Job Support Scheme: what jobs qualify?
WORKERS will get help through the Job Support Scheme if they are working reduced hours due to coronavirus.
Rishi Sunak hopes the furlough replacement will reduce job losses, by covering two-thirds of wages for hours that can't be worked, but only for those in "viable" jobs. We explain all we know so far.
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What is the Job Support Scheme for workers?
The new Job Support Scheme will be available from November 1 and run for six months.
It will only be available to employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to decreased demand.
Employers will continue to pay staff for hours that they do work.
For hours that they don't work, two thirds of this pay will be covered by the government and the employer.
The government will cover just under 62% of the hours not worked up to £1541.75 per month and the employer will cover just 5%.
To be eligible, employees must be working at least 20% of their contracted hours and be paid for those hours in full by their employer.
When the scheme was first announced in September as a replacement for furlough, the government and employer covered equal amounts and workers had to work at least one third of their normal hours.
But the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the government would cover more of the unpaid wages and workers would be eligible for the scheme when working fewer hours after tiered lockdowns were introduced.
In total, someone on the scheme will receive 77% of their total pay, according to The Treasury.
Anyone who is in employment as of September 23 can be put on the scheme - and it's open to all small and medium-sized businesses who didn't apply to furlough before.
Larger businesses will only be eligible when their turnover has fallen.
Employers who take advantage of the scheme can also claim the Jobs Retention Bonus worth £1,000 if they keep staff in work through to January 31, 2021.
Staff cannot be made redundant or put on notice of redundancy during the period within which their employer is claiming the grant for that employee.
This job support scheme is different to the job support scheme for those who can't work at all due to lockdown restrictions.
What is a 'viable' job?
The furlough scheme was aimed to protect a majority of jobs during coronavirus lockdown.
After much of the economy reopened, Mr Sunak says the government will instead "protect as many viable jobs as we can".
The definition is crucial, as it means industries still in shutdown because of the pandemic will miss out on this specific support.
Businesses which can't open because of fresh lockdowns and therefore staff can't work any hours at all will get different support.
Although the Treasury has not defined what a viable job is, a spokesperson told The Sun the definition refers to jobs where businesses can continue to employ their workers over the coming months, even if only part-time.
Can I be made redundant if I'm on furlough?
EVEN though furlough is designed to keep workers employed, unfortunately it doesn't protect you from being made redundant.
But it doesn't affect your redundancy pay rights if you are let go from your job amid the coronavirus crisis.
Your employer should still carry out a fair redundancy process.
You will be entitled to be consulted on the redundancy lay-off first and to receive a statutory redundancy payment, as long as you've been working somewhere for at least two years.
How much you're entitled to depends on your age and length of service, although this is capped at 20 years. You'll get:
- Half a week’s pay for each full year you were under 22,
- One week’s pay for each full year you were 22 or older, but under 41,
- One and half week’s pay for each full year you were 41 or older.
Sadly, you won't be entitled to a payout if you've been working for your employer for fewer than two years.
There should be a period of collective consultation as well as time for individual ones if your employer wants to make 20 or more employees redundant within 90 days or each other.
You are also entitled to appeal the decision by claiming unfair dismissal within three months of being let go.
If you're made redundant after your company has gone into administration you can claim redundancy pay .
In other words, a viable job could be one in hospitality and retail, two sectors that have suffered huge losses but are still limping along.
A non-viable job, on the other hand, could include theatre ushers and nightclub bouncers; two sectors that have remained closed since March.
The Sun has spoken to part-time theatre usher Jade Fox, 24, who's been put on furlough since coronavirus hit the UK.
She says the new scheme “won’t help her whatsoever”, as there are no plans for the theatre to reopen anytime soon meaning her bosses can’t take advantage of the scheme.
Meanwhile, Next boss Simon Wolfson has also warned that thousands of traditional retail jobs are unviable due to the shift toward online shopping.
The furlough scheme has been gradually wound down since July and is due to end completely on October 31.
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The Job Support Scheme will only help those on the PAYE payroll.
Meanwhile, self-employed workers have been given more time to pay their tax bill.