Employees returning from parental leave will be eligible for furlough

10 June: Parents on statutory maternity and paternity leave who return to work in the coming months will be eligible for furlough scheme after 10 June cut-off date.

It was confirmed late on 9 June, that employees on statutory parental leave who return to work after a long period of absence can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) even if they return after 10 June, but only if they work for an employer who has previously furloughed employees.

To enable the introduction of part-time furloughing, and support those already furloughed back to work, CJRS claims from 1 July onwards will be restricted to employers currently using the scheme and previously furloughed employees. This means people not previously furloughed must be on the furlough scheme by 10 June to have completed the required 21 days of furlough to be eligible for part-time furlough.

More details of the change will be included in updated guidance, to be published on 12 June.