Advice needed please

Natztastic2

Hello,
I work for a major travel agency. We have had to leave the office due to government restrictions. We are unable to work from home. We have been told from the company that we will be paid in full until the 30th of March but no word beyond that. Could they decide just not to pay me? If that is the case would I be paid SSP, or do I have to apply for some kind of benefit like universal credit?

Thanks in advance for the reply, I have never been in this situation as have most. I have worked for this company for 13 years since leaving school, and they already cut hours last week.

Jeremy535897

If you have a full time contract of employment they can make you redundant (you may be entitled to redundancy if you've been employed for 2 years or more) or if they join the coronavirus job retention scheme they can furlough you and you should receive 80% of your pay. You only get SSP if you are sick. If you lose your income you can apply for universal credit.

Natztastic2

Jeremy535897 said:

If you have a full time contract of employment they can make you redundant (you may be entitled to redundancy if you've been employed for 2 years or more) or if they join the coronavirus job retention scheme they can furlough you and you should receive 80% of your pay. You only get SSP if you are sick. If you lose your income you can apply for universal credit.

Thanks for replying. I am full time. Could they choose just not to pay me because I can't work? If that's the case is my only option Universal credit?

Jeremy535897

I assumed that the reason you cannot work is down to your employer, not you? If so, my oriinal advice stands.

Natztastic2

Jeremy535897 said:

I assumed that the reason you cannot work is down to your employer, not you? If so, my oriinal advice stands.

Hello, yes it is down to my employer, but under the government directive.

Are you saying they can not choose to not pay me, and their choice is to pay in full, furlough or redundancy?

I suppose they are within rights to cut hours too?

selina2000

Natztastic2 said:

Jeremy535897 said:

I assumed that the reason you cannot work is down to your employer, not you? If so, my oriinal advice stands.

Hello, yes it is down to my employer, but under the government directive.

Are you saying they can not choose to not pay me, and their choice is to pay in full, furlough or redundancy?

I suppose they are within rights to cut hours too?

Do you have a contract of employment? If so, it stands unless you mutually agree otherwise

Natztastic2

selina2000 said:

Natztastic2 said:

Jeremy535897 said:

I assumed that the reason you cannot work is down to your employer, not you? If so, my oriinal advice stands.

Hello, yes it is down to my employer, but under the government directive.

Are you saying they can not choose to not pay me, and their choice is to pay in full, furlough or redundancy?

I suppose they are within rights to cut hours too?

Do you have a contract of employment? If so, it stands unless you mutually agree otherwise

Yes I do have a contract of employment.

Thank you for replying.

How are some companies such as Wetherspoon allowed to get away with not paying their staff then? 

selina2000

Jeremy535897 said:

If you have a full time contract of employment they can make you redundant (you may be entitled to redundancy if you've been employed for 2 years or more) or if they join the coronavirus job retention scheme they can furlough you and you should receive 80% of your pay. You only get SSP if you are sick. If you lose your income you can apply for universal credit.

Actually, as I understand it, you should still receive 100% of your pay in accordance with the terms of your contract of employment. 80% is what the government will pay your employer if the employer requests that financial help.

In some circumstances, employers may be so hard pushed that they are unable to pay you 100% of your pay whilst you are doing no work and they are receiving no income. In those circumstances, you may agree to accept 80% on the basis that 80% of somethiing is better than 100% of nothing at this difficult time.

calcotti

Natztastic2 said: How are some companies such as Wetherspoon allowed to get away with not paying their staff then? 

They've revised their position.

Natztastic2

Thank you so much for everybody's help.