Anyone here become a 'furloughed worker'?

[Sparta Prada]

Last week the Government announced the Job Retention Scheme where employers and employees can agree to workers staying at home but remain employed. The Government will grant employers 80% of the furloughed worker's wage (up to £2,500 a month), and the company has the option to top-up the remaining 20%. At present the scheme is valid for 3 months from 1st March 2020 with an option to extend.

It was quite a positive move by the Government to offer this, and while it's by no means perfect it allows some breathing space to both the company and their staff.

Has anyone here become a furloughed worker, or about to become one? How do you feel about it?

[tesla]

I have been off work for over a week on full pay, I am awaiting information as to what happens next week as the pay was only until this Friday as of the last communication

[nant]

This has happened to me. Got this message from my boss via our accountant yesterday:

At the moment the only thing to do is to notify the employees that they are on furlough. As discussed the other day they are no clear instructions about how this notice is to be given , whether verbal or written notification is required and if written what the wording should be. I would have thought that for a company of your size a verbal notification would be sufficient.
I would expect that we would make the claim on the company’s behalf as we operate the payroll for the company
I  have checked the Gov.uk website again this morning and currently no update on there.
I client of mine who has a number of hair salons spoke directly to H M R C about his yesterday and they told him that they had not received any information about when, or precisely how the scheme would work.
So everyone is in a state of limbo at the moment.

Nant.

[freeze44]

This has happened to me. Got this message from my boss via our accountant yesterday:

At the moment the only thing to do is to notify the employees that they are on furlough. As discussed the other day they are no clear instructions about how this notice is to be given , whether verbal or written notification is required and if written what the wording should be. I would have thought that for a company of your size a verbal notification would be sufficient.
I would expect that we would make the claim on the company’s behalf as we operate the payroll for the company
I  have checked the Gov.uk website again this morning and currently no update on there.
I client of mine who has a number of hair salons spoke directly to H M R C about his yesterday and they told him that they had not received any information about when, or precisely how the scheme would work.
So everyone is in a state of limbo at the moment.

Nant.

Yeah pretty confusing but to be fair the government have quite a bit on their plate atm! As I understand it, the furloughed worker (leave of absence) is managed by the employer who then claims the 80% back from the government through HMRC who are frantically trying to set up a system.

[threechilliman]

Yeah pretty confusing but to be fair the government have quite a bit on their plate atm! As I understand it, the furloughed worker (leave of absence) is managed by the employer who then claims the 80% back from the government through HMRC who are frantically trying to set up a system.

That's how I understand it too.

[snaitram99]

That's how I understand it too.

Why did the new Chancellor compound the confusion by using the unfamiliar US term "furlough" ? 

[MilleMiglia]

Why did the new Chancellor compound the confusion by using the unfamiliar US term "furlough" ? 

We lost the battle a while back, when sports commentators began talking about "Assists".

[WARSZAWA16]

Why did the new Chancellor compound the confusion by using the unfamiliar US term "furlough" ? 

Yes, let's have less of these "Americanisms". Whatever happened to the Plain English Campaign?

[tesla]

Yes, let's have less of these "Americanisms".

great idea let get rid of MacDonalds, burger king , kfc and all the coffee shops etc

bring back Lyons corner houses

[catweazle]

As of yesterday I'm on furlough. Not been confirmed that the company can definitely claim the money back but they have said we'll get the 80%, and if they can't reclaim it they'll bear the cost. So I'm being paid to mow the lawn, watch Netflix, sleep in, watch porn......

[WARSZAWA16]

bring back Lyons corner houses

Especially the "Nippys" in those uniforms. 

[Doc Holliday]

The concept of 'reversing' HMRC is genius.

Putting that into practice is another matter? The volume alone is staggering.

[PatMacGroin]

Yeah pretty confusing but to be fair the government have quite a bit on their plate atm! As I understand it, the furloughed worker (leave of absence) is managed by the employer who then claims the 80% back from the government through HMRC who are frantically trying to set up a system.

In one of my career reincarnations I worked with HMRC developing their Real Time Information (RTI) PAYE systems. It was an absolute shambles, took them years to set-up and after going live it was nothing but headaches for everyone concerned, for several more years after that.

All indications are that the similar system for VAT "Making Tax Digital" has been exactly the same. With several stages of the rollout postponed by months, if not years.

In theory, they should be able to extract the data from the RTI system to calculate 80% of employee's net pay. Then total it up and generate BACS files for the payments to the employer. Where it gets complicated is employer's that have some employee's on furlough and others in key areas that are continuing to work. There could also be a huge opportunity for fraud by companies that have a large turnover of staff on a regular basis. Plus, I doubt they would update the RTI system to do it automatically (that big a change in a short period of time, too much opportunity for huge screw ups).

In addition, the latest announcements of payments for the self employed will be much more difficult to verify and calculate. There's no hope of the HMRC developing a reliable new automated system to cover that within the next month or two. (Although I bet they have had plenty private companies putting forward a tender for the job, making all sorts of huge promises.)

I wouldn't be surprised if it'll become a matter of getting the staff in to process claims manually, which still sounds practically impossible. Worse with the various restrictions produced by isolation measures. However they do it, it's going to be a huge operation for another government department that has been cut to the bone by austerity measures.

[freeze44]

In one of my career reincarnations I worked with HMRC developing their Real Time Information (RTI) PAYE systems. It was an absolute shambles, took them years to set-up and after going live it was nothing but headaches for everyone concerned, for several more years after that.

All indications are that the similar system for VAT "Making Tax Digital" has been exactly the same. With several stages of the rollout postponed by months, if not years.

In theory, they should be able to extract the data from the RTI system to calculate 80% of employee's net pay. Then total it up and generate BACS files for the payments to the employer. Where it gets complicated is employer's that have some employee's on furlough and others in key areas that are continuing to work. There could also be a huge opportunity for fraud by companies that have a large turnover of staff on a regular basis. Plus, I doubt they would update the RTI system to do it automatically (that big a change in a short period of time, too much opportunity for huge screw ups).

In addition, the latest announcements of payments for the self employed will be much more difficult to verify and calculate. There's no hope of the HMRC developing a reliable new automated system to cover that within the next month or two. (Although I bet they have had plenty private companies putting forward a tender for the job, making all sorts of huge promises.)

I wouldn't be surprised if it'll become a matter of getting the staff in to process claims manually, which still sounds practically impossible. Worse with the various restrictions produced by isolation measures. However they do it, it's going to be a huge operation for another government department that has been cut to the bone by austerity measures.

Thanks Pat and in my dealings with them, it does seem both the systems are poor and staff are under pressure and that's in normal times! This type of cost cutting, often under the heading of 'transformation' has spread like...well...a virus in public service 

Don't know if anyone has been following the NHS supply chain issues, especially with regard to protective equipment, but looks like a shambles with poor management, cuts and reliance on the private sector fucking things up so staff have been put at risk! Scandalous!!

[bhudda]

In one of my career reincarnations I worked with HMRC developing their Real Time Information (RTI) PAYE systems. It was an absolute shambles, took them years to set-up and after going live it was nothing but headaches for everyone concerned, for several more years after that.

All indications are that the similar system for VAT "Making Tax Digital" has been exactly the same. With several stages of the rollout postponed by months, if not years.

In theory, they should be able to extract the data from the RTI system to calculate 80% of employee's net pay. Then total it up and generate BACS files for the payments to the employer. Where it gets complicated is employer's that have some employee's on furlough and others in key areas that are continuing to work. There could also be a huge opportunity for fraud by companies that have a large turnover of staff on a regular basis. Plus, I doubt they would update the RTI system to do it automatically (that big a change in a short period of time, too much opportunity for huge screw ups).

In addition, the latest announcements of payments for the self employed will be much more difficult to verify and calculate. There's no hope of the HMRC developing a reliable new automated system to cover that within the next month or two. (Although I bet they have had plenty private companies putting forward a tender for the job, making all sorts of huge promises.)

I wouldn't be surprised if it'll become a matter of getting the staff in to process claims manually, which still sounds practically impossible. Worse with the various restrictions produced by isolation measures. However they do it, it's going to be a huge operation for another government department that has been cut to the bone by austerity measures.

In my experience anything involving hmrc will a) take a long time and b) be cocked up.

They are already under pressure and failing to function properly (i have been waiting 6 months ... yes 6 months ... for a response to my last communication with them, despite several reminders) without any extra work for thme to do.

[stampjones]

Why did the new Chancellor compound the confusion by using the unfamiliar US term "furlough" ? 

Is it American? I remember reading it in the inspector morse books and they’re quite old. I always assumed it was a public school type thong. Wherever it comes from its fucking annoying

[Stud01]

Just been made furloughed worker today. Horrible situation, in the process of changing jobs when new employer rescinded the offer last minute. New employer lead me to believe job was still available for last couple of weeks right up until today. 

[GingerNuts]

Just been made furloughed worker today. Horrible situation, in the process of changing jobs when new employer rescinded the offer last minute. New employer lead me to believe job was still available for last couple of weeks right up until today. 

You've been furloughed by your old employer?

Did they let you withdraw your notice or hadn't you given it?

[Stud01]

Yes, old employer. Gave notice but they kept me on but on lesser terms after effectively grovelling.

Could have been a lot worse and been out of a job, but no longer going to be a long term solution. Already made to feel indebted to them.

[GingerNuts]

Yes, old employer. Gave notice but they kept me on but on lesser terms after effectively grovelling.

Could have been a lot worse and been out of a job, but no longer going to be a long term solution. Already made to feel indebted to them.

Sorry to hear about your situation. Hopefully there'll be other opportunities when things improve.

[Stud01]

Cheers mate. Appreciate it 

[snaitram99]

Is it American? I remember reading it in the inspector morse books and they’re quite old. I always assumed it was a public school type thong. Wherever it comes from its fucking annoying

Don't know anything about public school thongs. 

Never read the Morse books although seen TV progs. I think outside the US it's mainly a military term, but don't know if much in use now in British forces. IIRC Robert Graves uses it in Goodbye To All That.

[Ahalfa Carling]

Yup, another one being furloughed here, after I finish my overtime tomorrow.

[mr.bluesky]

Yup, another one being furloughed here, after I finish my overtime tomorrow.

My company has furloughed about 80% of staff. I'm part of the 20% that has to carry on working. It's not as though I work in a critical industry but the company I work for wants to keep going for as long as possible with minimum staff  To be honest though I get fed up and bored stuck at home so I'm actually glad to be still working. Can't punt so may as well be at work 

[cotton]

My company has furloughed about 80% of staff. I'm part of the 20% that has to carry on working. It's not as though I work in a critical industry but the company I work for wants to keep going for as long as possible with minimum staff  To be honest though I get fed up and bored stuck at home so I'm actually glad to be still working. Can't punt so may as well be at work 

Yeh im still working aswell altho where i was based has effectively closed so im acting as more like a security guard than anything else , initially i had hoped to be furloughed but was also fearful of being redeployed elsewhere in a more front line capacity, like yourself as time has gone on im increasingly quite glad to still be going to work, the roads are lovely and quiet , nobody about , kindof like being one of the few survivors of a nuclear war. And you can always say your a key worker if asked why your out .

[daviemac]

One here seems to have it right, she's paying full wages and giving some useful advice. -

"Stay at home, watch Netflix, drink beer and avoid excessive masturbation.

"Our contract of employment with you reserves the right to lay you off or impose short time working.
“But as I am not a b****** we are not doing that and frankly if anyone is worrying about contracts and terms, you've got your head screwed on cross-threaded.

Other advice is to buy fewer pizzas and recreational drugs, oh and change hands at 99.   

External Link/Members Only