Furloughed workers far more likely to be worried about job security

Employees that have been furloughed, on reduced hours or on temporary leave are far more likely to be concerned regarding their job security than those who are not.

Populus Group, a research company, COVID-19 Tracker shows that 72 per cent of furloughed workers, on reduced hours or on temporary leave are “fairly worried” about their future career prospects. This being the highest level of uncertainty since the tracker began as the lockdown commenced.

Workers within the 35-44-year-old bracket are the most concerned working age group. A fifth (20 per cent) of this age bracket states they are “extremely worried” about their job security.

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Manfred Abraham, CEO of BrandCap, a Populus Group company said:

These findings shows that the need for continued communication with employees, particularly those that are furloughed, to reassure them. However, under no circumstances may those on the furlough scheme do anything that constitutes as work, including reading and responding to emails. As a result internal comms has become problematic for organisations wanting to stay in touch with their teams. Howevejob secr, a strong, positive corporate culture can keep employees connected without them undertaking actual work via social media, video platforms and personal email.

Back in April, Mr Abraham explained that “there is a clear correlation between the length of lockdown and job insecurity.” Populus Group had found that when the lockdown was extended for a further three weeks at minimum, 54 per cent of those in work are were at least “fairly worried” about their job security, an increase from 48 per cent from the previous week and 36 per cent in mid-March.

On the 6/05/20, Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the furlough system is not sustainable and is preparing to cut the 80 per cent of wage subsidy offered to 60 per cent, in the first steps to bring the programme to an end.

Mr Sunak is set to announce plans next week which will wind down the scheme from July onwards.  This news has arrived as government sources have expressed worry regarding the cost of the scheme and employees becoming “addicted” to it.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will be making a national statement this Sunday at 19.00 which will outline plans for the next stage of lockdown.

Darius McQuaid

Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.

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