Closure of furlough scheme to new entrants

From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have previously been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for their normal hours not worked. When claiming the CJRS grant for furloughed hours; employers will need to report and claim for a minimum period of a week.  Further guidance on flexible furloughing and how employers should calculate claims will be published on 12 June.

The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full 3 week period prior to 30 June.

This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June, in order for the current 3 week furlough period to be completed by 30 June. Employers will have until 31 July to make any claims in respect of the period to 30 June.

Urgent action may therefore be needed by employers who have not yet furloughed any employees but are planning to do so, or in relation to employees that have not yet been furloughed but may need to be furloughed in the future. 

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