Quick Poll results: 56% of employers claiming under the CJRS paying at Government-funded level
22 February 2021
The CIPP’s latest Quick Poll explored how businesses that have been submitting claims, and receiving payments, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) have been paying staff. Have they been paying employees at the Government-funded amount, or have they chosen to top up that pay?
The responses reveal that the majority (56%) of employers are paying staff that are on furlough at the Government-funded amount, which currently sits at 80% of an employee’s standard salary for any of the usual hours that they do not work. This is capped at a maximum of £2,500 per month. This level of support will be offered until the end of April 2021, when the scheme is currently intended to close.
This means that 44% of businesses are opting to top up the pay made to staff, which is not mandatory, and must be funded by the employer.
CIPP comment
Ahead of the Budget on 3 March 2021, speculation is rife that the CJRS is due to be extended until the Summer, due to ongoing lockdown measures that will remain in place to combat the spread of coronavirus. We wait to see what Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak confirms, and, if there is an extension, what the level of Government support will be, and when the scheme will finally close. If you have any thoughts or views on this, please contact the Policy team, at [email protected]
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication. For all the latest information, news and resources on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting payroll professions, visit our Coronavirus hub.