Northern Trains Ltd

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern Trains Ltd

(23/07/2020 08:42)wirralbus Wrote:  Staff with underlying health conditions were not furloughed but stood down from there job. May seem similar but there is a difference.

Furloughing can only apply in the private sector , as Northern is in the public sector , now it is an operator of last resort it could not furlough staff.

Before the furlough scheme was announced the government said that those who were off work due to health reasons connected with COVID-19 can receive SSP from day 1 even if they aren't actually ill e.g. someone who has underlying health conditions or someone who has been in close contact with someone who has developed COVID-19.

The furlough scheme was primarily for private businesses who would be closing temporarily or had seen a temporary reduction in the volume of work due to COVID-19, opposed to those shielding. However, the rules were loose and it allowed employers to use discretion meaning they could choose to furlough staff with underlying health conditions even if they were working for a business which still had plenty of work for them. That applied to some warehouse workers after pressure from trade unions.