End of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The furlough and statutory sick pay (SSP) rebate schemes will finally come to a close today (30 September 2021).

Here's what you will need to know:

Ending furlough 

Unless your furlough agreement says otherwise, there's no minimum notice required to inform employees their period of furlough is ending and you should end any furlough agreements in writing.

Redundancy 

If you're left with no other option but to consider making redundancies with furlough support removed, following a fair and robust process is paramount.

SSP rebate scheme 

This was set up to allow you to reclaim up to two weeks' SSP paid to current (or former) employees absent from work due to reasons associated with coronavirus (reasons listed on the following link):

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19#what-you-can-claiment

Final points

-          The scheme is ending today meaning you can only claim for employees who were absent on or before 30 September 2021

-          You'll have until 31 December 2021 to submit or amend any claims

-          To be eligible for the scheme you must have had fewer than 250 employees on 28 February 2020 across all PAYE payroll schemes (your PAYE payroll scheme must have been created on or before 28 February 2020)