On the 29th of May the government announced a series of changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The changes are as follows:
10th June 2020 – this will be the last day employers can place employees on furlough.
1st July – ‘flexible furlough’ will be introduced, meaning employees will be able to work part-time and be furloughed part-time. Businesses will have the power to decide how to operate that time split.
1st August – employers will have to pay employee’s national insurance contributions and pension contributions. They will no longer be able to reclaim them through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
1st September – the government will only reimburse 70% of salary an employee’s salary (up to a maximum of £2,190). Employers will be required to top the salary up to 80% (or more, depending on what the employer agreed with the employee).
1st October – the government will only reimburse 60% of an employee’s salary (up to a maximum of £1,875), and employers will continue having to top up to 80% (or more).
31st October – the furlough scheme will close.