Is it safe to change jobs?

dsandoreo

Hi all, 

First time poster here (go easy on me!), I have looked around but I don't seem to be able to find a definitive answer to my question... 

Is it safe at the moment to change jobs? I am thinking specifically in regard to furlough / further covid measures etc.

Currently I work for large pub chain whose owner on Lockdown 1 suggested all his staff go to Tesco.

It's a horrible place to work if I am honest, probably the worst job I've had in 30 years. But we did get furlough, and in the last year. have spent most of my time being Furloughed. I lost all my holiday... then again I have had a year off more or less. That is annoying but. first world problem.

 At the time I took the job I needed a stopgap, I am currently a !!!!!! leader.

I returned to work yesterday, first time since November, I have been looking at other jobs, and have a few interviews but I am worried what happens if we have another lock-down / tier system / whatever, and I cannot go to work cause the government says so.

What would happen to me financially?

My understanding is looking at the furlough guidelines that I would not be eligible for anything, and that I would be on UC. Am I reading this correctly? 

Because if so... realistically I am stuck in my present job.

Thanks for any insight.

dsandoreo

Barny1979

How long is a piece of string, but personally I would be staying as if you are staying in the pub industry, I presume you won't be as eligible if you move and are new on their payroll potentially?

mattyprice4004

For now, sit tight. It's far too early to know anything yet 

pjcox2005

I'd differ, personally if i really disliked a job I'd shift now particularly whilst I expect hiring will go up over these few months.

Potentially you risk future furlough but likewise moving now may mean you're in place if there were to be a winter surge and lockdowns as opposed to having delayed 5 months, been at breaking point in a current poor work place and simply changing then too late for any future support scheme.

Guess the question is how long you're willing to be working there given Covid is going to be an unknown threat for a fair while (at least this winter, potentially years if new strains could impact) still and what support you can give yourself if everything went wrong (i.e. can you save a bit more now, have a partner to fall back on, live off benefits for a bit if furlough not available in future).

Edited to add - I'd continue applying/interviewing even if unsure, lot easier to decide if you're shifting once you have a job offer on the table. Could be increased salary/much better role is worth the risk of furlough. Likewise, it may take a couple of months to be successful in which case you may know more on Covid and others won't have beaten you to it if it does turn out to be a good hiring period.

sheramber

Are you looking in at employment in a field which is likely to be affected by a lockdown ,such as hospitality/ entertainment? Then I would weigh it up carefully as you probably would not be entitled to furlough. It would depend on what the rules were at the time.
If a lockdown wasn't until the winter you may be okay. But if it was in a few months , who knows?
If you are   looking at employment in a more secure field such as essential services then that would be an easier decision.

TBagpuss

With the previous lockdowns the furlough rules covered most people who were on the payroll for 1 or 2 months prior to the lockdown being announced.

So if you changed jobs, your new employer could not furlough you under the current scheme, but it is *likely* (although of course we can't be certain) that if the government announced a new lockdown that they would also update the furlough scheme as well, so *probably* if you changed jobs now, and there was a further lockdown in another 2-3 months, they would be able to claim for you. 

But it's not certain, and if that's not how it works then yes, you'd have to claim UC.

If you plan to remain in the hospitality field, maybe ask at interviews about what happened in the previous shutdowns - for instance, if they moved to offering takeaway or delivery food, for instance, they may not have had to furlough staff (or as many of them) which might improve your changes of being able to continue to work if there was a further lock down. 

CreditCardJunkie

If you don't have a decent emergency fund I would say it isn't safe to move job. I moved employment in December (we went into lockdown a few weeks after I started) and would have only been eligible for furlough by this company on 1st May...6months with not a penny from this company. They decided not to furlough me when I was eligible and I decided not to return. Luckily for me I am also self employed so I had other income, but not everyone is in that position.

MattMattMattUK

In normal times you lose the vast majority of employment protections for two years once move jobs, most protections do not apply until you have been employed somewhere for two years.

This is a call only you can make, knowing the old and new employer, knowing your own personal appetite for risk and knowing your ability to pick up other work should your new employer close and not be able to furlough you (eg if the government do not apply a new date if there is a new lockdown).

No one else can make the call for you.