Work contract

anxious84

Hello. I started a new job on March 1st 2020. 

I signed the contract and returned it to the employer mid February.
If I am furloughed will I be eligible for the 80% pay? As you have to be on the payroll by Feb 28th.

I watched judge Rinder and Martin Lewis on GMB earlier this week and Rinder answered a very similar question to a caller and said he yes, it is from when you signed your contract, so if the contract was signed in February I would be eligible. But I haven’t been able to find this anywhere in writing.

my employer doesn’t agree and said if I am furloughed I won’t be eligible as I started on March 1st.

Confusing and worrying.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Jeremy535897

It may be that for employment law purposes the date the contract was signed has some relevance, but the relevant rule for the job retention scheme is that you have to be on the payroll at 28 February 2020.

anxious84

Very worrying. I wonder why Robert Rinder was so adamant that it was from when you signed the contract.