Flexible furlough means staff can return to work part time – what does it mean for managers?

Changes introduced by the Government to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) from July 1^st will allow employers to bring furloughed staff back into the workplace for part of the week. 

It is, says employment lawyer Royds Withy King, an important step towards reintroducing staff back into the workplace before the furlough scheme closes entirely at the end of October. 

“Employers are beginning to bring staff back into work but may not yet have the resources or the need to bring them back full time. This flexible furlough to be introduced from July 1^st is a good halfway solution,” said Richard White, Partner in the Employment Law team at Royds Withy King.

“Employers will need to pay staff for the time they work and will not be able to recover any of this cost under the CJRS. Employers will be able to make claims under the CJRS, proportionate to the percentage of normal working hours that an employee spends on furlough. Employers are also required to keep a record of hours worked and on furlough. They should take care not to be discriminatory in choosing who returns and who doesn’t. 

“In advance of July 1^st, businesses will want to consider their staffing requirements and ensure employment contracts are updated to reflect the new working arrangements. 

“If they have not already done so, employers should consult with staff on the hours and working patterns they wish to implement. It is worth remembering that some staff may have been furloughed for up to four months and there is likely to be a wide range of views about returning to work. Providing staff with a say on how they return is likely to make it a more positive experience. 

“Some employers have already been rotating staff on furlough, where one employee works for 21 days and is then swapped for a member of staff on furlough. The new arrangements will now allow employees to both work part time and on the same days should they wish.”

More information for employers on flexible furlough is available on the Royds Withy King website.