COVID 19, pandemic, started new job, symptoms of COVID-19, family self isolation, slipping through the governments 80% furlough leave, wife and kids being amazing, being laid off then being made redundant, old employer saves the day thank you Mountain Warehouse.

Back in February I decided I wanted to improve my potential earnings and applied for a new sales job that paid commission too, I thought this was perfect, a job promotion and a pay rise with commission, who wouldn’t go for it? I did go for it and was offered the job. I gave my months notice to Mountain Warehouse and moved into my new job with a local family run electrical business starting with an induction and meeting the main man incharge of the company, brilliant, this was on 2 March 2020.

After being looked after over the two days induction, I felt great and eager to start in my local store in the new roll. Well two weeks in COVID-19 on the news but not paying to much attention to it really until 16 March 2020, I and my son showing signs of COVID 19, called the boss to let him know and was recommended to stay at home, my son was much worse with very high temperature, this was eventually controlled but out of both of us he suffered the most. Then my wife, a nurse got the symptoms too but with a dreadful headache and fatigue like myself. Whole family went into self isolation. The help from strangers delivering paracetamol for Adam and all of us in the end was amazing, friends delivering items and daffodils 😁 was truly amazing and we are all extremely grateful.

During my isolation I was continuing e-learning for the new job but was worried about getting two weeks SSP and what effect/ security of my new job, at this time there was confusion over 14 days or 7 days but within the 7 days it became clear that if symptoms did not worsen then you are good to go back to normal work, here is a great image to show what to do.

So day before going back to work I call work to let them know I can come back to work if the company agreed with it as company policy stated 14 days and SSP for people displaying COVID 19 symptoms, so you see why there was confusion. Boss said he’ll clear it with HR and then give me a call, that same day the government said that all none essential shops including electrical stores will be closed. I then got the call on Tuesday from the boss asking about skill set graded 1 to 3 on several questions, as this was going towards a fast, paced, ever changing plan, that the company was working on and later that day I’ll get another call about what’s happening; but being told you might be redeployed somewhere else within the business not necessarily here at the local store, Well…. New to the business my skill and knowledge base was not high so I received the call from the boss, because there is no work currently for you, you are to be put on furlough leave for 3 weeks with 80% wages being paid and await further instructions from HR. It was like a lead balloon hitting my stomach, but I was very thankful for what the government and the company had done in such unpresidented times, so I followed it up with a thank you WhatsApp message to the boss.

We, the family that is acted fast contacting mortgage company creditors etc.. letting them know there was going to be a 50% drop in our take home wage as we calculated the 2 weeks SSP, we managed a mortgage holiday and the others have been understanding, still waiting to hear from the council about council tax. So my wife steps up and starts doing more hours with the NHS working on the COVID-19 wards, my amazing wife straight in there whilst the correct PPE is filtering through and all are adapting to a surreal way of nursing, but as always the NHS pulling together and delivering, outstanding and thank you all. The kids adapting to the school learning and tasks very well, doing two hours a day as I was now in the roll of house husband and needing to make sure the kids don’t get too stressed or should I say me get too stressed over the home schooling.

Routine, routine will save the day I finally found one and that was painting rooms and cabinet doors as well as applying for jobs because the following day after the call from the boss I then received a call from my area manager, informing me because I was not on the companies books on or before 28th February 2020 I was to be laid off without pay for 3 weeks. Missed the furlough leave 80% pay by 48 hours I couldn’t believe it, I asked surely there’s something you can do? No, sorry try universal credit, I thanked him for some reason, was shocked really and angry because of being told one thing then told another, but that was that and the family took it amazingly well and we decided to take this as an opportunity.

In all of this we have remained extremely positive and grateful for everything we have, something will happen for the best for us all. Then my wife’s cousin said she saw something on the TV about what Martin Lewis was saying about how it might be worth talking to your old employer to see if they could re employ you and put you on furlough leave if you were on their books on or before 28th February.

So I messaged my old boss as well as my old area manager who then said they would touch base with HR and keep me informed, I then read another article that said it was legal for the old employee to apply for a former employee, article below

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-self-employed-and-employment-help/

A few days past so I touched base with Mountain Warehouse and my old area manager, as they were put into furlough leave I was to email the regional manager, now this was amazing because the regional manager covers all of the UK & Ireland, but I explained my situation to him and within minutes he informed me that the area manager told him of my situation and that he was going to help me and do there best to get me on the furlough leave list, my name was on it, now that is what I call an employer that looks after their employees, truly outstanding care, thank you, all was not confirmed yet.

I then received the call from my current employers’ area manager explaining that now we are approaching the three weeks you have now two options, 1. You can resign or 2. You can opt for redundancy as there is no work for you currently. Option two was taken and that was the end of my great new adventure before it even started. If it’s ment to be then let it be, was my thoughts and it gave closure to the uncertainty.

The following day I then received confirmation that I have been re-employed by Mountain Warehouse and put onto furlough leave with the governments 80% pay of my previous wage!! This was superb news. So why write all this down in my,”A Better Way,” blog?

Because throughout this period of time one should never give up. Believe that you are able to get the help and support if you ask and seek help from others, because that is what I have received from strangers, friends, family, the mortgage company, Yorkshire building society, my old boss, the area manager and the regional manager of Mountain Warehouse. The government and all key workers are doing their best to help and support people and families like me. Thank you all so much.