Would you swap employees on/off furlough now?

I am mindful of hostages to fortune - would you swap furloughed staff at this point?

Didn't find your answer?

We know the furlough scheme is to be continued in some form past July, but we don't know the detail.

I may have a business need to change some staff around with effect from 1st June.

But, I am concerned that the extension could possibly apply only apply to staff currently on furlough.

So, if I agree to swap people round that could be a 'new' claim in respect of the extension - and possibly fall foul of something that we do not yet know.

Is anyone else thinking this way?

Replies (5)

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RLI
By lionofludesch
20th May 2020 10:16

I have a builder back to work this week. His problem wasn't laying bricks, it was getting bricks to lay. They're out in the open - low risk.

Another construction client aiming to be back mid-June.

Another client is considering going back on a reduced footing on 1 June.

Couple of clients only furloughed part of the workforce. No changes there, apart from one employee coming back because the employer overdid furlough.

None of the rest are coming back before June.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
20th May 2020 10:48

Whilst re actual working on construction sites it is likely usually possible to achieve > two metre space, the tricky bit on sites, which often have difficult/tight access (which ours always seemed to have) , will be making these routes/openings safe for bringing materials onto site/handling re same whilst maintaining > two metres.

Given every building site has a named individual with their neck on the block re H & S I suspect a fair few will not be capable of safely reopening without changing access provision.

Still, we have to await until tomorrow to get Oor Nicky's pronouncements.

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By jwgrogan
20th May 2020 10:32

I can't imagine that the minimum 3 week furlough period will change, so why would it matter if it was for a different set of employees?

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RLI
By lionofludesch
20th May 2020 10:38

Yes - if you're thinking of giving everyone a turn, you need to have that three week minimum in mind.

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By Kate Upcraft
21st May 2020 09:57

There is no problem at all with rotating furloughed employees as long as each furlough period is a minimum of 21 days, equally the 21 days can be extended for a day, a week and month, whatever the business need is as long as you notify the employee, they don’t need to return to work and then start another three week period, but if they have returned to work they can be re-furloughed as long as it’s for 21 days Minimum again

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