The Governments recent announcement on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme essentially means that all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.

All UK businesses are eligible.

To access the Scheme, you will need to:

  • Designate affected employees as ‘furloughed workers,’
  • Notify your employees of this change, please note changing the status of employees remains subject to existing employment law and, depending on the employment contract, may be subject to negotiation
  • Submit information to HMRC about the employees that have been furloughed and their earnings this will be through a new online portal (HMRC will set out further details on the information required).

HMRC will reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month.

We will update further as and when announcements are made

Further information regarding support of business can be found at  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19