Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - Terms and Conditions?

AndrewO

I am currently holding back from furloughing staff as i'm not clear on the terms and conditions attached to the Governments commitment to fund 80% of the salary. My concern is that if at the end of furlough I need to make staff redundant due to highly likely drop in business overall then will there be an expectation that I would have to repay the grant money to the Government as i haven't retained a particular individual? Possibly overthinking things (although HMRC are often less than straightforward) but am nervous that the terms and conditions haven't been publicised and time is marching on.
Do other employers see this as a risk? 

selina2000

AndrewO said:

I am currently holding back from furloughing staff as i'm not clear on the terms and conditions attached to the Governments commitment to fund 80% of the salary. My concern is that if at the end of furlough I need to make staff redundant due to highly likely drop in business overall then will there be an expectation that I would have to repay the grant money to the Government as i haven't retained a particular individual? Possibly overthinking things (although HMRC are often less than straightforward) but am nervous that the terms and conditions haven't been publicised and time is marching on.
Do other employers see this as a risk? 

You need to manage your business now.
You should know if you will have work in future or not.

If you will need to make people redundant, do so now!
Perhaps offer voluntry redundancy first and see what reaction you get? Some may prefer to take their lump sum now, and get out looking for a new job, rather than be given false hopes for the future.

AndrewO

Thanks @selina2000 - I work in construction consultancy and do a lot of work with pub chains, developers and airports - all of which has halted not just at construction stage but also in the design stage. I'm not convinced any of that will bounce back quickly. Hence I don't know if I will end up making redundancies when furlough ends. Difficult to predict.

selina2000

AndrewO said:

Thanks @selina2000 - I work in construction consultancy and do a lot of work with pub chains, developers and airports - all of which has halted not just at construction stage but also in the design stage. I'm not convinced any of that will bounce back quickly. Hence I don't know if I will end up making redundancies when furlough ends. Difficult to predict.

Now would seem the ideal time to get in and carry out the work
i.e. when they are quiet.
If you can't provide your employees full employment at this time, I can't see you getting them much work when those locations are bursting full of customers again.