This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52135342
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: What does it mean if I've been furloughed by work? | Coronavirus: What does it mean if I've been furloughed by work? |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Until recently, many people in the UK had never heard of furlough. | Until recently, many people in the UK had never heard of furlough. |
| But the impact of coronavirus on the economy means that over the next few months millions of workers will rely on the scheme. | But the impact of coronavirus on the economy means that over the next few months millions of workers will rely on the scheme. |
| What is furlough? | What is furlough? |
| Furloughing is designed to support firms that have been badly hit by coronavirus, and to prevent mass unemployment. It will temporarily help pay the wages of people who can't do their jobs, to help companies retain them. | Furloughing is designed to support firms that have been badly hit by coronavirus, and to prevent mass unemployment. It will temporarily help pay the wages of people who can't do their jobs, to help companies retain them. |
| Being furloughed means employees are kept on the payroll, even though they aren't working. | Being furloughed means employees are kept on the payroll, even though they aren't working. |
| Businesses can claim 80% of their employees' wages from the government, up to a maximum of £2,500 per person, per month before tax. The company can top up this pay if it chooses. It must write to affected employees to let them know they have been furloughed. | Businesses can claim 80% of their employees' wages from the government, up to a maximum of £2,500 per person, per month before tax. The company can top up this pay if it chooses. It must write to affected employees to let them know they have been furloughed. |
| The scheme came into effect on 1 March and was due to last an initial three months. It has since been extended until at least the end of June. However, reimbursements to companies will not start until at least the end of April. | |
| Which companies are furloughing workers? | Which companies are furloughing workers? |
| Coronavirus restrictions mean the work of many firms has come to a standstill. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, travel firms and estate agents are among those hit. | Coronavirus restrictions mean the work of many firms has come to a standstill. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, travel firms and estate agents are among those hit. |
| A YouGov poll suggested one in 20 workers have already lost a job because of the outbreak. | A YouGov poll suggested one in 20 workers have already lost a job because of the outbreak. |
| British Airways has furloughed more than 30,000 staff(80% of its workforce), following EasyJet which has furloughed just under half its employees. | British Airways has furloughed more than 30,000 staff(80% of its workforce), following EasyJet which has furloughed just under half its employees. |
| Greggs, McDonald's, Topshop owner Arcadia and Nissan are also among firms opting to furlough all or part of their workforce. | Greggs, McDonald's, Topshop owner Arcadia and Nissan are also among firms opting to furlough all or part of their workforce. |
| Meanwhile, Premier League football clubs are to ask players to take a 30% pay cut in order to protect jobs. Some had been criticised for furloughing non-playing staff, who are paid a fraction of leading players' wages. | Meanwhile, Premier League football clubs are to ask players to take a 30% pay cut in order to protect jobs. Some had been criticised for furloughing non-playing staff, who are paid a fraction of leading players' wages. |
| Can I be put on furlough? | Can I be put on furlough? |
| Potentially yes, if your company can't give you work to do because of the coronavirus outbreak. | Potentially yes, if your company can't give you work to do because of the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Initially the scheme only supported those on an employer's PAYE payroll on 28 February 2020, but the cut off date was extended to 19 March. People who had left their job before the 28 February, or were in the process of switching employer, had complained the original cut-off unfairly penalised them. | Initially the scheme only supported those on an employer's PAYE payroll on 28 February 2020, but the cut off date was extended to 19 March. People who had left their job before the 28 February, or were in the process of switching employer, had complained the original cut-off unfairly penalised them. |
| This includes full-time and part-time workers, and employees on flexible, zero-hour or agency contracts. | This includes full-time and part-time workers, and employees on flexible, zero-hour or agency contracts. |
| The minimum amount of time you can be furloughed for is three weeks, and you can be furloughed more than once. | The minimum amount of time you can be furloughed for is three weeks, and you can be furloughed more than once. |
| If you have been made redundant since 19 March, your former employer can choose to rehire you under the furlough scheme. But employees hired for the first time after that date are not eligible for it. | If you have been made redundant since 19 March, your former employer can choose to rehire you under the furlough scheme. But employees hired for the first time after that date are not eligible for it. |
| Many people have complained the scheme does not extend to those who had already signed a contract or switched jobs after the cut-off date. | Many people have complained the scheme does not extend to those who had already signed a contract or switched jobs after the cut-off date. |
| Any UK organisation with employees can apply, including for workers who are foreign nationals. But in practice it will mainly be private sector businesses and charities that make a claim. | Any UK organisation with employees can apply, including for workers who are foreign nationals. But in practice it will mainly be private sector businesses and charities that make a claim. |
| Most public sector organisations will be providing essential public services or helping with the response to the outbreak in a different way, the government says. | Most public sector organisations will be providing essential public services or helping with the response to the outbreak in a different way, the government says. |
| Apprentices can be furloughed in the same way as other employees, and still continue their training. And an individual can furlough an employee, such a nanny, but only if they are paid through PAYE. | Apprentices can be furloughed in the same way as other employees, and still continue their training. And an individual can furlough an employee, such a nanny, but only if they are paid through PAYE. |
| Will I still get sick pay and a bonus? | Will I still get sick pay and a bonus? |
| Anyone placed on furlough has the same employment rights as before. If you are ill you are eligible for statutory sick pay and can be placed on furlough when you recover. | Anyone placed on furlough has the same employment rights as before. If you are ill you are eligible for statutory sick pay and can be placed on furlough when you recover. |
| If you are shielding because of health concerns or have childcare or other caring responsibilities, you are also eligible for furlough. Staff on maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave will continue to receive statutory pay from the government. | If you are shielding because of health concerns or have childcare or other caring responsibilities, you are also eligible for furlough. Staff on maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave will continue to receive statutory pay from the government. |
| The government will only cover up to 80% of a worker's core salary. So, that doesn't include any bonus or commission payments. It will also cover the minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions made by your employer, and their National Insurance contributions. | The government will only cover up to 80% of a worker's core salary. So, that doesn't include any bonus or commission payments. It will also cover the minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions made by your employer, and their National Insurance contributions. |
| If your wages differ from month to month, your company should base your salary either on what you earned in the same month the year before, or on your average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year, whichever is higher. | If your wages differ from month to month, your company should base your salary either on what you earned in the same month the year before, or on your average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 tax year, whichever is higher. |
| Employers do not have to top up salaries that no longer reach the minimum wage. | Employers do not have to top up salaries that no longer reach the minimum wage. |
| Can I work or volunteer if I've been furloughed? | Can I work or volunteer if I've been furloughed? |
| You can't do any work for your employer if you have been furloughed. | You can't do any work for your employer if you have been furloughed. |
| If you have more than one employer, you can receive furlough from any of them, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month per employer. | If you have more than one employer, you can receive furlough from any of them, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month per employer. |
| You can also continue working for any that still need you. You can do work for a new employer, provided you are not breaching any existing contracts or the coronavirus restrictions. | You can also continue working for any that still need you. You can do work for a new employer, provided you are not breaching any existing contracts or the coronavirus restrictions. |
| You can volunteer to help with the efforts to curb the virus - and are being encouraged to do so. You can also volunteer for your company as long as you aren't creating revenue for them or providing a service. Employers are encouraged to use this time to give employees additional training, but must top up furlough payments if they do not reach minimum wage. | You can volunteer to help with the efforts to curb the virus - and are being encouraged to do so. You can also volunteer for your company as long as you aren't creating revenue for them or providing a service. Employers are encouraged to use this time to give employees additional training, but must top up furlough payments if they do not reach minimum wage. |
| Of course, many firms haven't furloughed staff but have asked them to work reduced hours for reduced pay, which they will have to fund as normal. | Of course, many firms haven't furloughed staff but have asked them to work reduced hours for reduced pay, which they will have to fund as normal. |
| Is my job guaranteed when furlough ends? | Is my job guaranteed when furlough ends? |
| Companies are under no obligation to keep on any employees when they stop receiving furlough, although they cannot use these payments to subsidise redundancy packages. | Companies are under no obligation to keep on any employees when they stop receiving furlough, although they cannot use these payments to subsidise redundancy packages. |
| The scheme currently runs until 1 June, and the government has indicated it will be extended beyond that if necessary. | The scheme currently runs until 1 June, and the government has indicated it will be extended beyond that if necessary. |
| The hope is that by the time furlough ends, restrictions will have been lifted and businesses will be able to stand on their own two feet and start paying full salaries again. | The hope is that by the time furlough ends, restrictions will have been lifted and businesses will be able to stand on their own two feet and start paying full salaries again. |