Coronavirus

I hope the following information will be helpful, for both immediate and longer-term reference. Take care

Important Coronavirus Information for Employers

The gov.uk guidance pages remain the best source of up-to-date information for employers:

General Employer Advice (6th April 2020)

Job Retention Scheme (furloughing) (4th April 2020)

Kay’s comment: Please note that the link on furloughing was updated on 4th April 2020 and includes important guidance about Company Directors which was not included in the guidance given on 26th March 2020.

Claiming back Statutory Sick Pay (3rd April 2020)

Kay’s comment: The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is for employers with fewer than 250 employees and covers up to two weeks of absence from day one.

Carrying Over Annual Leave (27th March 2020)

Kay’s comment: Employees and workers unable to take all their statutory leave this year due to Covid-19 will now be able to carry forward their holiday into the next two years.

Additional support sources of information can be found on:

CIPD website: (3rd April 2020) and ACAS website: (2nd April 2020)

Other employment changes and updates:

National Living Wage and National Minimum Wages (1st April 2020)

The national living wage for 25 year olds and over is £8.72 p/hr, the NMW for 21-24 year olds is £8.20; for 18 to 20 year olds £6.45; for 16-17 year olds to £4.55 and the apprenticeship rate is £4.15. Statutory maternity/paternity/shared parental/adoption pay is £151.20 and statutory sick pay is £95.85 p/week.

New Right to a Written Statement of Employment Terms (6th April 2020)

New employees and workers have a day one right to a written statement of their terms. A single document (eg a contract) must include: days/hours to be worked, if they are variable and how they will be determined, paid leave, benefits and applicable probationary periods and training provision. Existing employees and workers can also request this information and, if so, it must be provided within one month.

Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay, known as ‘Jack’s Law’ (6th April 2020)

Employed parents have the right to two weeks leave if their child dies under the age of 18 or they suffer a still birth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. Leave can be taken in one block or two separate blocks of one week. Employed parents will be able to claim payment for this period, if they have at least 26 weeks service

 

Also: the reference period to calculate a ‘week’s pay’ for holiday pay purposes will be extended from the previous 12 weeks of work to the previous 52 weeks. And: IR35 Rules for the Private Sector have been delayed until 6th April 2021.

 

FREE RESOURCES

10 Don’ts of Homeworking A guide to key areas of homeworking concern and practical ways to help managers make homeworking successful for themselves and their staff

Mental Health at Work A useful source of FREE mental health and well-being resources to help managers and their staff cope with coronavirus

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