Coronavirus Employment Update 17/4/2020

We have a number of employment news articles related to the Coronavirus this week including:

NI Lockdown Extended For Three More Weeks
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52298748 

How Covid-19 Has Spread Across Northern Ireland
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52281173 

More Newly-Hired Staff Will Get Paid 

HMRC has clarified the extension of the Job Retention Scheme to SOME new starts after 28th Feb:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52279455   

Summary of Updates

Jones Cassidy Brett Solicitors have created an excellent summary of the changes to the scheme which include: 

• Clarification was given that employers can furlough ‘shielding’ employees or those on long-term sickness absence and they do not have to be placed on sick pay. It is up to employers to decide whether to furlough these employees. You can claim back from both the CJRS and the Statutory Sick Pay rebate scheme for the same employee but not for the same period of time. There is also no longer a need to show that shielding employees cannot work from home and would otherwise be made redundant.
• Employees on sick leave can therefore be furloughed and moved from sick pay onto furlough pay. Also, those who fall ill during furlough can be moved onto Statutory Sick Pay or remain on furlough pay.
• Employees who are transferred to a new employer under TUPE after 19 March 2020 will be eligible for furlough. The Guidance states that “A new employer is eligible to claim under the CJRS in respect of the employees of a previous business transferred after 19 March 2020 if either the TUPE or PAYE business succession rules apply to the change in ownership.”
• Those with certain work visas will not be regarded as breaching their visa conditions if they receive funds under the furlough scheme. The Guidance states “Grants under the scheme are not counted as ‘access to public funds’, and you can furlough employees on all categories of visa”.
• Clarification was given that the reclaimable National Insurance and pension elements are on the reduced furlough salary, not normal salary.
• Employees cannot work for organisations that are “linked” to their employer, as well as not working for their employer, when on furlough.
• The entire grant must be paid to the employee in the form of money (with no deductions for fees, administration charges etc.). No part of the reclaimed grant can be “netted off” to fund benefits. 

More from JCB here:
https://www.jcbsolicitors.co.uk/latest-news/update-on-furlough/ 

Job Retention Scheme Updates - Schedule
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879484/200414_CJRS_DIRECTION_-_33_FINAL_Signed.pdf      

Updated Government Guidance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme   

IMF Head Calls For Brexit Trade Talk Extension 

It's funny how the B-word has been forgotten. It hasn't disappeared, however:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52304821   

Economic Outcome of Coronavirus and Restrictions

RTÉ reports on some gloomy prospects for the world's economy, although there may be a relatively quick bounce-back for Ireland in 2021:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0409/1129580-imf-on-coronavirus-impact/   

One In Four Top Bosses Have Taken A Pay Cut In Wake Of Covid-19
https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/news/articles/one-in-four-top-bosses-has-taken-a-pay-cut-in-wake-of-covid-19?utm_source=mc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=pm_daily_15042020.One+in+four+top+bosses+have+taken+a+pay+cut+in+wake+of+Covid-19%2c+research+reveals&utm_campaign=7295441&utm_term=1143814  

Update On Award Of Vocational Qualifications 

Economy Minister Diane Dodds has provided an update on the award of vocational qualifications to learners in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/news/dodds-provides-update-award-vocational-qualifications

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-this-summer?utm_source=f9daa1ad-589a-4923-a884-49a6d8e40e46&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate   

Decision Expected On School Exam Results
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52299314    

Changes to Directors’ Duties Across Globe due to Coronavirus Crisis
https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en%2Fcoronavirus%2Fcoronavirus-dd-global-020420    

Cross-border workers 'left in limbo' over benefits

Where you live and work can disqualify some workers from receiving benefits - more from the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52142625   

More Than A Quarter Of Jobs Have Changed As A Result Of Coronavirus 

Interesting article on the volume of job changes, as a result of the virus:
https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/news/articles/a-quarter-of-workers-jobs-have-changed-as-a-result-of-coronavirus?utm_source=mc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=pm_daily_14042020.More+than+a+quarter+of+workers%e2%80%99+jobs+have+changed+as+a+result+of+coronavirus%2c+poll+reveals&utm_campaign=7295441&utm_term=568745   

UK Parliament goes Virtual, if Not Virtuous
https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/april1/speaker-outlines-virtual-chamber-plans/