Self isolate - can I claim furlough

[pollycracker1]

I have a small business and 1 employee
Her bf has tested positive for Covid and she had to self isolate
She's asked if she can be put on furlough rather than SSP
Is that allowed? I'm not sure if I can be bothered to set up a furlough scheme just for 10 days

Tell her to apply for a self-isolation payment from her Local Council

@PPCD

Tell her to apply for a self-isolation payment from her Local Council

You can only get this if your working AND in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Or at least that's what's on my local council website.

This link says you can but it's just the bbc not an actual government website..

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57515232.amp

[quote pollycracker1]This link says you can but it's just the bbc not an actual government website..

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57515232.amp[/quote]
The pic I posted was from gov.uk

The pic posted above says furlough can’t be used to cover this.

She’s about to leave - it’s not your problem. And I agree with others, highly suspicious timing. A pic of a lateral flow test is nowhere near enough proof.

Just leave her on SSP.

@pollycracker1

I have a small business and 1 employee Her bf has tested positive for Covid and she had to self isolate She's asked if she can be put on furlough rather than SSP Is that allowed? I'm not sure if I can be bothered to set up a furlough scheme just for 10 days

The employee can claim the covid isolation payment. From my understanding you can only furlough someone who was previously furloughed by you last year

@pollycracker1

She's sent me the lateral flows which are positive so I guess it's true. I definitely won't be topping up to 100%

She needs to send you the PCR but tell her to claim the isolation payment seeing as she's leaving anyway

You don't have to. If you don't want to, don't.
Feels a bit convenient!
Furlough is for when there's no work. There is work.
If you felt they were a decent human I suspect you'd be doing it already!

If you pay her SSP you can claim the whole lot back. If you pay her furlough you have to top up 10% so she gets a minimum of 80%. Ssp is cheaper for you

@firsttimedad79

She can't have furlough as she has to have been employed since October 2020. She can however use annual leave for this period, providing she has enough left. Other than that it's just ssp.

This has now changed to 2nd March 21

That's incorrect, it working or in receipt not and in receipt

Furlough is technically called the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and is to protect jobs whilst there is no / reduced work due to Covid. Given she is leaving, I would say no to furlough as that's not within the spirit of the scheme.

I didn't think you could claim SSP back?

She's generally been a fairly good employee and I have no complaints really. I wouldn't mind putting her on furlough but only if I'm not doing something illegal.

You cannot claim furlough for an employee working their notice period.

@pollycracker1

I didn't think you could claim SSP back?

She's generally been a fairly good employee and I have no complaints really. I wouldn't mind putting her on furlough but only if I'm not doing something illegal.

It comes back through your employer NI contributions

www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

Please read the official government guidelines and not the information provided by the media.

@HalzTangz

That's incorrect, it working or in receipt not and in receipt

That's for discretionary payments if you can prove financial hardship.

The main criteria are shown below. This is a screenshot from gov.uk

Link above is to info re the job retention scheme. This link provides additional info which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. If your employee will go into financial hardship due to self isolating local councils have grants that she can look into to see if she is eligible.

www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#if-your-employees-health-has-been-affected-by-coronavirus-or-any-other-conditions

You cannot claim furlough for an employee working their notice period.

This. The rest is a moot point - she’s given notice so she’s not eligible for the CJRS. You can’t claim it for her.

She’ll need to investigate isolation payments, and you can pay SSP and claim it back through your NI.

@TakeYourFinalPosition

You cannot claim furlough for an employee working their notice period.

This. The rest is a moot point - she’s given notice so she’s not eligible for the CJRS. You can’t claim it for her.

She’ll need to investigate isolation payments, and you can pay SSP and claim it back through your NI.

I was trying to link the Acas advice that backs this up, but my phone is crap!

I'd not bother furlough at all. You're going to a lot of effort for someone who is leaving, id think otherwise if this was a longer standing employee staying in post.

Eurgh ok sounds like she's not eligible for furlough
Now I'm worried that she's going to try to come back to work and potentially infect me

This is so wrong on every count, you do know this?
As pp's have stated furlough is for when there's not enough work because of covid. Not to cover ssp. You know this is wrong. At least admit it. Whether you do it or not is another thing altogether and your choice morally.

@pollycracker1

Eurgh ok sounds like she's not eligible for furlough Now I'm worried that she's going to try to come back to work and potentially infect me

Well that’s an easy one, assuming she lives with her BF it’s a legal requirement to isolate so she will be breaking the law if she tries to come in, you can simply tell her she’s legally not permitted to do so.

She can't come back to work, she's said she needs to isolate. She can't pick and choose based on the most economical option..... and you have their 'proof'