Job Support Scheme Expands
On the 1st November the government’s Job Support Scheme (JSS) is due to start but it’s already being expanded, to protect employees and support businesses that are now required to close as new lockdown restrictions come in to effect.
The scheme, which is UK wide, will begin on 1 November 2020 and will be available for six months, with a review point in January 2021.
Under the expansion, firms whose premises are legally required to temporarily close as part of local or national restrictions will receive grants to pay the wages of staff who cannot work for a minimum of seven consecutive days.
The government has said that it will support eligible businesses by paying two thirds of each employees’ salary (or 67 per cent), up to a maximum of £2,100 a month. Under the scheme, employers will not be required to contribute towards wages and only asked to cover National Insurance and pension contributions.
These measures will sit alongside the original JSS announced a few weeks ago, where businesses struggling to bring employees back full time can ask them to work 33% of the usual hours and receive two thirds of unworked hours at their usual hourly rate. This cost is shared between the employer and the government.
While in the South West local businesses are not being asked to close at this time because we are currently in ‘tier one’ medium risk, the end of the month will require employers to act and transition employees from one scheme to another. Please get in touch today if you require advice and guidance to ensure that transition goes smoothly and without risk of future legal action. We are here to help please call Sean McDonough on 01225 750 000 or email sean.mcdonough@mogersdrewett.com