furloughed explanation

[Gasdiver]

Hi, I am looking for some clarity after the Government announcement on protecting employees and not laying them off. My understanding is, the employees will be allowed 80% of his salary up to the value of £2500 per month. This persons status will be classed as “Furloughed” which is a temporary lay-off. If the employees is put in this position, can the person continue to work for the same employer to provide support to clients that the employer is legally bound to provide? Due to the employer not been able to pay all Engineers salaries, the employer would have to lay off 50% of the work force however, if the Engineers are furloughed this will reduce the impact significantly to retain 100% of the staff.

[NotSmiling]

"If your employer intends to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they will discuss with you becoming classified as a furloughed worker. This would mean that you are kept on your employer’s payroll, rather than being laid off.

To qualify for this scheme, you should not undertake work for them while you are furloughed. This will allow your employer to claim a grant of up to 80% of your wage for all employment costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month."



https://www.gov.uk/government/public...oughed-workers

[Amethyst]

No you can't work for the employer while he is claiming under the scheme. He needs to get the business down to a skeleton staff and those he absolutely needs to work he continues to pay, those he can get through this period without he temporarily lays off and uses the scheme.

Is he suggesting he lays you off under the scheme but you continue to work ( from home? )?
He really needs to persevere with getting through to the HMRC helpline to discuss his plans.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...tention-scheme

*helpline number is*0800 0159 559*( think that's the right one )*



When you say support to clients he is legally obliged to provide- is this legislatively or contractually ?

[Gasdiver]

"If your employer intends to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they will discuss with you becoming classified as a furloughed worker. This would mean that you are kept on your employer’s payroll, rather than being laid off.

To qualify for this scheme, you should not undertake work for them while you are furloughed. This will allow your employer to claim a grant of up to 80% of your wage for all employment costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month."



https://www.gov.uk/government/public...oughed-workers

Thank you all. I can conclude from your answers that I can keep a skeleton staff under full time employment to provide services to our contractual clients. All other staff can be furloughed until this pandemic is over. May thanks for your quick responses.

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