Return to work

[Helen Williams]

I have studied HMRC guidance regarding part-time return to work under the furlough scheme. Is anyone able to clarify a point for me please?

"The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full three-week period prior to 30 June".

Our staff are been furloughed for 6 weeks during April/May and are now back at work. We are a small business in the construction sector and our main clients giving repeat orders still do not want us on site to carry out planned maintenance. Can we therefore utilise the part time furlough scheme from 1 July based upon our previous furlough claim, or do staff actually have to be furloughed for the three weeks immediately before 1st July? HMRC guidance says "prior to" not "immediately prior to" so I am taking this that our previous furlough claim will allow access to the part time furlough scheme if we need it.

Two of our staff are back, two are still furloughed.

Many thanks for any clarification provided.

 

[dotcomdude]

I would imagine that they have to be on furlough for at least three weeks, up to and including the 30th of June to qualify - although full details aren't available until later this month.

The aim is to get employers to ease people back in to work, not add new people because of the flexibility.

 

[Newchodge]

I would imagine that they have to be on furlough for at least three weeks, up to and including the 30th of June to qualify - although full details aren't available until later this month.

The aim is to get employers to ease people back in to work, not add new people because of the flexibility.

The wording is ambiguous, but I believe that, as long as someone has been furloughed for at least 3 weeks bu 30 June, even if they have returned to work, they can still be partly furloughed. Did you realise that the Flexible Furlough Scheme is being referred to as FFS?

Guidance is due to be issued on 12 June, which is, of course, past the 10 June deadline to put someone on furlough to get a 3 week period.

 

[dotcomdude]

the Flexible Furlough Scheme is being referred to as FFS

useful mnemonic

 

[Helen Williams]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. We would not be adding new people because of the flexibility, we would be avoiding a total furlough again by carrying out the work we have available to us, as and when we could. Covid has had such a huge affect of our industry, and as our work is mainly refurb on domestic properties (usually tenant occupied) many just don't want our team on site, despite all relevant H&S measures being in place. Our accountant is of the same opinion as yourself Cyndy Hodgson, thank you so much.