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As of May, around 11.5m jobs are on furlough [1] with total labour force size of 35m [2]. This is slightly apples-to-oranges as one person can hold 2 jobs and b

As of May, around 11.5m jobs are on furlough [1] with total labour force size of 35m [2]. This is slightly apples-to-oranges as one person can hold 2 jobs and be furloughed on both, but at face value it is about 1/3 of UK working population. I heard an interview with Angela Leadsom that it is very difficult to take people off furlough. Many people found another job while also getting furlough pay and are resisting going back to work. Under UK labour laws the employer needs to accommodate employee needs with regards to health and safety. So if an employee says they would come off furlough but feel unsafe about the working environment, it is hard to resolve that. [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1116638/uk-number-of-people-on-furlough/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1116638/uk-number-of-peo... [2] https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/labor-force-total-wb-data.html https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/labor-force-tota...

toyg 5y ago
Ah yes, obviously the problem is those pesky regulations protecting workers... /s A serious government would just end furlough. Businesses had more than a year to adapt their working conditions to be safe, while also having their wage bill paid by the taxpayer. It's time for them to take their responsibilities seriously.
Reason077 5y ago
The 11.5m is a cumulative figure, not the current number of jobs on furlough! That was 3.4m as of 30 April according to official statistics, and should be substantially lower by now: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-3-june-2021/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-3-june-2021 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-ret... This BBC article says there's currently 1.5m still on furlough: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57665735 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57665735
- rich_sasha 5y ago
  Ah, shouldn't write comments before coffee! Good point
ClumsyPilot 5y ago
"employer needs to accommodate employee needs with regards to health and safety." Back when I was young, we'd loose a finger or three on occasional workshift and never complained! Just plaster over them and get back to work! That's after walking 13 miles to the factory, in a blizzard, uphill, both ways!
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago
  I have little doubt that a lot of people are abusing furlough, both employees and employers. It was a good idea but it needs to end.

toyg 5y ago

Ah yes, obviously the problem is those pesky regulations protecting workers... /s A serious government would just end furlough. Businesses had more than a year to adapt their working conditions to be safe, while also having their wage bill paid by the taxpayer. It's time for them to take their responsibilities seriously.

Reason077 5y ago

The 11.5m is a cumulative figure, not the current number of jobs on furlough! That was 3.4m as of 30 April according to official statistics, and should be substantially lower by now: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-3-june-2021/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-3-june-2021 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-ret... This BBC article says there's currently 1.5m still on furlough: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57665735 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57665735

rich_sasha 5y ago
Ah, shouldn't write comments before coffee! Good point

ClumsyPilot 5y ago

"employer needs to accommodate employee needs with regards to health and safety." Back when I was young, we'd loose a finger or three on occasional workshift and never complained! Just plaster over them and get back to work! That's after walking 13 miles to the factory, in a blizzard, uphill, both ways!

tonyedgecombe 5y ago
I have little doubt that a lot of people are abusing furlough, both employees and employers. It was a good idea but it needs to end.