Advice regarding Coronavirus
Updated: 26 March 2020
* IMPORTANT INFORMATION *
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Furloughing employees
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is a temporary scheme that started 1 March 2020. It is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus / COVID-19. Employers will be able to claim from the government for 80% of furloughed employees’ (employees on a leave of absence) usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage.
The claim system is not yet available.
Further information on the scheme is available here.
Support for your Business
The government has announced a wide range of measures to support businesses. You can read a summary here; please remember, however, that local authorities are implementing many of these plans and well need time to put the processes in place.
Employment Guidance
ACAS has published advice for employers and employees on the potential implications on sick leave, sick pay, time away from work etc as a conseqeunce of the Coronavirus / COVID-19 and concerns around the potential implications of Coronavirus.
We advise employers to read the information available at: www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
Statutory Sick Pay
SSP entitlement and procedures are changing to enable SSP to be paid from the first day of sickness, for SSP to be paid for those ‘self-isloating’ and also for employers to be able to recover the costs of SSP. Further information here
Claiming Benefits
The Department of Work and Pensions has published guidance on SSP and other benefits, see: www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus
Other Guidance
There is a wealth of information available online, and this is being updated frequently. Information for businesses, support available for employers and guidance for employees is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
IR35 (Off Payroll Working) Changes Delayed
The government has announced that proposed changes to the so-called “IR35” process have been delayed from April 2020 to April 2021. See: www.gov.uk/government/news/off-payroll-working-rules-reforms-postponed-until-2021
