2 November 2020
Welcome, Furlough Part II – what took you so long?
Just when we thought we were saying goodbye to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) (the furlough scheme) and welcome to the new Job Support Scheme (“JSS”), the Government announced over the weekend that the CJRS is being extended until December and that the JSS would be suspended until then.
26 October 2020
Furlough Fraud - what about the other £2bn?
The headlines of 23 October 2020, reported the staggering estimate that between 5 and 10 per cent of the £39 billion paid under the Government’s job retention scheme has been claimed fraudulently.
23 October 2020
Coronavirus business loan scheme fraud
In response to the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the government introduced a number of loan schemes in order to assist businesses struggling financially. Recent reports suggest that these schemes, as outlined below, have become a target for fraudulent loan applications, by both genuine businesses and also organised criminal enterprises. This blog briefly examines the various loan schemes in place and the criminal offences which are likely to be the focus of investigating authorities in the coming months.
17 September 2020
The post-lockdown return to work: what are the key considerations for employers?
With the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“Furlough Scheme”) coming to an end in October, children returning to school this month and the Government’s new “rule of six” imposing stricter social measures in order to keep businesses open, many employees are now making a return to the workplace. Whilst this is generally a positive development for the economy at large, it will inevitably open up a number of challenges for employers. We consider below some of the key practical considerations for businesses and suggest steps they can take in order to minimise their exposure to legal risks.
16 September 2020
Court makes Search Order in COVID times
A search order, made pursuant to section 7 of the Civil Procedure Act 1997 and CPR Part 25, is one of the most draconian orders the English civil courts can make. No Respondent really wants a search team to enter their premises but because of Covid -19 the search team is even less welcome than usual.
