The Government’s decision to extend its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October this year allows employers to continue to swap or rotate staff on furlough. But to take full advantage of furlough swaps, employers must take action by Wednesday 10 June.
Richard White, Partner in the Employment Law team at Swindon- and Marlborough-based Royds Withy King, comments:
“The Government has extended the furlough scheme through to the end of October but has set the firm deadline of this Wednesday (10 June) for employers wishing to add staff to the furlough scheme.
“And there are very good reasons why an employer might want to add further staff into the furlough scheme, one of which is to maximise the ability to swap or rotate staff between furlough and work.
“The updated regulations allow employers to swap staff who have been on furlough for 21 days prior to the 30 June. Furloughed staff can then be swapped for those currently working on an ongoing rotation.
“There are real benefits for employers in rotating furloughed staff, helping to reintegrate and engage staff, improving workplace morale, and supporting the wellbeing of staff who may have been off work for quite some time or who are unable to work from home.
“But to take full advantage of the ability to swap furloughed staff, employers must place any staff that have not yet been furloughed and that it wishes to rotate, on furlough by 10 June.”
