Furloughed workers : The 80% thing

Post by **POSTMAN** » 25 Mar 2020, 16:09

Put this up for clarification.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ed-workers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If your employer cannot cover staff costs due to COVID-19, they may be able to access support to continue paying part of your wage, to avoid redundancies.

If your employer intends to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they will discuss with you becoming classified as a furloughed worker. This would mean that you are kept on your employer’s payroll, rather than being laid off.

To qualify for this scheme, you should not undertake work for them while you are furloughed. This will allow your employer to claim a grant of up to 80% of your wage for all employment costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

You will remain employed while furloughed. Your employer could choose to fund the differences between this payment and your salary, but does not have to.

If your salary is reduced as a result of these changes, you may be eligible for support through the welfare system, including Universal Credit.

We intend for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to run for at least 3 months from 1 March 2020, but will extend if necessary.

Royal Mail Email wrote:The 80% scheme is only for furloughed workers. This would therefore not apply to Royal Mail staff as there is currently work available and we are not currently in a position where we are considering redundancies due to the Covid-19 situation.

Postmanpat6312 · Post by **Postmanpat6312** » 25 Mar 2020, 18:26

But we are not furloughed yet, very unfair as I have no child care provider now. School is shut even to key workers

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 25 Mar 2020, 18:34

steviep15 · Post by **steviep15** » 25 Mar 2020, 18:45

According to martin lewis whether you have have work or not.ie self isolating or looking after children you are still eligible. Up to royal mail though.

Step up protect your vulnerable workers

geordieboy123 · Post by **geordieboy123** » 26 Mar 2020, 06:55

steviep15 wrote:According to martin lewis whether you have have work or not.ie self isolating or looking after children you are still eligible. Up to royal mail though.

Step up protect your vulnerable workers

I would hope that the CWU come in and do a deal where RM make up the other 20%

Post by **POSTMAN** » 26 Mar 2020, 10:46

We are not going to be offered it, please read the original post properly.
Don't get your hopes up.

Rafmanspanners · Post by **Rafmanspanners** » 26 Mar 2020, 11:57

Had an email from Asda today saying that workers in the vulnerable groups were being paid for their 12 weeks isolation. Well done Asda!

steviep15 · Post by **steviep15** » 26 Mar 2020, 12:17

And tescos.

steviep15 · Post by **steviep15** » 26 Mar 2020, 21:01

Anyone watch martin lewis this evening regarding furloughed workers

Post by **POSTMAN** » 26 Mar 2020, 22:29

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/perso ... oronavirus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/perso ... pport-help" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The website is really bad use both links.

Martin Lewis explains meaning of furlough, how much pay it covers and if you are entitled

Postmanpat6312 · Post by **Postmanpat6312** » 26 Mar 2020, 22:54

Let us know if you get anyone gets any success asking for furlough. No cost to royal mail

Post by **POSTMAN** » 27 Mar 2020, 16:38

Martin explained:

"Furlough is this position where if you can't work, you have a job but your job is on hold, let's imagine hospitality industry is easy. If you are PAYE for a contracted employer, the company can say we'll put you on furlough and the state will pay 80 percent of your salary up to a maximum of £2,500.

"The company can top that up to 100 percent and we hope they have and they will, but they don't have to.

"So if your company says you'll cost too much tell them 'just give me the 80 percent'."

Martin explained: "The 80 percent is not coming out of the employers pocket."

Giving a helpful example, Martin revealed a friend of his had lost their job on Wednesday last week because they were in a hospitality type industry.

"When (the furlough policy) out on the Friday I said call them up and ask for you job back and if they say 'we can give it to you' say 'I'll take 80 percent of the wage'. And, she got her job back."

Martin has been encouraging employers to take full advantage of the furloughs being offered by the government.

However, he added ultimately it is up to employers to give out a furlough.

He said: "The guidance is not in place yet but the strong signals I am getting from the top is employers have the discretion to offer (furlough).

"That means if someone is self isolating for the next three months an employer has the discretion to put them on furlough. The same is true for someone whose job is available but they can't work because they are at home to look after children.

"Bosses, you can put them on furlough. You are not going to be prosecuted for doing this.

"The furlough system has been but in place to protect people's income and keep it coming in. Don't be risk averse. This isn't like normal times when you have to jump over hurdles to get money. The state wants to support people's income where they need that support."

Post by **POSTMAN** » 27 Mar 2020, 16:42

I wrote to Royal mail about this and ask whether they would consider Furlough for those who do not want to be at work because they have vulnerable people at home, and they wrote back this, it may change especially the longer this goes on.

Royal Mail Email wrote:The 80% scheme is only for furloughed workers. This would therefore not apply to Royal Mail staff as there is currently work available and we are not currently in a position where we are considering redundancies due to the Covid-19 situation.

Royal Mail have also today said this which may be a factor, it's above my pay grade tho...

Currently the Group has in excess of £800 million in cash plus a £925 million Revolving Credit Facility.

Zicomurphy · Post by **Zicomurphy** » 27 Mar 2020, 18:30

POSTMAN wrote:I wrote to Royal mail about this and ask whether they would consider Furlough for those who do not want to be at work because they have vulnerable people at home, and they wrote back this, it may change especially the longer this goes on.

Royal Mail Email wrote:The 80% scheme is only for furloughed workers. This would therefore not apply to Royal Mail staff as there is currently work available and we are not currently in a position where we are considering redundancies due to the Covid-19 situation.
Royal Mail have also today said this which may be a factor, it's above my pay grade tho...

Currently the Group has in excess of £800 million in cash plus a £925 million Revolving Credit Facility.

Even if they reach a position where they would consider this for some employees I would want to know the full legal implications before I would think about taking advantage of it. When things get back to normal would you be guaranteed to get your job back on your current contract? Or could they say income is down now we can’t employ as many people so can’t reinstate the employees we had to furlough?

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 28 Mar 2020, 15:06

Last in first out if ever happens