Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

17 April 2020 update: CJRS scheme extended into June.

15 April 2030 update: CRJS cut-off date extended to 19 March from 29 February, this means any new employees employed upto 19 March are now eligible for furloughed.

On 25 March 2020 the government released further information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for employers.

The scheme will apply to all businesses that had a PAYE scheme running on or before 28 February 2020 and covers full-time, part-time, agency contracts and flexible/zero-hour contracts.

Employers will be able to claim 80% of the usual wage costs, up to £2,500, for furloughed employees PLUS the Employers National Insurance contributions and employers auto-enrolment pension conributions where applicable.

For employees on a variable salary, such as flexible and zero-hour contracts, the employer can use an average for the 2019/2020 tax year OR use the salary from the same month last year (2019).

HMRC hope to have the scheme live by the end of April.

More information on the scheme can be found here and we will be updating our news and social media as the government release more information.

Statutory Sick Pay relief package

The government have brought forward legislation to allow small and medium sized businesses to reclaim Satutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absences due to COVID-19. The scheme will cover up to 2 weeks SSP per eligible employee and employers with fewer than 250 employees will be eligible. As with the other schemes, this is still being set up by the government and we expect more information to be released shortly.

Please note that we are unable to give any legal or financial advice on employment and all information is given for general information only, always take advice before making any decisions.