plans for those days unless you book them off as annual leave.

CreditCardJunkie

Honestly why is it never enough for some people ... You want full pay AND keep your holidays... seriously

BigMac79

CreditCardJunkie said:

Honestly why is it never enough for some people ... You want full pay AND keep your holidays... seriously

No, he was using his holidays and getting paid 100% anyway. If they are putting him on furlough during this period he was happy to take 80% pay and keep his holidays for future use.

bradders1983

BigMac79 said:

CreditCardJunkie said:

Honestly why is it never enough for some people ... You want full pay AND keep your holidays... seriously

No, he was using his holidays and getting paid 100% anyway. If they are putting him on furlough during this period he was happy to take 80% pay and keep his holidays for future use.

Do you not see the issue employers have if everyone comes back to work with, lets say, 4 months of the holiday year left and NOBODY had taken a single days annual leave yet?
This is why employers have taken the actions they have, and rightly so.

epm-84

BigMac79 said:

CreditCardJunkie said:

Honestly why is it never enough for some people ... You want full pay AND keep your holidays... seriously

No, he was using his holidays and getting paid 100% anyway. If they are putting him on furlough during this period he was happy to take 80% pay and keep his holidays for future use.

So is he happy to work on those days?  If not he needs to have them booked as annual leave otherwise his employer is allowed to ask him to return to work on any of those days at the last minute.

Even if he is happy to be recalled on any of those days due to circumstances changing he booked annual leave and in the current circumstances employers can't just let everyone cancel all their annual leave every time the government announces new restrictions, otherwise there wouldn't be enough days in the year for everyone to take all their annual leave.

superbigal

Furlough is quite likely to last a year in total.
People supposedly coming back in April 2021 will be like on Maternity leave.
See you midway through May when i've finished my 28 days holiday.