The Government announced that parents on statutory maternity and paternity leave who return to work in the coming months after a long period of family related leave are able to be placed on furlough and claimed for via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (‘the Scheme’) even after 10 June cut-off date.
Employees who have not been absent on a period of family related leave, and have not been placed on furlough leave for a period of at leave 3 weeks at some point before 1 July 2020 (meaning furlough must have commenced by at least 10 June) are unable to participate in the Scheme moving forward.
The change announced yesterday, enhances the use of the Scheme for working parents. The update goes on to explain that this also applies to people on adoption leave, shared parental leave, and parental bereavement leave.
Employers’ should be aware that this change will only apply to them if they have previously furloughed employees within their business.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP said:
‘When I announced these changes to the furlough scheme last month, I was clear that we wanted to do this in a fair way, that supports people back to work as the country begins to re-open following coronavirus.’
‘But for parents returning from leave, their circumstances has meant that they are still in need of support, and I’m pleased that they will be able to receive the financial assistance they and their family will need.’
We will await further details of this change in the updated guidance, published on 12 June.
If you have any questions on this change, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our Employment Team.
