Furlough

[barr012]

Hi,

My employer has been using furlough to pay holiday pay. They are not using furlough for any other reason. We have a lot of work and are taking on new staff. Is this allowed under the rules?

[Law Student 2]

The process of switching to and from furlough is known as flexible furlough. Essentially, your employer is using the reasoning of holidays to put employees on and off furlough. The government guidance does not permit this. You employer can not deliberately move an employee on the furlough scheme because they have booked a holiday. However, if the employee was already due to be working under a flexible furlough arrangement, all holiday time during that period should be treated as furlough.

Celestine ULA

[barr012]

Thank you
My employer is only using furlough for holidays. They have been very poor in the way they have dealt with there staff during the pandemic. I'm sure it will come back to bite them eventually.

[ULA]

Law Student 2 is correct the only time holiday pay can be claimed via the furlough scheme is if the employee is already on furlough and they take annual leave whilst furloughed.