I don’t think that applies here. Furlough happens in a world where everyone must work, and then they are prevented from working at their chosen job.

In a world where food is free, no one would be prevented from working. They would choose whatever job they liked, only they would have the freedom to say no if they wanted. But that would be their choice. Furlough is forced upon them, and there’s no free food down the street they can pick up for lunch or dinner.

Have you managed to isolate the mental impact of furlough from the mental impact of the pandemic and possibly killing granny if you go out to meet people?

I think I've mostly stuck to the rules and was never furloughed. Problem with he granny argument is that they are their worse enemies for carrying on as usual in spite of risks