Job Support Schemes (JSS) for either open or closed businesses

Recognising the pressure businesses in some sectors and areas are facing, the Government has announced today measures to lighten the burden of keeping on staff where businesses are able to open but trading conditions remain low through the winter period due to Covid-19.

When originally announced, the JSS – which will come into effect on 1 November – saw employers paying a third of their employees’ wages for hours not worked, and required employees to be working 33% of their normal hours.

Today’s announcement reduces the employer contribution to those unworked hours to just 5%, and reduces the minimum hours requirements to 20%, so those working just one day a week will be eligible. That means that if someone was being paid £587 for their unworked hours, the government would be contributing £543 and their employer only £44.

Employers will continue to receive the £1,000 Job Retention Bonus.

JSS Factsheet - Support for Closed businesses

JSS Factsheet - Support for Open businesses 

HMRC has now published a Policy Paper on the updated schemes