Furlough fraud.

[conny]

I know someone that was furloughed and then 'asked' to carry on working. When he refused he was told that he may as well start looking for another job while he was furloughed then. Within a week he got a job with a competitor who was still able to open because they did other work which gave them 'key worker' status. He says he wouldn't be surprised if his old employer was still claiming his furlough pay as he couldn't get his P45 'due to the office staff not being in work'. He has however notified HMRC that he has taken up a position with the new company.

I thought you could have another job while being furloughed? Depends on the contract of your employer anyway. Plus, if you had two jobs at the time of this kicking off, there's nothing to say that you can't be furloughed with one and working at the other I don't think. Or, amazingly, you can be furloughed for both, max £2.5k per employer, potentially earning someone £5k from the gov. Blimey.

I was reading yesterday, quite a lot of employers are making their staff work even though being furloughed. That is bad!

You are correct that you can be working for more than one employer and be furloughed by them all and indeed you can receive 80% off each of them, thereby allowing you to earn more than £2,500 per month. Though I doubt there are many jobs for the ordinary man to be earning the potential of £7,500 per month working part time for 3 different companies.

 

[transam]

As a general. Point

Imo this country went down hill. For the working bloke and woman when they changed the definition or meaning of the word

Perks

Some pencil pusher? Decided that in many cases it was theft

 

[sodthisforfun]

I know someone that was furloughed and then 'asked' to carry on working. When he refused he was told that he may as well start looking for another job while he was furloughed then. Within a week he got a job with a competitor who was still able to open because they did other work which gave them 'key worker' status. He says he wouldn't be surprised if his old employer was still claiming his furlough pay as he couldn't get his P45 'due to the office staff not being in work'. He has however notified HMRC that he has taken up a position with the new company.

You know, with the attitude of the boss I hope he is still collecting the money and he gets caught.

 

[conny]

We get (got) 'perks' in our job. Big discounts off booked breaks, 20% discount on most things bought on site and free day passes for the family.

Since furlough they have all been stopped indefinitely and anyone who had a break booked has had it cancelled with no option to re-book at a later date.
I think a number of people will be seeking alternative employment during their time off.

 

[conny]

You know, with the attitude of the boss I hope he is still collecting the money and he gets caught.

So do I.

 

[transam]

Few blokes who worked at the BL factory had Perks in spare. Car parts.

Over a period of time they built new cars in the back gardens

Than some one said it was theft

 

[Mottie]

I know someone that was furloughed and then 'asked' to carry on working. When he refused he was told that he may as well start looking for another job while he was furloughed then. Within a week he got a job with a competitor who was still able to open because they did other work which gave them 'key worker' status. He says he wouldn't be surprised if his old employer was still claiming his furlough pay as he couldn't get his P45 'due to the office staff not being in work'. He has however notified HMRC that he has taken up a position with the new company..

If he got the new job within a week and left, his employer should get nothing as the minimum term for furloughing is 3 weeks.

 

[sodthisforfun]

I don't have a problem with companies being sensible in order to survive, like losing perks - for a while. But they shouldn't force their staff to work and they seem to be using this opportunity to take the pee somewhat..
My better half didn't get furloughed unlike most of his colleagues but was forced to take a paycut. So basically he's having to work harder than before to cover some of the work from his colleagues for nearly the same percentage of wage! He also missed out on his UK holiday and wasn't allowed to cancel the booked time off or claim any overtime which I don't think is legal (his contract). I think after this he'd love another job, but at his age it may be hard to get employment again, esp with lots of people now unemployed.

 

[conny]

If he got the new job within a week and left, his employer should get nothing as the minimum term for furloughing is 3 weeks.

He had worked for the 'dodgy' employer for about 3 years and had started to get furlough pay off them. The employer then said he should come in to work but he would still get his furlough pay and he would top it up to his normal wage. When he refused is when he was told to think about looking elsewhere. He did and got a new job within the week but started the following week. He doesn't get furlough pay off his new employer because he is working full time due to the nature of their business. He thinks his old employer will still be claiming the furlough pay from the government even though he doesn't work there anymore.

 

[conny]

I don't have a problem with companies being sensible in order to survive, like losing perks - for a while. But they shouldn't force their staff to work and they seem to be using this opportunity to take the pee somewhat..
My better half didn't get furloughed unlike most of his colleagues but was forced to take a paycut. So basically he's having to work harder than before to cover some of the work from his colleagues for nearly the same percentage of wage! He also missed out on his UK holiday and wasn't allowed to cancel the booked time off or claim any overtime which I don't think is legal (his contract). I think after this he'd love another job, but at his age it may be hard to get employment again, esp with lots of people now unemployed.

No problem with losing perks for a short time to help the business but with no indication of when, or even if, they will be re-instated then it casts a gloom over staff.
If some staff are furloughed and others are still working they are not supposed to increase their workload to make up for the absent staff. That's part of the Covid rules/guidelines. Don't know how old your partner is but if it gives you any heart, I semi retired at the end of March 2019 I was able to take up a part time job by the 5th April 2019 I was approaching 63 at the time. It depends what your partner does and if he is willing to diversify into something different.

 

[sodthisforfun]

Yeah, it can be demoralising - I guess the businesses just don't know what the future holds and are playing safe? Either that or they're just keeping all the profits and handing down no perks!

Glad you were ok in the job front . The other half works in real time information, supporting/developing the software for the signs that you see in bus stations/trains telling you when the next train/bus is along. Not just the UK but in NZ and a few other countries. Not sure if he can do something else with his skills but the companies who do this are few and far between in the UK and we'd have to move and can't do that because we need to live near his elderly dad in London. Funnily enough he was offered a job a couple of weeks ago from a bloke he used to work with back up in Leeds again but just too far. TFL would be perfect but those jobs are thin on the ground.

 

[Bodd]

I don't have a problem with companies being sensible in order to survive, like losing perks - for a while. But they shouldn't force their staff to work and they seem to be using this opportunity to take the pee somewhat..
My better half didn't get furloughed unlike most of his colleagues but was forced to take a paycut. So basically he's having to work harder than before to cover some of the work from his colleagues for nearly the same percentage of wage! He also missed out on his UK holiday and wasn't allowed to cancel the booked time off or claim any overtime which I don't think is legal (his contract). I think after this he'd love another job, but at his age it may be hard to get employment again, esp with lots of people now unemployed.

My mates wife works for an accountants firm. The same thing with your husband is happening to her...

 

[ellal]

What about those who have admitted to claiming the self employed 'benefits' whilst also admitting they wouldn't have been earning much during the 'furlough period' anyway?

 

[Mottie]

What about those who have admitted to claiming the self employed 'benefits' whilst also admitting they wouldn't have been earning much during the 'furlough period' anyway?

Just what are these 'self employed' benefits you refer to? I wouldn’t know as I’m not self employed.

 

[Ryler]

I tried to claim the self employment money but could not get through the maze of questions on the online claim process. Tried the helpline and spent over an hour listening to music. Tried my accountant who was no help either.
Thankfully I was never off work.

I know off people who set up 3 bogus companies and claimed £150k.
Know another bloke who has just claimed £7k. And says he will get another £5k in the second round.
He was off work for 2 weeks.
He is currently hoping for a second wave next year.