There were 57 Government updates issued on Friday 10th July. Park City’s team have reviewed and listed the updates that we feel are the most relevant to Business owners and Managers. This will save you time reviewing each one.
If you need further assistance with any related issues as a result of reading these updates please call us. To all of our clients, your lead HR or H&S consultant will be in touch. We are currently prioritising COVID-19 business remote audits to ensure you are all returning to work safely. With the increasing number of business operations being compromised due to track and trace depleting their staff numbers as a result of forced Isolation, it’s critical that you follow the guidance. If in any doubt, call Park City for guidance. Lean on us, we are here to help relieve some of the pressure for you.
Our HR team is managing an increasing number of redundancy programmes and answering questions relating to Furlough changes. Please call our office to seek advice and support. Now is not the time to expose your business to the real risks of unplanned financial penalties as a result of not following recognised employment processes and best practice.
You’re not alone. Park City is here to help and support you and where required, we’ll help you implement those difficult decisions to ensure your business returns to work and continues to operate through these challenging times.
Government guidance updates:
1. How to make your workplace COVID-secure.
The latest update to include;
Shops and branches – Updated to include guidance on mass gatherings in the workplace (section 1.1). Review the updated guidance on the Gov.uk website
2. Protective measures for providers of community activities, holiday or after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school settings offering provision to children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Latest Update;
Updated content on considering group sizes (including the position for early years settings which provide care for both those under and over the age of 5.
Added information on the opening of indoor sports facilities, and when providers will be able to use these venues.
Providers should only be operating in premises legally able to open. Refer to the updated guidance on the gov.uk website.
3. Guidance for the public, providers of outdoor sport facilities, elite athletes, personal trainers and coaches on the phased return of sport and recreation.
Latest Update
Added guidance on organising outdoor sport and physical activity events. Refer to the updated guidance on the Gov.uk website.
Job Retention Scheme updates and additions:
1. Individuals you can claim for who are not employees
Find out if you can claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for individuals who are not employees. Refer to the guidance on the Gov.uk website.
2. Check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can claim to cover wages for employees on temporary leave (‘furlough’) due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Latest Update:
Adjusted text to add clarity to ‘Paying employee taxes and pension contributions’ section and added wording to section on employee rights to make it clear that you can continue to claim for a furloughed employee who is serving a statutory notice period. Refer to the updated guidance on the Gov.uk website.
3.Steps to take before calculating your claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Decide the length of your claim period, find out what to include when calculating wages and work out your employees’ usual and furloughed hours before you calculate how much you can claim.
Latest Update:
The wording has been added to make it clear that HMRC will not decline or seek repayment of any grant based solely on the particular choice between fixed or variable approach to calculating usual hours, as long as a reasonable choice is made.
4. Check which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out which employees you can put on furlough and claim for through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Latest Update:
Adjusted text to add clarity to ‘Paying employee taxes and pension contributions’ section and added wording to section on employee rights to make it clear that you can continue to claim for a furloughed employee who is serving a statutory notice period. Refer to updated guidance on the Gov.uk website.
5. Check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out if you’re eligible, and how much your employer can claim if they put you on temporary leave (‘furlough’) because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Latest Update:
Information added about employers being able to continue to claim for employees while they are serving a statutory notice period. Refer to the updated guidance on the Gov.uk website.
6.Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Work out how much you have to pay your furloughed employees for hours on furlough, how much you can claim for employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions and how much you can claim back.
Latest Update:
Updated to show that the calculator can now be used to work out what you can claim for in a claim period ending on or before 31 August. A link has also been added to a new full example for August, and the ‘Working how much you can claim for employer National Insurance contributions has been updated to make it clear what steps to take if your employee’s pay period goes beyond 30 June. Refer to updated guidance on the Gov.uk website.
Social Care
1. Coronavirus (COVID-19): reducing risk in adult social care
A framework for how adult social care employers should assess and reduce risk to their workforce during the coronavirus pandemic.
Latest Update:
Added easy read and translated versions. Also added a note that this guidance applies to England only, and 3 links to the guidance in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Refer to the updated guidance on the Gov.uk website.
