I’m on furlough – what now?

In the time before corona, if your employer said they would pay you to stay home and do nothing, you would have said “Heck yeah!” 

But if you are one of the 9 million workers who have been or are soon to be furloughed, you may feel slightly less gung ho - particularly after your enthusiasm for learning Mandarin and baking banana bread wears off.

Don’t panic. 

Training and volunteering are still allowed provided you comply with public health guidance and are not making money or providing services to your employer. 

Here are just a few potential options.

Free training

Norton Rose Fulbright,  2 Temple Gardens and 39 Essex Chambers are just a few legal service providers offering free webinars on Covid and non-Covid topics.  

Membership-based legal networks such as LawNet or Eurojuris are open for business and running topical training webinars.

Go Pro Bono

Your skills are needed. Visit the National Pro Bono Centre’s online portal, the Law Centres Network and Citizens Advice for the latest opportunities.

Help your neighbours

Join NextDoor or similar local online network and start collecting/delivering prescriptions, food and supplies, walk dogs and cheer up lonely, isolated neighbours. 

Give blood

The NHS desperately needs new blood donors from all backgrounds to ensure there is the right blood available for patients who need it. Find out more: https://www.blood.co.uk/

Still want to work? Provided you are following government guidelines and complying with the terms of your employment contract and furlough agreement you may be able to:

Pick fruit: https://www.britishsummerfruits.co.uk/jobs

Work for Lidl, Morrisons, Aldi, Asda, Iceland, Tesco, Ocado, Deliveroo

If you’ve read all of this and would still like to make banana bread, PM me and I will send you my favourite recipe and only ask in return that you share your results here.

Stay well

Morgan