Businesses will have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work part time from 1st July as part of the government’s plan to re-open the UK and kickstart our economy.
The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has so far helped protect more than 9.3 million jobs through the pandemic, with employers claiming more than £25.5bn to support wages.
The scheme will remain open until the end of October and will continue to support jobs and business in a measured way as people return to work, our economy reopens and the country moves to the next stage of its recovery.
From 1st July, a month earlier than previously announced, employers will have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part time basis.
Individual firms will decide the hours and shift patterns their employees will work on their return, so that they can decide on the best approach for them – and will be responsible for paying their wages while in work.
From August, the level of government grant provided through the job retention scheme will be slowly tapered to reflect that people will be returning to work. Businesses will be asked to contribute a modest share, but crucially individuals will continue to receive that 80% of salary covering the time they are unable to work.
The government has also announced that businesses who no longer need the CJRS grants they previously claimed have the option to voluntarily return them.
This is in direct response to employers asking how they can return grants voluntarily – and businesses are under no obligation to do this, but should contact HMRC if they want to pay the grant back.
