What guidance has the Charity Commission provided?
The Charity commission has issued the following guidance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector
Related FAQs
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) issued guidance mid-April confirming that you can move to a friend’s address for several days to “cool off” following an argument at home. You should strongly consider either yourself or your spouse moving elsewhere where children are involved as it prevents the children from witnessing conflict within the home, at what is already an emotionally charged time for them. Nevertheless, you should also consider and take legal advice on the financial implications of either of you or your partner moving out and how contact with the children is going to be promoted with both parents, if suitable. The Government Guidance has confirmed that children can be moved between households if they have separated parents.
It is still possible to issue Divorce proceedings and much of the process has now been taken online. The main divorce suit is dealt with separately to the separation of financial assets and children arrangements, which can often take much longer to review and discuss. While staff shortages may mean slower turn-around times there is no reason to suspect that a divorce will not otherwise go ahead as anticipated. Once coronavirus has passed, it is likely that divorce rates will spike and there will be an increased demand on the Court system, so your divorce process may take longer if you delay filing your divorce.
It is also still possible to issue Court Applications regarding any financial settlements or children arrangements, however, the Court system was already under significant pressure before coronavirus, so the pandemic will only add to that and we expect Court processes to significantly be slower in those areas.
Court Applications should in any event be used as a last resort and there are alternative dispute resolution processes available which you should consider, including Arbitration and Mediation. Family lawyers are continuing to advise and assist individuals, manage their separations and can provide information about the options available, using alternative methods of communication such as Teams, Skype or Zoom for clients. Understandably, speaking aloud may be difficult in circumstances where you are not able to get any private time away from your spouse due to you being in lockdown and so email correspondence may be the most appropriate method of communication.
Hosted by NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Partners Damien Charlton and Jane Garvin discussed in this webinar contracts, managing supply chains and the role of directors, with a particular focus on cancellation of events and businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector.
You can find a recording of the webinar from NGI here.
Employees with visas should be treated consistently with the wider workforce. When their furlough leave ends, they should return to work and their pay should be reinstated. If you agree a pay cut or reduction in working hours, you need to ensure that sponsored workers are still earning above the minimum salary for their role and working in excess of the minimum number of hours (see above).
The flexible furlough scheme is now in place and can be used for employees who have previously been furloughed for a consecutive period of at least three weeks. The flexible furlough scheme remains in place until 31 October 2020.
Government’s Covid-19 landing page
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Covid-19 recovery strategy
Working safely during Covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Working safely during Covid-19: construction and other outdoor work
Working safely during Covid-19: factories, plants and warehouses
Working safely during Covid-19: labs and research facilities
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/labs-and-research-facilities
Working safely during Covid-19: offices and contact centres
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres
Working safely during Covid-19: other people’s homes
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes
Working safely during Covid-19: restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
Working safely during Covid-19: shops and branches
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches
Working safely during Covid-19: vehicles
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/vehicles
Business support: loans, tax relief and grants for businesses, employees and self-employed people
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
Education and childcare
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
Housing and accommodation: renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities
Housing and accommodation: moving home
Housing and accommodation: planning inspections
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: NHS guidance for people working in healthcare
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: PPE hub
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions
International travel and immigration: travel advice for British citizens travelling abroad
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
International travel and immigration: foreign travel advice for each country
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
International travel and immigration: waiting to return to the UK
International travel and immigration: essential international travel guidance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-essential-international-travel-guidance
International travel and immigration: advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
Government’s financial support for businesses
This page help businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
Rishi Sunak
The Twitter feed of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where he has published various responses to some FAQs from the public.
https://twitter.com/RishiSunak
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will repay employers the SSP paid to current or former employees and will be available from 26 May 2020. See here.
The scheme covers all types of employment contracts and employers will be eligible to claim if they:
- Are claiming for an employee who is eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus
- Had a payroll scheme that was created and started on or before 28 February 2020
- Had fewer than 250 employees on 28 February 2020
The repayment will cover up to 2 weeks starting from the first qualifying day of sickness, if an employee is unable to work because they either:
- have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms
- cannot work because they are self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms
- are shielding and have a letter from the NHS or a GP telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks
- have been notified by the NHS or public health bodies that they’ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus
- they have been notified by the NHS to self-isolate before surgery
You can claim for periods of sickness starting on or after:
- 13 March 2020 – if your employee had coronavirus or the symptoms or is self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms; or
- 16 April 2020 – if your employee was shielding because of coronavirus.
- 28 May 2020 – if your employee has been notified by the NHS or public health bodies that they’ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus
- 26 August 2020 – if your employee has been notified by the NHS to self-isolate before surgery
Employees do not have to give you a doctor’s fit note for you to make a claim. But you can ask them to give you either:
- an isolation note from NHS 111 – if they are self-isolating and cannot work because of coronavirus
- the NHS or GP letter telling them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks because they’re at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus
- the evidence from the NHS or public health body requiring them to self-isolate
You must keep the following records in relation to a claim you make under the scheme for three years:
- The reason for the employee’s absence
- Details of each period the employee could not work, including start and end dates
- Details of the SSP qualifying days when the employee could not work
- National insurance numbers for each employee you have paid SSP to
You’ll need to print or save your state aid declaration (from your claim summary) and keep this until 31 December 2024.