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Employment Update for Small Businesses
October 2020

Dear Subscriber

As we enter the last month of the Government’s Job Retention Scheme (the Furlough Scheme), we consider what we know so far about the new Job Support Scheme, that starts from 1st November.  We also have an update on a few other items related to COVID and employment that are of note.
Please contact me if you would like to find out a bit more about any of the subjects raised in this update or if you need any help or advice.

Please forward this email to any of your contacts who might find it of benefit.

Regards
Peter Etherington
Tel: 01664 668164

www.etherington.co.uk

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Peter Etherington
The Job Support Scheme
Starting 1st November 2020
We are still waiting for detailed guidance on the new scheme, but we have been given enough information to start planning. Generally the scheme is a lot less beneficial to employers that the furlough scheme, as it carries a lot more cost for the employer. Nevertheless, some employers will welcome it as at least providing some support when furlough ends.

It can be used for employees who are on payroll on or before 23rd September (NB a Real Time Information submission to HMRC for the employee must have been made on or before that date, so in reality they would have needed to be on payroll in most cases in August). The employee must work at least 33% of their full contractual hours to be eligible – although this minimum level may be increased from 1st February 2021 (to be confirmed).

The employer must pay the employee for the hours worked. In addition, they must pay the employee for 2/3 of the time that is unworked. The employer can then claim back under the scheme 1/3 of the hours not worked up to a cap of £697.92 per month. Here are a few examples for someone who is contracted to work 5 days each week and is paid £1,500 per month:

Hours worked:                                                   2 days            3 days        4 days
Employer pays for hours worked:                        £600               £900           £1,200
Employer pays 33% of the unworked hours:       £300               £200           £100
Total Employer cost*:                                           £900               £1,100        £1,300

Government pays 33% of unworked hours:          £300               £200          £100

Total paid to employee:                                         £1,200           £1,300      £1,400
Percentage of full pay:                                             80%               87%          93%
(* not including NI and Pension costs)

You do need an agreement with the employees to work these reduced hours. You may have the contractual right to place them on short-time working, in which case you will need to write to them setting out the arrangement. Otherwise you will need a written agreement with them to allow this to take place.

It is possible to move people from this scheme and back onto full hours on an intermittent basis. The minimum period for each arrangement is one week.

Here is the Government factsheet containing the basic information on the scheme.

New Coronavirus Regulations
What do employers need to know?
New regulations came into force on Monday, which include a new duty for employers and employees where the employee is required to self-isolate (including where that is due to them living with someone who has tested positive). It is now an offence for an employer to knowingly allow a worker to attend work or anywhere that is not the place that they are self-isolating. The penalty for breaching this regulation is a fine of a minimum of £1,000.

The worker is also obliged in law to tell their employer that they are required to self-isolate. They will be committing an offence if they fail to do so and face a fine of £50.

National Minimum and Living Wage Rate​s
The current National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates are:

  • £8.72 per hour for workers aged 25 and over
  • £8.20 per hour for workers aged 21 to 24
  • £6.45 per hour for workers aged 18 to 20
  • £4.55 per hour for workers aged 16 and 17
  • £4.15 per hour for apprentices under 19 and those over 19 in their first year*

*N.B. Apprentices over 19 and who have completed at least one year are entitled to the appropriate rate for their age.

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