Thousands of Sheffield workers could be missing out on furlough payments

Citizens Advice Sheffield (CAS) has announced that many employers aren’t aware of new changes to the Government’s Job Retention Scheme which may mean workers are missing out on vital cash.

Announced in March in an effort to protect jobs, the Job Retention or Furlough Scheme means that employers can ask qualifying workers to agree to stay at home but still be paid at least 80 per cent of their normal wages through a Government grant.

Changes to the scheme announced over the last few days mean that more categories of workers now qualify for help, including agency workers, working parents with childcare problems caused by school closures, and vulnerable workers advised by the NHS to self-isolate.

The Government last week changed the cut-off date for qualifying workers from February 28 to March 19, a change which it is claimed could benefit hundreds of thousands of workers.

But many businesses may not be aware of these additions to the scheme, or the fact that they can change furlough decisions they have already made in order to support more members of staff.

Shaun Duffy, Employment Rights Advisor at CAS, said that businesses and workers have been doing their best to make the right decisions during a time of national emergency, but where those decisions may have denied access to the scheme, an employer could look again and apply the new rules, leading to more positive results for employees.

“If workers have not been furloughed before, it is possible that they could now qualify,” he said. “Act quickly, contact your employer to ask for help and show them the new Government guidance for employers.

“A claim for wages can be backdated to an earlier decision, even if the employer decides to put the worker on furlough now to reflect the Government’s current guidance.”

Sheffield residents can get help via the website ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ https://citizensadvicesheffield.org.uk/

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