{"id":20076,"date":"2020-04-22T13:41:42","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T13:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smh.group\/?p=20076"},"modified":"2023-02-15T13:49:39","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T13:49:39","slug":"covid-19-measures-for-business-22-april-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devstagesite.co.uk\/smhgroup\/covid-19-measures-for-business-22-april-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid-19 measures for business – 22 April 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme<\/a> (CJRS<\/a>) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some form of job support scheme had been expected after the\n17 March announcement and the CJRS is similar to schemes that have already been\nset up elsewhere in Europe. Under the CJRS, \u201cHMRC will reimburse 80% of a furloughed\nworker\u2019s wage costs, up to a cap of \u00a32,500 per month\u2019, provided the worker was\non the employer\u2019s PAYE payroll on or before 19\nMarch 2020 and was notified to HMRC on an RTI submission by that date. The cut-off\ndate was originally announced as 28 February but was changed to 19 March (the\nday before the Chancellor announced the CJRS) on 15 April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The time frame for the CJRS was extended to\nthe end of June on 17 April, with the scheme opening to applications from 20\nApril.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this context \u2018furloughed workers\u2019 are non-working\nemployees (including part timers and employees on agency, flexible or zero\nhours contracts) who are kept on the payroll, rather than being laid off. The employee must be furloughed for at least three\nconsecutive weeks. The employer has to designate these employees and\nsubmit relevant information to HMRC via a \u201cnew online portal\u201d available \u201cby the end of April\u201d. The HMRC payments\nwill cover 80% of \u201cusual monthly wages\u201d plus the associated Employer National\nInsurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension\ncontributions on that wage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees who left or were made\nredundant after 28 February can be re-employed and\nplaced on furlough, with the (former) employer then claiming under the CJRS for\ntheir wages through the scheme. This applies even if re-employment does not\nstart until after 19 March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CJRS is available to one person companies whose director\/owner\nfurloughs themselves. However, only salary is covered, not dividends, and like\nall other furloughed workers, the director \u201ccannot undertake work for or on\nbehalf of the organisation\u201d. According to press reports the Treasury\nnevertheless accepts that the director may continue with their statutory\nobligations in that role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statutory sick pay (SSP)<\/a><\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Businesses with fewer than 250 employees as at 28\nFebruary 2020 will be refunded the full cost of providing SSP to any employee\noff work for up to 14 days because of coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loan guarantees<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A government-backed loan guarantee scheme announced in\nthe Budget has since been regularly extended and enhanced. The Government will\nnow provide loan guarantees up to \u201can initial\u201d \u00a3330 billion for all <\/em>sizes\nof businesses. In all instances businesses remain responsible for repaying any\nfacility they may takeout \u2013 any guarantees are for the lender:<\/p>\n\n\n\n