The government has announced a change in the qualifying payroll date for Furloughed employees under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Previously, there was a requirement that an employee must be on the employer’s payroll at 28 February 2020 to qualify for the Furlough Leave scheme. This has now changed to 19 March 2020.
Why is it relevant?
Employers will now be able to claim Furlough payments for those employees whose employment started any time up to 19 March 2020 – rather than the earlier date of 28 February 2020. In other words, those employees employed and who started between 1 March 2020 and 19 March 2020, can now also be Furloughed and the employer can claim Furlough pay for these employees.
What should businesses do?
Consider whether you can claim Furlough pay for more employees (those added after 29 February 2020 but before 20 March 2020) who you have since Furloughed.
Consider whether you want to rehire any employees who you employed between 1 March 2020 and 19 March 2020, but who you let go because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
If you need guidance in relation to Furlough leave for your employees, please contact us on 0800 2800 421 or email Employment.Alert@trethowans.com to find out how we can help.