Hear what our partners are saying on topical issues impacting the accountancy profession.
The UK’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), commonly referred to as the furlough scheme, has been designed and made operational in a matter of weeks with quite a lot of thinking by Government ‘on the hoof’. Thus, the guidance has fallen in a piecemeal fashion, making it challenging for employers to liaise with staff and take appropriate action.
Current trends within the industry, what to expect after remote working ends, and how to prepare for future uncertainties
Those operating in an environment highly regulated by health and safety requirements (construction and the NHS for example) will be familiar with Section 100 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. For office-based workers however Section 100 is a little known provision which, before the pandemic, rarely came up in practice.
On 13 April 2020, in the first ruling of its kind, the High Court provided much needed clarity on the application of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the Scheme) for companies that have entered into administration. The Court expressed a willingness to assist with the policy objectives of saving jobs, and this may be the first in a series of authorities curbing traditional vested interests in favour of collective processes.
When we published our blog on 15 April 2020, we stated rather boldly that the issue of the Treasury Direction on 15 April 2020 was likely to the definitive guide on how the Job retention Scheme (JRS) works. Friday’s flurry of updates however disproved that. Further guidance has been issued.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Edwin Coe LLP has been focused on responding to the changes and announcements in relation to the Job Retention Scheme as businesses of all sizes furlough staff. The complexities of furlough leave, and how to prepare for any future challenge, are discussed in the following blogs.
There is currently very little movement between the UK and EU countries. When this resumes we must reconsider the position of UK expats and those thinking of moving to the EU to lock in protections for residence, healthcare and pensions, notes Jason Porter.