Can an employee work while on furlough?
No—furloughed employees must not do any work on behalf of their employer whatsoever. If a salaried employee does any work while on furlough the employer must pay them the equivalent of their salary for the entire day. If an hourly employee works while on furlough the employer must pay them for the time worked. To ensure that well-meaning employees don’t engage in activities that may inadvertently trigger the no work rule, furloughed employees typically have their access to work accounts and devices revoked.