10 June 2020: deadline for new entrants to the furlough scheme
Today -10 June 2020 - is the last day employers can furlough staff who have not already been furloughed through the coronavirus job retention scheme.
From 1 July 2020 employers may only claim for employees they have already claimed for; since this requires a three-week furlough period, today is the last day this can happen.
Last chance for part-time furlough
Over the coming months, many businesses could benefit from having their staff work part-time and be furloughed part-time - to do this employers must register staff on the job retention scheme today if they have not already done so.
Parents returning from parental leave - an exception
The only exception to today's deadline applies to parents returning from parental leave - they can be furloughed after today’s deadline providing their employer has already accessed the scheme for other staff - more details on this are expected later this week.
Forthcoming changes to the job retention scheme
- From July 2020,employers will have more flexibility through part-time furlough.
- From August 2020, employers will be asked to contribute employee national insurance and pension payments. The scheme will continue to pay 80% for furloughed staff.
- From September 2020, employers will be asked to begin paying 10% towards the wages of furloughed employees, whilst the scheme contributes 70%.
- In October 2020, employers will contribute 20% and the scheme will subsidise 60%.
For expert advice on all employment law issues contact Maureen Cawthorn at our Halifax office on 01422 339600.