On the eve of the Job Retention Scheme (JRS, but more commonly referred to as furlough) ending, it has instead been extended until the end of the national lockdown.
JRS was due to be replaced on 1 November with two new, less generous schemes, collectively known as the Job Support Scheme (JSS).
The furlough scheme will pay employers grants to cover the wages of employees who are not working due to coronavirus.
The government will pay 80% of wages for hours not worked. Employers will pay 100% of the wages for hours worked.
Our information is from the government’s press release to accompany the Prime Minister’s press conference on 31 October. The information is quite limited for now. Further guidance is sure to follow, which we will explain here as soon as we know it.