Job retention - Fulough

Eng_2004

I have read the HMRC guidance on the Job Retention Scheme and from what I understand you can Furlough employees in 3 week blocks, does anyone know if this is likely to change as a business it is not financially viable for us to stay open and pay employees for a full month due to the downturn in work. If we could maybe open up for a couple of days a week and then furlough for the other days this would make it viable and we would be taking less money from the HMRC does anyone know if the government are likely to change their stance on this.

Thanks in advance

doningtonphil

It would seem that someone is on furlough until they are not. While they are on furlough the employee cannot do any work for you.

Hermann

Guidance is currently clear that 3 weeks is the minimum. You can then return for a period of work, then be furloughed for a further 3 weeks minimum.

Who knows if that will be changed, I somehow doubt it though, although it seems exemption for Directors to continue to meet legal requirements will be in place.

Some employers seem to be using a rota system so that there is reduced cover at work with some on furlough, then rotating that so the furloughed return and the working furloughed.

gary83

Nobody can work on the furlough period, the minimum time is 3 weeks. Your options are don’t furlough anybody, if there’s not enough work coming in to justify having everybody working you could furlough some - you could swap who’s furloughed after 3 weeks to share out the workload and the reduction in pay to try and keep the workforce happy, furlough all and temporarily close until it’s over.

Hermann

You couldn't furlough all staff for the full period as there would then be no one available to do the payroll and administer the claim.