job retention scheme – Duane Morris London

June 1, 2020February 2, 2021 by Duane Morris London

COVID-19: UK Chancellor Announces Changes To Furlough Scheme – 29th May 2020

01.06.2020

In the daily press conference on Friday May 29^th 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 1^st 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 1^st 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.

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April 20, 2020February 2, 2021 by Duane Morris London

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;

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April 15, 2020February 2, 2021 by Duane Morris London

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 15^th 2020.

In addition, there has also just been a Treasury Direction released this afternoon (April 15^th 2020).

UK Gov Updated Guidance

I will first deal with the 4^th Guidance issued by the Government. Details on this as follows.

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April 14, 2020February 2, 2021 by Duane Morris London

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.

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March 26, 2020February 2, 2021 by Duane Morris London

COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme – Update March 26th 2020

By Nic Hart & Liam Hutton

26.03.2020

The UK Government’s COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme is available to any large or small employer. Furlough leave is short term temporary leave. The scheme will cover the cost of wages backdated to March 1 and cover all UK-wide employers with a PAYE scheme.

The government will pay cash grants (grants will be received from HMRC) of 80 per cent of an employee’s wages up to a cap of £2,500, providing the worker is kept employed.

At present the scheme will be open initially for at least 3 months but the government has indicated it will extend it for longer if necessary. There is no limit on the amount of funding available for the scheme.

Government expectation is that the first grants will be paid within weeks and HMRC are aiming to get this done before the end of April. There are no existing systems set up to facilitate payments to employers at this time.

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