This Wednesday, 10 June, is the last opportunity to add any new entrants to the furlough scheme (i.e. an employee that has not yet been furloughed). Any employee not furloughed before this time will not be eligible to benefit for the remainder of the scheme.
The scheme will officially close to new entrants on 30 June. Only employees who have been furloughed for at least three weeks on or before 30 June 2020 will be eligible for the remaining 4 months of the scheme.
Here’s a reminder of some of the key dates, as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme winds down:
- 10 June: Deadline for adding new entrants to the scheme (i.e. an employee that has not yet been furloughed).
- 30 June: The scheme officially closes to new entrants.
- 1 July: Flexible furloughing commences.
- 31 July: The last day that the job retention scheme will run in its existing form.
- 1 August: Government will pay 80% of wages (up to £2,500). Employers will cover National Insurance and employee pension contributions only.
- 1 September: Government will pay 70% of wages (up to £2,190). Employers will cover 10% of wages + NI and pension.
- 1 October: Government will pay 60% of wages (up to £1,875). Employers will cover 20% of wages + NI and pension.
- 31 October: Government support will cease.
We expect the government to announce more detail about how flexible furloughing will work in practice, later this week.
In the meantime, if you have a question about how these changes might affect you please contact our team.