Retention Scheme and Payroll Support
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a government grant to reimburse employers for 80% of furloughed workers net wage to a maximum of £2,500 per month + Employers NI and Pension Contributions. To access the scheme employers need to designate affected workers as “furloughed workers”.
We believe that the HMRC portal will available in mid – late April, once we hear more, we will let you know.
Furlough
An employee furlough refers to a temporary leave or modification of normal working hours for a specific amount of time. It’s a leave of absence given to an employee with the promise that they will still have their job once the leave is over.
Employee furloughs are becoming common practice in both public and private-sector organisations. There are numerous reasons why employers implement a furlough employee policy, such as plant shutdowns, seasonal work, company reorganizations and reduced demand due to COVID-19.
Don’t rush into implementing an employee furlough policy without talking to your lawyer or HR specialist first.
If you decide that putting employees on furlough is the best option for you and your employees, then you need to prepare a notification letter. Your furlough notice letter should contain the following:
• Address - This is a formal letter, a furlough notice should clearly state the date, employee’s name, and their address.
• Purpose – State the purpose of the letter. Get straight to the point. Include the employee’s position, department, reason for the furlough, and information about any changes to employee benefits. It is advisable to tell the employee that this action does not reflect dissatisfaction in job performance.
• Detail - Explain what a furlough is, determine the length of the furlough, and communicate employee benefits during this period to employees.
• Future communication - Offer a way for the employee to keep in touch. End the letter on a positive note.
Director’s remuneration
Our current understanding is that Director’s can be furloughed and still carry out their statutory obligations during the furlough period. This said the director’s claim will be limited to 80% of their salary, it can’t be claimed for dividend income.
Full details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-businesses-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
FAQ’s can be found at https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/faqs/