Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended

Following the Prime Minister's announcement of a second national lockdown for England, the Treasury has announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be extended until 2 December 2020. The extended scheme, which will apply across the United Kingdom, will mirror the August CJRS arrangements, so the Government will pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 and employers will pay employer National Insurance Contributions and pension contributions for the hours the employee does not work. Full-time or flexible furlough will be allowed.

Neither the employee nor the employer needs to have previously used the CJRS and employees must have been on the payroll by 23.59 on 30 October 2020. To read the announcement click here.

The Job Support Scheme, which had been scheduled to come into force on 1 November 2020, has been postponed until the CJRS ends. Further guidance has been promised in due course.