Job Retention Scheme

Sophieevans31

Hi There,

We employee approx 90 ppl. 2wks before the job retention scheme as a result of COVI19 we enforced mandatory unpaid leave of 9 days per employee, none were let go. Are they entitled to 80% from the govt in this circumstance? Thanks

neilmcl

Yes but you will need to furlough them and begin paying their salary. You'll only get money for salary that you're paying.

Sophieevans31

Thank you. So the 9 days is long enough? They aren't being taking in one go either it was originally introduce to lower wage cost but there is work for them

Hermann

The minimum you can furlough for is three weeks.

I've heard some companies are introducing a rota of three week furlough periods, staggering the timings so they always have some employees available whilst reducing overall costs.

Sophieevans31

Hermann said:

The minimum you can furlough for is three weeks.

I've heard some companies are introducing a rota of three week furlough periods, staggering the timings so they always have some employees available whilst reducing overall costs.

Thats what i thought also, its quite hard to find a definitive answer. I suppose that would be the best approach.

vamb1967

Hi,  just found out my employer is putting us on the furlough.  But they have announced may get less than 80%.  They have said that NI and tax will be deducted; fair enough BUT every employee has to pay apprenticeship levy (even though this has never been mentioned and not on my payslip).  Can I make up the shortfall?  Also I could survive on a 20% paycut.  But anything less is harder to live on.  Any thoughts?

Hermann

Sophieevans31 said:

Hermann said:

The minimum you can furlough for is three weeks.

I've heard some companies are introducing a rota of three week furlough periods, staggering the timings so they always have some employees available whilst reducing overall costs.

Thats what i thought also, its quite hard to find a definitive answer. I suppose that would be the best approach.

The three weeks minimum is very clearly described in the guidance. So there's not much doubt about that.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

To what extent you can go back to work after 3 weeks, for say 1 week, and then go back to another 3 weeks furlough is less clear though. There doesn't seem to be anything that excludes that and it would make a lot of sense for some business to keep themselves afloat through the crisis. Hopefully some sort of official clarification will be forthcoming.