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How To Manage Your Wellbeing While Furloughed
How To Manage Your Wellbeing While Furloughed
furloughed
These are already uncertain times for us all, and with more than
nine million of us expected to be placed on temporary leave or
'furloughed' due to coronavirus, this may create even greater
challenges in relation to your mental health. It is therefore
important to take care of your wellbeing during this time with
support from your employer. For more information about
furloughing, ACAS has put together this guide on furloughing for
employees and employers.
This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
What impact could being furloughed have on your
wellbeing?
These may include feeling that daily life lacks structure or that you
lack purpose and motivation. This could lead to a decrease in
your levels of self-esteem and self-worth. In the short-term, you
may have financial concerns due to your income being reduced or
have longer-term fears of being made redundant.
Social distancing, self-isolation and not being in contact with your
colleagues may increase feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Having too much time to think about the current situation may be
overwhelming and trigger new mental health problems or make
existing ones worse. Alternatively, you may find yourself with less
time and struggling with additional caring responsibilities if you
are looking after children or vulnerable relatives.
Here are some steps you can take to cope with these potential challenges:
1. Establish a routine
2. Talk to colleagues
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https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/coronavirus-and-work/support-if-youre-furloughed/
Bosses who have furloughed staff during the coronavirus crisis will have to start
paying a share of the government scheme from August.
The furlough scheme is designed to help people put on leave due to the coronavirus
outbreak, and to prevent employers having to make mass redundancies.
What is furlough?
The government is currently paying the wages of more than a quarter of UK jobs
through its furlough programme - the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Companies can top up this pay if they choose and must let employees know they have
been furloughed.
It will run until the end of October and is expected to end up costing about £80bn.
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From 1 July, businesses can bring furloughed employees back to workplaces part-time,
a month earlier than previously announced.
It will be down to individual firms to decide what part-time means and pay the wages for
that time. They will be able to set the hours and shift patterns staff will work.
For example, Mr Sunak said an employer could bring someone back to work two days a
week. In that situation, the employer would pay for those days, while the furlough
scheme would cover the employee for the other three working days.
From 1 August, employers will have to pay national insurance and pension
contributions. Furloughed workers will continue to receive 80% of their pay.
In September, employers will then pay 10% of employees' salaries - rising to 20% in
October.
You can claim 80% of your employees' wages - capped at £2,500 per employee per
month before tax, or £576.92 a week.
If employees are not paid set amounts each month - for example if they have returned
from maternity leave, or receive top-up pay - you will need to calculate your claim
manually, or seek professional advice.
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Furlough covers overtime and commission payments built in to an employee's salary,
but not discretionary payments such as tips or optional bonuses.
Image captionNewcastle United was one of the first football clubs to announce it would furlough staff
All the money claimed must be paid to your workers, or to cover their national insurance
and pension payments, even if a firm is in administration.
HMRC will check your claim, and pay you through a UK bank account, if you are
eligible. Claims take about six working days to process.
Image captionBritish Airways and EasyJet are among firms that will furlough a significant proportion of
staff
Potentially yes, if your company can't give you work to do because of the coronavirus
outbreak.
The scheme covers those who were on an employer's PAYE payroll on 19 March 2020.
This includes full-time and part-time workers, and employees on flexible, zero-hour or
agency contracts.
You must be furloughed for at least three weeks, and you can be furloughed more than
once.
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionThe hospitality industry has been badly affected, with restaurants bars and cafes
required to close for all but takeaways and deliveries
If you have been made redundant since 19 March, your former employer can re-hire
you under the scheme. But newly hired employees are not eligible.
Any UK organisation with employees can apply , but it will mainly be private sector
businesses and charities making a claim.
Apprentices can also be furloughed and continue their training. An individual can
furlough an employee, such as a nanny, if they are paid through PAYE.
The self-employed who are adversely affected by the virus are eligible for a taxable
grant of up to 80% of their average monthly profit, if they meet certain conditions.
They must have been self-employed since at least the start of April 2019, and earn an
average of less than £50,000 in a tax year. Those who receive it can continue to work.
If you are on unpaid leave, shielding for health reasons or have caring responsibilities,
you are also eligible. Staff on maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave will
still receive statutory pay from the government.
Employers do not have to top up salaries that no longer reach the minimum wage.
You can volunteer in the community or even for your company as long as you aren't
creating revenue or providing a service. Employers can give employees additional
training, but must top up furlough payments if they do not reach minimum wage.
From July to October, you may be able to work part time, and be furloughed for the
remainder of your hours.
If you work for more than one firm, you can receive furlough from any of them, up to
£2,500 a month per employer.
You can continue working for any that still need you or for a new employer, provided
you are not breaching any existing contracts.
The hope is that by the time the scheme ends, restrictions will have lifted and
businesses can start paying full salaries again.
Workplace operations will be resuming within selected parts of the Metro, for
selected industries. In this #NewNormal, it takes a lot of adjustments between
management and employees because of the fear and trauma being faced by
both groups.
It is suggested to begin the first day with prayers, huddles, meals and catch-
up sessions to “break the ice” and set the tone for hope and positivity in the
workplace, which are both very much needed. These workplace practices
should also be done on a weekly basis as follow-through sessions, to help
everyone achieve a better mindset as they start working. Of course, social
distancing measures must be strictly followed.
To set the tone right, it is suggested to re-open with a meeting, that has the
following agenda:
1. Thanksgiving and Introductory Remarks
2. Check on everyone’s condition
3. Review of flexible workplace policies and employee schedules
4. Process flow for GCQ precautionary measures, prior to entering the
workplace
5. “Open door” Policy
https://www.peoplemanager.ph/post/workplace-balance-in-the-newnormal?
fbclid=IwAR3rrjE2MRw5pwY5L4dduaInJa-Vbis09V15JnwFs0PkbFxmuirp1Cl35bI
We’re all different in how much uncertainty we can tolerate in life. Some people seem to
enjoy taking risks and living unpredictable lives, while others find the randomness of life
deeply distressing. But all of us have a limit. If you feel overwhelmed by uncertainty and
worry, it’s important to know that you’re not alone; many of us are in the same boat at
this time. It’s also important to realize that no matter how helpless and hopeless you
feel, there are steps you can take to better deal with uncontrollable circumstances,
alleviate your anxiety, and face the unknown with more confidence.
To cope with all this uncertainty, many of us use worrying as a tool for trying to predict
the future and avoid nasty surprises. Worrying can make it seem like you have some
control over uncertain circumstances. You may believe that it will help you find a
solution to your problems or prepare you for the worst. Maybe if you just agonize over a
problem long enough, just think through every possibility, or read every opinion online,
you’ll find a solution and be able to control the outcome. Unfortunately, none of this
works. Chronic worrying can’t give you more control over uncontrollable events; it just
robs you of enjoyment in the present, saps your energy, and keeps you up at night. But
there are healthier ways to cope with uncertainty—and that begins with adjusting your
mindset.
For example, if you’ve lost your job or income during this difficult time, you still have
control over how much energy you put into searching online for work, sending out
resumes, or networking with your contacts. Similarly, if you’re worried about your health
amid the coronavirus pandemic, you can take action by regularly washing your hands,
cleaning surfaces, avoiding crowds, and looking out for vulnerable friends and
neighbors.
By focusing on the aspects of a problem that you can control in this way, you’ll switch
from ineffective worrying and ruminating into active problem-solving. Of course, all
circumstances are different and you may find that in some situations all you can control
is your attitude and emotional response.
When circumstances are out of your control, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by fear
and negative emotions. You may think that bottling up how you feel, trying to put on a
brave face, or forcing yourself to be positive will provide the best outcome. But denying
or suppressing your emotions will only increase stress and anxiety and make you more
vulnerable to depression or burnout.
When you can do nothing else about a situation, you can still actively face up to your
emotions—even the most negative and fearful ones. Allowing yourself to experience
uncertainty in this way can help you reduce stress, better come to terms with your
circumstances, and find a sense of peace as you deal with challenges.
Excessively seek reassurance from others. You repeatedly ask friends or loved ones
if you’re making the right decision, endlessly research information online, or seek out
expert advice in an effort to remove uncertainty from your life.
Micromanage people. You refuse to delegate tasks to others, either at work or home.
You may even try to force people around you to change, to make their behavior more
predictable for you.
Procrastinate. By not making decisions, you hope to avoid the uncertainty that
inevitably follows. You’ll find ways to delay or postpone acting—or even avoid certain
situations all together—in an attempt to prevent bad things from happening.
Repeatedly check things. You call or text your family, friends, or kids again and again
to make sure they’re safe. You check and re-check emails, texts, or forms before
sending, double-check lists to ensure you haven’t missed anything that could have
repercussions on the predictability of the future.
You can challenge the behaviors you’ve adopted to alleviate the discomfort of
uncertainty by asking yourself the following questions:
Life can change in a moment and it is filled with unexpected events and
surprises—but that’s not always a bad thing. For every unpleasant surprise,
such as a traffic accident or serious medical diagnosis, there are good things
that happen out of the blue as well—a dream job offer, a surprise pay rise, or
an unexpected phone call from an old friend. Opportunity often arises from the
unexpected and having to face uncertainty in life can also help you learn to
adapt, overcome challenges, and increase your resiliency. It can help you to
grow as a person.
Does anyone have a job for life, a guarantee of good health, or absolute
certainty over what tomorrow will bring? Behaviors such as worrying,
micromanaging, and procrastinating offer the illusion of having some control
over a situation, but what do they change in reality? The truth is no matter how
much you try to plan and prepare for every possible outcome, life will find a
way of surprising you. All striving for certainty really does is fuel worry and
anxiety.
When you’re faced with uncertainty, it’s easy to overestimate the likelihood of
something bad happening—and underestimate your ability to cope if it does.
But given that the likelihood of something bad happening is low, even at this
precarious time, is it possible to live with that small chance and focus instead
on the more likely outcomes? Ask your friends and family how they cope with
uncertainty in specific circumstances. Could you do the same?
By challenging your need for certainty, you can begin to let go of negative behaviors,
reduce stress and worry, and free up time and energy for more practical purposes.
When irrational fears and worries take hold, it can be hard to think logically and
accurately weigh up the probability of something bad happening. To help you become
more tolerant and accepting of uncertainty, the following steps can help:
Recognize when you feel the need for certainty. Notice when you start to feel
anxious and fearful about a situation, begin to worry about what-ifs, or feel like a
situation is far worse than it actually is. Look for the physical cues that you’re feeling
anxious. You might notice the tension in your neck or shoulders, shortness of breath,
the onset of a headache, or an empty feeling in your stomach. Take a moment to pause
and recognize that you’re craving reassurance or a guarantee.
Allow yourself to feel the uncertainty. Instead of engaging in futile efforts to gain
control over the uncontrollable, let yourself experience the discomfort of uncertainty.
Like all emotions, if you allow yourself to feel fear and uncertainty, they will eventually
pass. Focus on the present moment and your breathing and allow yourself to simply feel
and observe the uncertainty you’re experiencing. Take some slow, deep breaths or try
a meditation to keep you anchored in the present.
Let go. Respond to the what-ifs running through your head by acknowledging that
you’re not a fortune teller; you don’t know what will happen. All you can do is let go and
accept the uncertainty as part of life.
Shift your attention. Focus on solvable worries, taking action on those aspects of a
problem that you can control, or simply go back to what you were doing. When your
mind wanders back to worrying or the feelings of uncertainty return, refocus your mind
on the present moment and your own breathing.
One of the surest ways to avoid worrying about the future is to focus on the present.
Instead of trying to predict what might happen, switch your attention to what’s
happening right now. By being fully connected to the present, you can interrupt the
negative assumptions and catastrophic predictions running through your mind.
You can learn to purposely focus your attention on the present through mindfulness.
With regular practice, mindfulness can help change your preoccupation with future
worries to a stronger appreciation of the present moment—as well as help calm your
mind, ease stress, and boost your overall mood.
Get plenty of sleep. Excessive worry and uncertainty can disturb your sleep—just as a
lack of quality sleep can fuel anxiety and stress. Improving your daytime habits and
taking time to relax and unwind before bed can help you to sleep better at night.
Eat a healthy diet. Eating healthy meals can help maintain your energy levels and
prevent mood swings. Avoid sugary and processed foods and try to add more omega-3
fats—from salmon, walnuts, soybeans, and flaxseeds—to give your overall mood a
boost.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/dealing-with-uncertainty.htm