Agri Furlough

[deleted user 436632456]

Just heard this morning about a Agri contractor who has furloughed all 4 of his staff last week,

Apparently "See you in February Lads" was the message they all got.

Is it just me or his this contractor thinking outside the box,
He's took advantage of a something, right or wrong,
He wouldn't have had the work for 4 of them all winter, but now he gets to have a cheap winter, no wages to pay, no extra expense as they would probably just have spent a lot of their time in the workshop, forget about the hedge cutting as it's marginal anyway etc

2 of the 4 would have had to seek other work during the winter months on a normal year, now the contractor gets to keep all 4 of them for back at the slurry in Feb

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner for everybody involved

 

[goodevans]

If they could seek work in the winter normally would lead me to believe they were self employed so not on the books on the PAYE system so maybe a myth maybe not

 

[deleted user 436632456]

If they could seek work in the winter normally would lead me to believe they were self employed so not on the books on the PAYE system so maybe a myth maybe not

Apparently not,
A couple of them were expecting the P45 for the winter

 

[Formatted]

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner for everybody involved

Accept the staff who now are living on 20% less salary and the tax payer who is now having to foot the bill for the rest of their salary

 

[deleted user 436632456]

Accept the staff who now are living on 20% less salary and the tax payer who is now having to foot the bill for the rest of their salary

There's a few ways of looking at it,

Furlough is a business management tool to ensure businesses retain their employee's. This contractor would employ staff in the spring then P45 them when it got quiet at the end of the year (it would usually be different staff every year, and they wonder why they can't get staff at times lol). So defiantly is taking advantage of the current situation.

But Technically, he's saved 2/3 jobs, young guys who would have had to seek other employment, potentially leaving the industry too never return.
The contractor was employing them correctly i.e. through the books and not via self-employed route as they were clearly employed for 8/9 months of the year.
The contractor probably didn't benefit from other Covid grants.

Hard to know if he's right or wrong

 

[farmerdan7618]

Most of the general public will look at furlough as a way of helping the working person through Covid-19, and therefore think it's being abused in this instance.

Generally things that are within the rules, but not in the spirit of the rules are best kept between those making the claims, those advising them, and those the claims are being made to.

This type of message will do a fair bit of damage in the wrong hands. Just look at the publicity for lack of paying taxes by Amazon, Starbucks, Trump - UK farming plc doesn't need to end up in this camp.

As businesses, take advice and do everything you can to help your business, be prepared to defend it if questioned, and don't chuck this sort of thing up on the internet

 

[Daddy Pig]

Accept the staff who now are living on 20% less salary and the tax payer who is now having to foot the bill for the rest of their salary

No doubt the staff will seek other work over the winter which they will get paid for (quite legal) so will be quid's in.

 

[deleted user 436632456]

As businesses, take advice and do everything you can to help your business, be prepared to defend it if questioned, and don't chuck this sort of thing up on the internet

Emmm..
Have you seen some of the red tractor threads?? Were farmers are admitting to defrauding the scheme?? (I'm on the boat with them tho, it's a pure con)

I can guarantee that a lot more farmers/contractors have thought about furloughing staff over the winter months this year.

 

[Martin Holden]

One way of looking at this is that it is no the intended use of furlough IF the lads would normally be laid off for the winter and find other work.

 

[farmerdan7618]

Emmm..
Have you seen some of the red tractor threads?? Were farmers are admitting to defrauding the scheme?? (I'm on the boat with them tho, it's a pure con)

I can guarantee that a lot more farmers/contractors have thought about furloughing staff over the winter months this year.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

And on furlough for farming businesses, look at the reasons - many have been affected by Covid and should use the scheme. It's the bit about being a regular P45 that will get picked up. Any that are close to the line just want

 

[essexpete]

One way of looking at this is that it is no the intended use of furlough IF the lads would normally be laid off for the winter and find other work.

On the other hand it may be more difficult for those staff to pick up winter work given the current situation? Other than the fact the employer may more likely see the employees back in the spring what has the employer gained?

 

[Stewie]

"If you cannot maintain your workforce because your operations have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), you can furlough employees and apply for a grant to cover a portion of their usual monthly wage costs where you record them as being on furlough."

Nothing wrong IF covid has affected the contractor's operations to such an extent that he is unable to maintain their workforce....just difficult to imagine

 

[Still Farming]

Extended because Government frightened firms that would have to use their OWN money and not Government Furlonged money would turn around and say "unecconomical and Viable " and go bang!
Yes delaying tactics possibly?

 

[deleted user 436632456]

On the other hand it may be more difficult for those staff to pick up winter work given the current situation? Other than the fact the employer may more likely see the employees back in the spring what has the employer gained?

He defiantly has gained a chance that they will return to him in the spring time.
These lads could end up doing other work instead if they were laid off, never to return to the agri industry and the industry needs the young talent to stay within it.

Don't think I would recommend him for the queens birthday honours list just yet though

 

[SilliamWhale]

Most of the general public will look at furlough as a way of helping the working person through Covid-19, and therefore think it's being abused in this instance.

Generally things that are within the rules, but not in the spirit of the rules are best kept between those making the claims, those advising them, and those the claims are being made to.

This type of message will do a fair bit of damage in the wrong hands. Just look at the publicity for lack of paying taxes by Amazon, Starbucks, Trump - UK farming plc doesn't need to end up in this camp.

As businesses, take advice and do everything you can to help your business, be prepared to defend it if questioned, and don't chuck this sort of thing up on the internet

I think farming is a long way off amazons and starbucks for tax dodging

 

[farmerdan7618]

I think farming is a long way off amazons and starbucks for tax dodging

Gets just as much stick from the media even though I agree well short of those guys. Don't give them the ammo, if it's hard to find then journalists will move to an easy target.

 

[cvx175]

One way of looking at this is that it is no the intended use of furlough IF the lads would normally be laid off for the winter and find other work.

But the furlough scheme can be used for employees who have been laid off, they were encouraged to go back to their employer and be rehired to be furloughed

 

[B'o'B]

What if the employees are in the “clinically vulnerable” category?
I would be the weak link for them isolating this time as I have kids at school.

 

[richard hammond]

But the furlough scheme can be used for employees who have been laid off, they were encouraged to go back to their employer and be rehired to be furloughed

A badly thought out scheme that has been taken advantage of by tax paying companies, who are the fools, if you pay tax are you not going to try and get a bit back!!!!!

 

[Scholsey]

I understand its not 'illegal' what he is supposedly doing but would but i wouldn't use that contractor again and would tell him why if asked.