Furlough until end of June?

Giggidy

Hello,
We have been furloughed at work last Friday, the wording of the email from the company is this will be from 1st April for 3 months, so end of June and then we go back to work, depending on circumstances. 

We have already been paid for March on the 22nd, and they will pay the 80% from April and claim it back through the scheme. My understanding from guidance is payments can be backdated to beginning of March so technically we can only be on furlough until end of May unless the goverment extends this. Or are my employers correct in saying furlough is 3 months from April 1st?

Jeremy535897

My reading of this is as follows.The scheme runs for three months at least. Employees can be furloughed for any amount of time, subject to a minimum of 3 weeks, and subject to them agreeing. Claims can be backdated to 1 March. If employees are furloughed for a period falling outside the scheme's life, the employer won't be able to recover the payments made to employees for that period.

Giggidy

Jeremy535897 said:

My reading of this is as follows.The scheme runs for three months at least. Employees can be furloughed for any amount of time, subject to a minimum of 3 weeks, and subject to them agreeing. Claims can be backdated to 1 March. If employees are furloughed for a period falling outside the scheme's life, the employer won't be able to recover the payments made to employees for that period.

But Im wondering though, does it have to be backdated to 1st March or can you start from 1st April and still qualify for 3 months. Or does it end in May for everyone (subject to government possibly extending it) 

Jeremy535897

We really don't know, but as I said, I suspect that's the employer's problem.

calcotti

At the moment it says it will run for at least three months from 1st March.

7Phil

Giggidy said:

But Im wondering though, does it have to be backdated to 1st March or can you start from 1st April and still qualify for 3 months. Or does it end in May for everyone (subject to government possibly extending it) 

As above posters are saying and confirming, your employer is liable for the difference between what they tell you they will pay and what they can claim back from HMRC.
Your employer does not need to backdate that to 1 March - and cannot, especially if you were working (would be wrong if they backdated your full working pay to 80% despite working after March 1).
Also, if they furloughed you on last Friday but gave you an agreement that you go to 80% pay from 1 April then you can assume that means you are furloughed on 100% pay until the end of March, then you go down to 80% in April.
Your furlough letter and employment contract should set it all out.

If your employer gives a definite period they are putting you on furlough then take their word. You should not work for them again until you are taken back out of furlough. If they made a mistake, they might seek to reverse it and invite you back to work early if restrictions are lifted and you are needed again before 1 July. Then it's up to you what you agree with them.