Covid-19 updates
Payroll Guidance for Employers
The coronavirus (covid-19) is fast-changing and challenging situation. Information and advice is constantly being updated, therefore, we have included some useful information and links to helpful guidance below.
1. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
If an employee is forced to 'self-isolate' due to being sick or as a precaution, they are due statutory sick pay from day one. They need to earn on average at least £118 per week to be eligible. The current statutory amount is £94.25 a week. Legislation in being brought in for small and medium-sized businesses/employers to reclaim SSP paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19 (due to an eligibility criteria).
https://www.acas.org.uk/checking-sick-pay/statutory-sick-pay-ssp – PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER THIS WEBSITE STILL STATES THAT SSP IS PAYABLE AFTER 3 DAYS (which is the standard) HOWEVER SSP for COVID-19 IS PAYABLE FROM DAY 1.
When processing your payroll we will need to be informed if you have employees with confirmed cases or actual or suspected COVID-19 virus so that we can amend the payroll to pay SSP (this will increase to £95.85 in the new tax year).
2. Parental leave
When schools close or childminders/nurseries shut, by law employees can take a reasonable amount of time off to look after their children. However, they do not currently have a legal right to receive SSP nor be paid for this time off. This may change in announcements the Chancellor is due to make over the coming days
3. Job Retention Scheme
This is covered in a separate article on this our Covid-19 website - please refer to that directly.
4. Redundancies
Before considering redundancies we urge you to seek our advice to discuss if this is the right decision but also to ensure all employment laws and protocols are followed. Under the job Retention Scheme it is possible the Government funding will allow you to retain staff.
5. Employment legislation and general links.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19