As we begin the summer and hopefully step on the road to freedom from COVID restrictions, here is an overview of issues to be aware of in the coming months. Continue reading “Employment Update, June 2021”
COVID-19: UK Gov Flexible Furlough Scheme – 1 July 2020 Update
01.07.2020
The Flexible Furlough Scheme (FFS) commenced today July 1st 2020 and you can now submit claims for periods starting on or after 1 July.
GOV.UK published a news story this afternoon announcing this commencement.
As discussed in earlier mail outs the main premise of the FFS is to allow;
“businesses to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part time basis and will be given the flexibility to decide the hours and shift patterns of their employees – with the government continuing to pay 80% of salaries for the hours they do not work.”
The FFS will remain open until the end of October 2020. Continue reading “COVID-19: UK Gov Flexible Furlough Scheme – 1 July 2020 Update”
New Guidance on the UK Gov Flexible Furlough Scheme – 12th June 2020
By Nic Hart
15.06.2020
As advised, the Government Guidance for the new Flexible Furlough Scheme (FFS) was released on Friday evening – June 12th.
Accessibility to the new Guidance is not the most straightforward as the information is spread across the existing CJRS Guidance and three new pieces of Guidance. The Government has also produced a summary overview of the key changes to the CJRS and the timetable for the same.
The major changes to the existing scheme with effect from July 1st are:
- there will no longer be a minimum three-week period for furlough. Whilst there will not be a required minimum period to furlough employees, any claim made to the CJRS portal must be in respect of a minimum one week period regardless of how many days may have been worked in this one week period.
- Employers can no longer put in claims to the portal that cover more than one payroll period. All claims through the portal must start and end within the same calendar month.
- An employer cannot furlough any greater number of employees than have been furloughed previously – subject to the provisions of those returning from parental leave.
The key principles of FFS are clear. Continue reading “New Guidance on the UK Gov Flexible Furlough Scheme – 12th June 2020”
IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE: UK Gov Furlough Scheme Cut Off -10th June
By Nic Hart
05.06.2020
Further to our earlier blog posts on this topic, please be reminded that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is closing to new entrants from 30 June 2020. You must furlough new entrants on or before 10th June.
From 1 July 2020, there will be a new flexible furlough scheme where furloughed employees will be able to return to work on a part-time basis. Full guidance has yet to be issued (proposed for 12 June 2020) but present Guidance has advised that only employees who started furlough on or before 10 June 2020 will be eligible for the new scheme.
The Government Guidance states;
“From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full 3-week period prior to 30 June”
Continue reading “IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE: UK Gov Furlough Scheme Cut Off -10th June”
COVID-19: UK Chancellor Announces Changes To Furlough Scheme – 29th May 2020
By Nic Hart
01.06.2020
In the daily press conference on Friday May 29th 2020, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, announced further changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
In essence these are as follows:
- The CJRS will continue until October 2020.
- Flexi furlough will commence from July 1st 2020.
- Grants through the CJRS will be tapered from August 2020.
- The scheme will close to new entrants on 30 June.
Flexi Furlough
This is commencing on July 1st 2020 -a month earlier than previously announced. Employers can decide the hours and shift patterns their employees will work on their return to work, so that they can decide on the best approach for them. Employers will be responsible for paying the employees’ wages while in work.
Further guidance on flexible furloughing and how employers should calculate claims will be published on 12th June 2020, but HMRC has provided some initial advice:
Any working hours arrangement that you agree with your employee must cover at least one week and be confirmed to the employee in writing. When claiming the CJRS grant for furloughed hours, you will need to report and claim for a minimum period of a week. You can choose to make claims for longer periods such as on monthly or two weekly cycles if you prefer. You will be required to submit data on the usual hours an employee would be expected to work in a claim period and actual hours worked.
Continue reading “COVID-19: UK Chancellor Announces Changes To Furlough Scheme – 29th May 2020”
COVID-19: UKGov Holiday Pay and Entitlement Guidance
By Nic Hart
13.05.2020
This UKGov guidance outlines how holiday entitlement and pay operate during the coronavirus pandemic. It is designed to help employers understand their legal obligations, in terms of workers who:
- continue to work
- have been placed on furlough as part of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
This guidance should not be treated as legal advice. Employers and workers should always check individual contracts and if necessary seek independent legal advice.
Holiday entitlement
Almost all workers, including zero-hour contracted workers and those on irregular hours contracts, are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year. The exception is those who are genuinely self-employed. Continue reading “COVID-19: UKGov Holiday Pay and Entitlement Guidance”
COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme – Summary of Updates to UK Gov Guidance
By Nic Hart
30.04.2020
Whilst I am very mindful of furlough fatigue, there have been further updates to the Government Guidance on The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – both How to Claim (short form and long form) and the Guidance. None of these have substantively changed but there are points to note in each, which are as follows.
The How to Claim (short form) deals with some of the practicalities of claiming. For those yet to do so please note that you need to submit your claim in one session – you cannot save it and return later. Sessions will time out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
There has been guidance given on what steps to take following a claim;
- keep a copy of all records, including:
- the amount claimed and claim period for each employee
- the claim reference number for your records
- your calculations in case HMRC need more information about your claim
- tell your employees that you have made a claim and that they do not need to take any more action
- pay your employee their wages, if you have not already.
It must be stressed that Employers should record and retain documentation at all stages of the furlough process, both to be compliant with the requirements of the Treasury Direction but also to ensure that if there is any audit undertaken by HMRC they have the requisite records set out in the Guidance. Continue reading “COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme – Summary of Updates to UK Gov Guidance”
They think it’s all over – it is now! COVID-19: Furlough and Holiday Update April 20th 2020
By Nic Hart
20.04.2020
Good evening. I am hopeful that this is the last “ COVID-19 UK Furlough” update you will receive…from me at least!
HMRC has now provided us with some much needed clarity on taking annual leave while on furlough. This has been an update to the Employees Guidance, not the Employers Guidance (as at the time of this email).
Put simply it states;
COVID-19: Job Retention Scheme UK Gov Guidance April 15th 2020
By Nic Hart & Liam Hutton
15.04.2020
Another week and another set of Guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has just been released today, April 15th 2020.
In addition, there has also just been a Treasury Direction released this afternoon (April 15th 2020).
UK Gov Updated Guidance
I will first deal with the 4th Guidance issued by the Government. Details on this as follows.
Continue reading “COVID-19: Job Retention Scheme UK Gov Guidance April 15th 2020”
COVID-19: Job Retention Scheme UK Gov update April 10th 2020
By Nic Hart & Liam Hutton
20.04.2020
Last night the Government helpfully delivered Round 3 of the Guidance for employers (and employees) on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Whilst it clarifies some areas and introduces new points, i.e. TUPE it remains silent on the issue of Annual Leave. Please find below an overview of the new Guidance. It is worth reading in its entirety and I attach a copy of the same with the new areas noted in red and highlighted.
Continue reading “COVID-19: Job Retention Scheme UK Gov update April 10th 2020”