Furloughing staff: Prudent common sense or morally bankrupt?

'We are commercial enterprises'

Hannah Godfrey
clock • 6 min read

It could be argued cash-comfortable adviser firms taking advantage of the government’s furlough scheme are merely considering the long-term future of the business and behaving prudently. However, others feel doing so ignores the needs of the taxpayer, and will ultimately damage the reputation of advisers. Here, a few advisers argue the merits and demerits of furloughing staff...

If a company can afford to continue paying staff without the government furlough scheme - known officially as the Job Retention Scheme - then doing so has become something of a contentious topic among the adviser community ever since the government offered to pay 80% of furloughed staff's wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The furlough scheme, which officially went live on 20 April and can be backdated to 1 March, was put in place by the government to ensure people did not lose their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking on Good Morning Britain on the day the scheme wen...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

News editor's view: 40s are the new 50s - a move in the right direction? 

News editor's view: 40s are the new 50s - a move in the right direction? 

The news editor's Friday Night Takeaway from 1 May

Isabel Baxter
clock 01 May 2026 • 3 min read
Feel Good Friday: FOS chooses Dementia UK as charity partner

Feel Good Friday: FOS chooses Dementia UK as charity partner

Will support Dementia UK over the next two years

Professional Adviser
clock 01 May 2026 • 1 min read
Why 50:50 parenting doesn't necessarily mean no child maintenance

Why 50:50 parenting doesn't necessarily mean no child maintenance

'In many cases, one parent will meet a greater share of the children’s financial needs'

Clizia Motterle
clock 01 May 2026 • 4 min read