The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, known as the furlough scheme, ends today. In most cases, employers have already started to take steps in relation to their furloughed employees.
However, there are many employers that, for various reasons, have yet to make arrangements in relation to returning employees, whether that be returning those employees to their previous roles or undertaking a redundancy exercise.
From tomorrow, those employees on furlough leave should automatically return to their previous role with their employer. However, with the economy still struggling in certain sectors, such as air travel, many employers simply do not have the finances to bring furloughed employees back.
In those cases, there are various options available to employers, such as undertaking a redundancy consultation, short-term working, lay-offs etc. Another point to bear in mind is that, during their time away from their workplace on furlough, employees may have acquired the right to protection from unfair dismissal legislation.
If you are an employer and, as yet, undecided as to what to do with your returning furloughed employees, please email lawyers@rooksrider.co.uk
