Hi, im Shnek64! Why haven't I been furloughed?

If someone who needs to shield cannot work from home, the employer should talk to the person about:

• taking up an alternative role that's suitable and safe to do from home

• not returning to work until it's safe to do so

If they cannot work, the employer may be able to put the person on furlough (temporary leave).

Otherwise, they may be entitled to one of the following:

• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Universal Credit

Employers must allow Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) employees to continue to work from home where possible, in keeping with the latest government advice.

Even when restrictions are eased employees may refuse to come into work if they reasonably believe there is a serious and imminent danger or the workplace is not COVID-secure. If employers have carried out risk assessments and made the workplace as COVID-secure as possible, then anyone who still refuses to return to work may be unreasonable. In this situation, there are a variety of options to consider, including unpaid leave or furlough.

Previously, those who were shielding (but otherwise able to work) could get SSP if employers chose not to furlough them and home working was not possible. If people are well and can continue to work remotely, they should be paid as normal and they are not entitled to SSP. If a national or regional lockdown occurs (such as in Tier 4), it seems that government help is available under the furlough scheme.

Employers can potentially furlough staff until the end of April 2021. Employers can also claim SSP for CEV staff who are formally shielding. SSP will also be available for the people who:

• have coronavirus symptoms

• live with someone with coronavirus symptoms

• have been notified that they should self-isolate under the NHS test and trace system. This covers people who are not unwell but have been told to self-isolate because they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

June 2020

From 10 June the furlough scheme is effectively closed for employees who had not been previously furloughed. Until June 30 employers could claim for 80% of furloughed employees current salary, up to £2,500 but the employee must not work for the employer. Employer National Insurance Contributions and certain pension contributions could be claimed too. Employers were not required to contribute anything towards furloughed employees’ salaries for June.

July 2020

The new flexible scheme applied only for previously furloughed employees. These people could return to work part time, but employers can still claim the grant for normal hours not worked. Any amount of working time and any shift pattern can be agreed with the previously furloughed staff. Until 31 July employers could still claim for 80% of the furloughed employees' current salary, up to £2,500 as well as employer National Insurance Contributions and pension contributions. Employers must pay employees for the hours they work.

August 2020

From 1 August, employers had to pay employee's National Insurance Contributions and pension contributions, and can no longer claim a grant for these. Until 31 August the government paid 80% of furloughed employees wages up to a cap of £2,500 for hours not worked. Employers had to pay employees for the hours worked. Employers funding of employers’ NICs and pension contributions applied to both the hours not worked and hours worked if any.

September 2020

From 1 to 30 September the government paid 70% of furloughed employees wages up to a cap of £2,187.50 for hours not worked. Employers paid 10% of wages to make up 80% total up to a cap of £2,500 plus employers’ total NICs and pension contributions.

October 2020

From 1 October until the end of the scheme on 31 October the government will pay 60% of wages up to a cap of £1,875 for the hours the employee does not work. Employers will pay 20% of wages to make up the 80% total up to a cap of £2,500 plus employers’ total NICs and pension contributions.

November 2020 to April 2021

Under the latest extension to furlough, the government pay 80% of furloughed employees wages up to a cap of £2,500 for hours not worked. Any employees who were employed on 30 October 2020 will be eligible as long as the employer made a PAYE RTI submission for them between the 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, unless they re-employed the employee after 23 September 2020. Employees on the payroll on 23 September 2020 who have since been made redundant can be re-employed and put onto the furlough scheme. Revised furlough agreements must have been in place by the end of Friday 13 November 2020. The relevant percentage will be reviewed in January 2021. Employers pay employees for any hours worked. Employers funding of employers’ NICs and pension contributions applies to both the hours not worked and hours worked if any.