Stability for furloughed staff

Furlough scheme to be extended or something put in place for workers such as a universal basic income or up unemployment and housing benefit. Who cannot go back to work due to social distancing measures such as pubs and clubs or wholesale warehouses and retailers supplying them. They cannot go back as soon as the furlough scheme that is being proposed to be cut. Where does that leave the staff and families. My partner is one of those workers currently not sure whether we will have money to pay the bills if the money is reduced or cut and I don’t have a permanent income either from being on supply if both our money is gone we won’t be able to pay bills or eat and I’m sure there’s many in the same position or worse.

Why the contribution is important

There’s many people who are hard working being punished for a virus that isn’t their fault hospitality and retail workers in this industry have families and lives too and don’t deserve to be forgotten about or assumed the can live on an even bigger cut on their minimum wage especially those earning less because of their age. Are we as a country willing to subject people to starving and homeless from this pandemic or are we going to step up and provide a fairer society that doesn’t kick the less fortunate when they’re already struggling to make ends meat.

by L on May 06, 2020 at 09:27AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.6
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by lindyloo May 06, 2020 at 09:59

    I totally agree. Both me and my partner are furloughed. We are managing ok with 80% but if they do decide to cut it to 60% then we wont. We would both be happy to go straight back to work but our workplaces remain shut. It seems we are being punished by not being allowed to go to work, but then on the other hand we are being told they cant keep affording to pay for our wages. Let us get back to work, earn our own wages, pay our taxes and get the economy moving again. Many people wont even have a job to go back to.The financial impact of this will be felt for decades.

  • Posted by Pandamamma May 06, 2020 at 10:09

    I agree that there needs to be protection for people in industries that won’t be able to immediately return to work, or for staff who cannot return to work fully either due to lack of childcare provision or due to shielding. I also have concerns with whether protection will still be available if Scotland take a different route out of lockdown than Westminster, the furlough scheme is a UK run scheme and there would be concern that if Westminster announce opening up of bars and restaurants and Holyrood take the decision to keep them closed then the furlough support would be withdrawn, this needs to be a serious consideration when looking at whether a differing lockdown exit strategy is applied in Scotland

  • Posted by DarrenRedfern May 06, 2020 at 11:06

    I employ part time staff. If furlough goes down to less htan 80% most of these staff would be better off on universal credit

  • Posted by petermuir79 May 08, 2020 at 07:57

    Agree. If there is a staggered reopening across different industries then there needs to be support for the industries that remain closed (otherwise all the money already spent has been for nothing). If the furlough scheme is reduced to below 80% then everything needs to be reduced, ie dropped to 60% furlough then: Rent 60% Food 60% Gas 60% Electric 60% Council Tax 60%
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