Employment Law Bulletin – Furlough Scheme Extended

Employment Law Bulletin – On Saturday 31st October, Boris Johnson announced that a new form of national lockdown would come into force on Thursday 5th November lasting until 2nd December 2020.

As part of the economic support package relating to this announcement, he also announced that The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme had been extended for a month with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked and further economic support announced.

Throughout the crisis the Government’s priority has been to protect lives and livelihoods. Today the Prime Minister said the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) – also known as the Furlough scheme – will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. Under the extended scheme, the cost for employers of retaining workers will be reduced compared to the current scheme, which ends today. This means the extended furlough scheme is more generous for employers than it was in October.

Further guidance will be issued in due course, but in the meantime, read on for the key facts…