Furlough rate of pay

wrighteye1

My employer reduced our rates of pay towards the end of July and will utilise the furlough scheme till the end of October. We have been advised that our furlough pay will be based on the new rate, however from what I have found on the government website it seems to imply that it should be at the old rate "the hours your employee was contracted for in their repeating working pattern at the end of the last pay period ending on or before 19 March 2020". Could any body please advise?
Thanks.

epm-84

Have you already been furloughed?  People who have already been furloughed can be furloughed again (either full time or part time) but if you've not already been furloughed it's too late to be furloughed under the government's scheme.  Although, I suppose your employer could introduce and fund their own furlough scheme if they wanted, in which case the government rules wouldn't apply.

wrighteye1

Yes, we've been furloughed for the minimum three week period previously.

Illusionary

Are you paid a fixed or variable amount for each pay period?

Broadly, though, your 'old' rates of pay should be used to calculate your furlough pay. 

wrighteye1

I'm paid for a regular, contracted, 40 hours per week.

Illusionary

wrighteye1 said:

I'm paid for a regular, contracted, 40 hours per week.

Okay, in that case it's fairly straightforward and your reference salary should be based on the last complete pay period prior to 19 March 2020. A subsequent reduction wouldn't be relevant.