What does a grant mean?

[googlepoodle]

Am I missing something here? Was the speech today about grants to pay 80% of wages meaning this was a loan to employers? Given the majority of the jobs lost were in service industries and those industries are no effectively closed, surely those companies would rather let people go than pay them when they don’t know when they will ever be able to open again?

No, a grant usually does not need to be paid back.

I’m not sure that’s correct you know

Grants do not need to be paid back. Loans do.

I’m not sure that’s correct you know

It is. I am a solicitor so deal a lot with grants.

Grants do not need to be paid back (as long as you fulfil any requirements attached). The idea of grants works in industries where retaining workers makes sense, most of our staff will have nothing to do so it will solve the dilemma of whether to ask them to take a pay cut voluntarily (unfortunately I'm busier than ever!)

Grants don't need to be paid back - BUT - I sincerely hope that employers pay the staff their 80% of wages - how can this be checked I wonder.