Can I volunteer to be laid off for the 80% wage from the government?

JustMeJohn

My employer has cut my hours down from 44 to 24 Hours a week! I'm earning 60% of my full wage (from this week) due to a downturn in business. My employer has even suggested cutting our hours down even less! We currently would be better of on the 80% retention scheme the government spoke about on Friday but apparently we can't get this if the company is still operating. IC work with 15 people and it's impossible to keep a Social Distance of 6 feet apart from each other. Is there anything I can do or say as I'm currently losing money and putting my health at risk! Thanks in advance

calcotti

JustMeJohn said:

.. apparently we can't get this if the company is still operating. 

That's incorrect. Any business that has suffered business disruption due to coronavirus can choose to furlough some employees and seek support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover 80% of the normal wage. However it is up to the employer to decide - the employee has no control over this although they can of course discuss it with their employer.

New headlines saying the government will pay 80% of employee wages are hugely misleading. This is an employer support scheme, the primary purpose is to keep businesses alive so that they are still here to drive the economy when the current crisis passes.

If your income is greatly reduced look at Universal Credit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/ 
There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Forum_Name

calcotti said:

JustMeJohn said:

.. apparently we can't get this if the company is still operating. 

That's incorrect. Any business that has suffered business disruption due to coronavirus can choose to furlough some employees and seek support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover 80% of the normal wage. However it is up to the employer to decide - the employee has no control over this although they can of course discuss it with their employer.

New headlines saying the government will pay 80% of employee wages are hugely misleading. This is an employer support scheme, the primary purpose is to keep businesses alive so that they are still here to drive the economy when the current crisis passes.

If your income is greatly reduced look at Universal Credit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/ 
There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

That's plenty of people where i work misunderstood this then.

Out of interest is there any way a company can pocket the 80% but only pay SSP to the individual?

So say i am told to go home. Say i'm then on SSP. Whether i have the usual 3 waiting days or i'm paid from the get go it doesn't matter but say i'm on SSP.

Is it possible for the employer to claim 80% of the wages, keep that money for themselves but still only pay me SSP? Note - the question isn't would it be nice of them or does it make them a good employer, the question is is it possible?

calcotti

Forum_Name said:

Out of interest is there any way a company can pocket the 80% but only pay SSP to the individual?

There are no details of how the scheme will work but I am sure there will be safeguards. Indeed the scheme will not be in place until April so employers will need to pay that first.

7Phil

Forum_Name said:

Out of interest is there any way a company can pocket the 80% but only pay SSP to the individual?
Is it possible for the employer to claim 80% of the wages, keep that money for themselves but still only pay me SSP? Note - the question isn't would it be nice of them or does it make them a good employer, the question is is it possible?

That would be fraud.
The scheme will be hastily put together and initially have few safeguards. All I know is the employer must register you as furloughed with HRMC and therefore HRMC will be able to check via your PAYE statement.
If they tried this and got away with it for a while they would end up in court.

bartman612

I employ five people in the heating industry.We are a ltd company but work from a large shed on my property.we have 5 vans on lease and a hefty insurance bill for business and vehicles.The company also pays me rent that supports my mortgage,which I took on to keep my business going.I am led to believe there is no support for my company with ongoing overheads because I don't pay business rates.
During the last recession of 2009 ish we borrowed heavily to keep all our employees and it took years to pay it off.We are now half the size than back then.I am very reluctant to borrow any more money.Is there any support for employers.We are still doing emergency work but our scheduled work has dried up so the lads have been tidying up the yard a bit in between jobs which doesn't pay the bills.

calcotti

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874772/small-business-grant-fund-and-retail-guidance.pdf

elsien

Forum_Name said:

calcotti said:

JustMeJohn said:

.. apparently we can't get this if the company is still operating. 

That's incorrect. Any business that has suffered business disruption due to coronavirus can choose to furlough some employees and seek support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover 80% of the normal wage. However it is up to the employer to decide - the employee has no control over this although they can of course discuss it with their employer.

New headlines saying the government will pay 80% of employee wages are hugely misleading. This is an employer support scheme, the primary purpose is to keep businesses alive so that they are still here to drive the economy when the current crisis passes.

If your income is greatly reduced look at Universal Credit. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/ 
There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

That's plenty of people where i work misunderstood this then.

Out of interest is there any way a company can pocket the 80% but only pay SSP to the individual?

So say i am told to go home. Say i'm then on SSP. Whether i have the usual 3 waiting days or i'm paid from the get go it doesn't matter but say i'm on SSP.

Is it possible for the employer to claim 80% of the wages, keep that money for themselves but still only pay me SSP? Note - the question isn't would it be nice of them or does it make them a good employer, the question is is it possible?

Why would you be on SSP if the reason for being sent home is not enough work? 

bartman612

bartman612 said:

I employ five people in the heating industry.We are a ltd company but work from a large shed on my property.we have 5 vans on lease and a hefty insurance bill for business and vehicles.The company also pays me rent that supports my mortgage,which I took on to keep my business going.I am led to believe there is no support for my company with ongoing overheads because I don't pay business rates.
During the last recession of 2009 ish we borrowed heavily to keep all our employees and it took years to pay it off.We are now half the size than back then.I am very reluctant to borrow any more money.Is there any support for employers.We are still doing emergency work but our scheduled work has dried up so the lads have been tidying up the yard a bit in between jobs which doesn't pay the bills.

Soory put his in here by mistake.

7Phil

elsien said:

Why would you be on SSP if the reason for being sent home is not enough work? 

I agree that if the employer told them that they should just pack up and go home during the day the employer should honour that as a full day worked.

If you are asking why SSP is applicable for not enough work:

• employees will need your support to adhere to the recommendation to stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) to others
• those who follow advice to stay at home will be eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) from the first day of their absence from work

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19

sharpe106

JustMeJohn said:

My employer has cut my hours down from 44 to 24 Hours a week! I'm earning 60% of my full wage (from this week) due to a downturn in business. My employer has even suggested cutting our hours down even less! We currently would be better of on the 80% retention scheme the government spoke about on Friday but apparently we can't get this if the company is still operating. IC work with 15 people and it's impossible to keep a Social Distance of 6 feet apart from each other. Is there anything I can do or say as I'm currently losing money and putting my health at risk! Thanks in advance

The company will have to pay out orginally and then claim the money back they may not be able to afford this. There is obviously still work to be done so they still need employess. How would you feel if you had to work your 44 hours a week for potentially the next 6 months and another employee was getting paid the 80% of pay to sit at home and do nothing, so you would only be getting 20% more then them for working full time.