It’s been just over a month since Covid-19 became a reality to us. Cases started popping up in the UK from January 2020 but it’s only really in the past month that we have had to face the reality of this global situation. It’s all still a bit surreal and at times feels more like we’re in a sci-fi movie than living in the present reality.
Change is all around us and in some cases completely out of control. Change is also an option in other cases but we must choose wisely which way we will go. One of these changes is the new word that many of us haven’t come across until recently – furlough.
Wikipedia describes this as, “A temporary leave of employees due to special needs of a company or employer, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole.“
But what does that really mean to us? Furlough is not a recognised term in UK employment law, although it is commonly used in the US. Wired explains it in this way, “While furloughed employees still technically retain their jobs, the furlough itself means that they cease working for their employers and do not earn a salary. The idea is that this is a temporary arrangement, and workers will one day be able to return to their jobs.”
To be honest, it’s all been a bit overwhelming on so many levels. So, to process it all and to hopefully offer support to others I am going to keep My Furlough Diary and write a bit about all the various aspects of this rather bizarre season as often as possible.
I welcome your comments, expertise, ideas and suggestions. We are in this together! There will be good days and there will be bad days. I also expect to make some good decisions and hopefully not too many bad ones!
My first scary decision was not only to put some staff on furlough but to also have a furlough ‘holiday’ myself. I see this as a brilliant time to have that sabbatical that I’ve been planning for the past three years, to take some time out to reflect and to make some really good decisions of the way forward. I will also use this time to support others as best I can.
So here we go with the beginning of who knows what for who knows how long…. happy furlough holiday!