New National Covid Restrictions from 5th November

For information on the new Covid-19 national restrictions for England, including a high-level view of what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available, click here.

The Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) is being extended and is reverting back to the Government (i.e. Taxpayer) paying 80% of a worker’s wage, with the employer covering pension and national insurance contributions. To be eligible for this extension, employees must have been on the payroll by 30 October 2020, but they don’t need to have been furloughed previously. While the government updates the system, employers will submit their wage claim to the government, and be refunded afterwards. After that, they will be paid upfront to cover the cost.

The government is also subsidising businesses with:

  • Up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant if their premises is forced to close
  • £1,000 for every furloughed employee kept on until at least the end of January
  • £1,500 for every out-of-work 16-24 year-old given a ”high quality” six-month work placement
  • £2,000 for every under-25 apprentice taken on until the end of January, or £1,500 for over-25s

A grant available to self-employed people affected by coronavirus has also been doubled to 40% of profits, with a maximum grant of £3,750 over a three-month period.

The restrictions are set to run from 5th November to 2nd December, but Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove commented today that the government would have no hesitation in extending the lockdown should that be necessary to suppress the spread of the virus.  There’s much more additional information on-line, of course.