Coronavirus eligibility

beefturnmail

Hi all - any help much appreciated with the following.

I'm trying to ask my employer (A university) to furlough me part-time due to having childcare issues due to the schools being shut.  Although they took part in the scheme last June, they are now saying they cannot take part (as an organisation) as they are not eligible due to not having suffered any loss of income as a result of Coronavirus.   However when I read through the government guidance for employers I can't anywhere that it see that employers need to have suffered a loss of income to be eligible to furlough staff.

I understand it's ultimately at the employers discretion whether to place me on furlough, but I want to understand why they're saying that to see whether it's worth arguing the point with them further.   I am a member of a union.  At the moment my conversations have just been informal with my line manager, but the reason about why they are not eligible comes from HR (through my line manager).

Thanks in advance

JamoLew

Furlough is a job retention scheme

If they have work for you and the funds to pay you - you probably wont be eligible.

Unis are still recruiting students who are all paying their fees, so their income stream is not affected

harsh though it may be, your child care issues aren't their problem - if they are giving you money, they expect you to work for it.

You are however entitled to ask for annual leave or parental leave (unpaid)

Andy_L

beefturnmail said:

Hi all - any help much appreciated with the following.

I'm trying to ask my employer (A university) to furlough me part-time due to having childcare issues due to the schools being shut.  Although they took part in the scheme last June, they are now saying they cannot take part (as an organisation) as they are not eligible due to not having suffered any loss of income as a result of Coronavirus.   However when I read through the government guidance for employers I can't anywhere that it see that employers need to have suffered a loss of income to be eligible to furlough staff.

I understand it's ultimately at the employers discretion whether to place me on furlough, but I want to understand why they're saying that to see whether it's worth arguing the point with them further.   I am a member of a union.  At the moment my conversations have just been informal with my line manager, but the reason about why they are not eligible comes from HR (through my line manager).

Thanks in advance

"If your employer cannot maintain their workforce because their operations have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), they can put you on furlough and apply for a grant to cover a portion of your usual monthly wage costs "

Is sort of synonymous with a loss of income
 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

tooldle

I work in a University. We have very few people on furlough because most of the jobs are supported by public funds and hence cannot be furloughed. 
What type of role do you have?

beefturnmail

Thanks.  It's an admin role supported by general funds which is a mix of income sources (some private eg tuition fees).  They furloughed people part-time back in June - 3 in my team of 10,  so I don't understand why they are blanket refusing now.  At the time I did not need it as one of my children went back to school then.   Homeschooling 1 at home alongside work is just about manageable, 2 primary age is much harder - pretty much impossible actually!

mattyprice4004

If they need you to work they're not going to furlough you - the job needs to be done and if given the choice (which they have been, it's their decision) to have you essentially unpaid by them and doing no work or in and working, doing the job you signed up for then they're going to choose the latter.

Ultimately if you have work to do and they want you there, there's nothing you can do apart from go off unpaid. Childcare is your problem not theirs; it's not in their interests to have work stacking up not being done because you can't find childcare.

onashoestring

From the MSE guide :

Employers CAN furlough those who can't work due to looking after children (and can do so on a flexible basis)

Employers have discretion to choose to furlough someone via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, including parents who can't work due to school closures. Yet as employers are nervous about this, to help, last April Martin tweeted the Chancellor for clarification, and got back an official statement saying it's correct. We re-checked this with HMRC on 30 December 2020, and it said:

"Employees who are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus can be furloughed. For example, employees that need to look after children can be furloughed. It is for the employer to decide whether to offer to furlough an employee."

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/04/employed-help-coronavirus-furlough/

mattyprice4004

onashoestring said:

From the MSE guide :

Employers CAN furlough those who can't work due to looking after children (and can do so on a flexible basis)

Employers have discretion to choose to furlough someone via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, including parents who can't work due to school closures. Yet as employers are nervous about this, to help, last April Martin tweeted the Chancellor for clarification, and got back an official statement saying it's correct. We re-checked this with HMRC on 30 December 2020, and it said:

"Employees who are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus can be furloughed. For example, employees that need to look after children can be furloughed. It is for the employer to decide whether to offer to furlough an employee."

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/04/employed-help-coronavirus-furlough/

Yes, they can - but most won't, because they didn't hire staff just to have them at home not doing work (even if it doesn't cost them money).

If my business had staff and there was work to be done, they wouldn't be furloughed - I need my staff working, not at home.

68ComebackSpecial

Surely if the OP works in the education sector then she is entitled for her children to remain in school?

sheramber

Homeschooling 1 at home alongside work is just about manageable, 2 primary age is much harder - pretty much impossible actually!
Sounds like the OP has the opportunity to work from home.

tooldle

beefturnmail said:

Thanks.  It's an admin role supported by general funds which is a mix of income sources (some private eg tuition fees).  They furloughed people part-time back in June - 3 in my team of 10,  so I don't understand why they are blanket refusing now.  At the time I did not need it as one of my children went back to school then.   Homeschooling 1 at home alongside work is just about manageable, 2 primary age is much harder - pretty much impossible actually!

I suspect they might have been refused. In my institution a great deal of care was put into ensuring those furloughed definitely met the criteria of the scheme, hence it was staff in roles such as catering who were furloughed. Is the role connected to teaching and learning, research or student facing in anyway? 
Here, any role that has a part in keeping the institution working is considered to be that of a key worker and school places are available according. I’m in Wales.
Edited to add, a quick scan of the internet throws up furlough policies for a number of HE providers. Might be worth reading your place’s policy rather than relying on a manager?