The Office for National Statistics reports that one in eight employees remain on furlough leave
24 August 2020
The fortnightly release of data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that just under one in eight UK workers remain on furlough leave and that the majority of those are having their wages topped up by their employer. The survey looks at the impact this has had on UK firms due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
From the start of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) employers have been able to claim back 80% of employees’ wages up to the maximum cap of £2,500 per month from the government and although top ups are voluntary, there has been no legal requirement to do so.
As previously reported, from 1 September this will change as the scheme reduces the amount of 80% to 70%, with employers having to fund at least the additional 10% of furlough pay direct from their funds to ensure that employees who remain on furlough are still paid 80% of their regular wage.
The report also indicated a slight decrease in the volume of online job adverts between 7 and 14 August, decreasing from 62% in 2019 to an average of 58%. Even though there has been a decrease, the volume of job adverts is still higher than they had been in the two months prior, closer to half of the 2019 average.
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