The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) Part 1 is now concluded. Any grant claim applications must be made at the latest 31st July 2020 else it will be too late.
So Flexible Furlough starts today. For employees who have completed their continuous 21 day furlough under part 1 can now be Flexi-Furloughed working as little or as much as is needed in getting Britain back to work.
From 1st July 2020 employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for the proportion of usual hours not worked.
Employers will need to calculate the ‘usual hours value’ which is based on calculated historic basis and not necessarily the hours in the contract or what the employer instinctively thinks are “usual”. and of course, there is no real basis of an hourly rate for hours not worked.
There does seem to also be some confusion, although claims must cover minimum periods of 7 days under flexible furlough, the amount worked or not worked is as flexible as the employer wants from 0% worked through to 100% worked. so the period includes time worked to enable the appropriate apportionment.
As of today (1st July 2020) Employers can now submit claims that include days in July.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme flexible furlough will close on 31st October 2020.
Opinion
Flexible-furlough is very different to the former furlough scheme. Employers and payroll may find the transition a little confusing, especially as the scheme is now aligned with calendar months and each month is different. Split calculation of amounts for the grant claim will be needed. The employer needs to grasp the calculation requirements of defining ‘usual hours’. it’s going to be a interesting few months.
PAYadvice.UK 1/7/2020
