Can employees furlough themselves and what about casual and zero-hours contracts?
Can employees put themselves on furlough leave?
No, the employer needs to designate employees as furloughed.
How will employees know if they have been furloughed?
The employee will be issued with a letter saying that their working status
has been changed to ‘furloughed’ and ask the employee to confirm their
agreement. Records must be kept for 5 years.
Are casual workers and workers on zero-hours contracts eligible for
furlough leave?
Yes, the scheme covers workers on the PAYE system, including any casual or
zero-hours worker who are paid in that way. If a worker’s pay varies,
employers can claim for the higher of either:
-
the same month’s earning from the previous year;
-
average monthly earnings from the 2019-20 year.