Extension to the furlough scheme

​With the news of a second lockdown announced on Saturday,  these are the key things we know so far: 

• Employees should work from home if they can effectively do so.  
• The Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) will be extended until the end of March 2021. 
• Claims can be for a minimum period of 7 days.
• The start of the Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be pushed back until the beginning of April 2021.
• The Job Retension Bonus has now been put on hold.
• The JRS will return to the Government paying 80% of wages (with Employers paying NI & Pension contributions), capped at £2,500. This is as things were in August. 
• Flexi-Furlough will continue to be an option. 
• Eligible employees must have been on the Payroll prior to 30th October 2020.  This means those who haven’t previously been furloughed could now be furloughed.