Furloughed workers can return part-time from this week – how that could affect you

THE government’s furlough scheme is set to change from Wednesday, allowing employers to bring back some workers for part of the week.

From July 1, bosses can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and shift pattern, and still claim furlough payments for the time they are not working.

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That means if you have been furloughed during the last three months, you could be heading back to work, at least for some of the week.

It is a change to the previous rules, under which staff weren't allowed to work for the same company while on furlough, and had to be furloughed for three weeks at a time.

From Wednesday, employers can claim for any amount of time, but they can only receive the money in seven-day blocks.

When you are working as normal, your employer will be responsible for paying your wages.

But if you are still furloughed for part of the week, the government will pick up the bill for your wages for those hours.

To be eligible for the scheme from July 1 onwards, workers must have been furloughed for at least three consecutive weeks between May 1 and June 30.

They must also have already been enrolled on the scheme before June 10, which is when the chancellor closed it to all new applicants.

The furlough scheme, officially called the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, was launched in March to help companies to continue to pay their staff even while their businesses were shut.

The government promised to cover 80 per cent of a worker's salary up to a cap of £2,500 each month - and this will still be the case in July if you are off work.

As over the last three months, your employer can choose to top-up your payments so that you get paid your full monthly wage, although they do not have to.

But July will be the last month that the government covers other employer contributions, such as National Insurance and pension contributions.

From August, the government will pay 80 per cent of wages up to a cap of £2,500 for the hours an employee is on furlough and employers will have to pay the extra contributions for that time.

Then from September, the amount the government pays will drop to 70 per cent of wages up to a cap of £2,187.50, with employers meeting the difference to bring the pay up to 80 per cent of wages.

In October, the government contribution will reduce again, to 60 per cent of wages up to a cap of £1,875 for the hours the employee is on furlough.

Again, companies will need to pay workers so that they receive at least 80 per cent of their normal wage.

At the end of October, the furlough scheme will end completely, chancellor Rishi Sunak has said.

Earlier this month, nine million workers who are currently furloughed were warned that a "significant" number of employees could be made redundant in the coming days.

Meanwhile, here's all you need to know about claiming furlough payments.

And here's what to do if your employer won't furlough you.