CLC initiative includes advice on when to furlough staff

The construction industry has been issued with new guidance on how best to handle the employment issues raised by the coronavirus crisis.

The eight-page document, which has been produced by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), provides the industry with information on furloughing staff, the coronavirus job retention scheme and the self-employed income support scheme.

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As sites shut down, contractors are having to furlough staff until the crisis passes

Andy Mitchell, chair of the CLC, said: "These schemes are fundamental to protecting jobs and the future of the construction sector. Therefore we hope that this guidance will inform and encourage more to take up these unprecedented offers of support from the government.鈥

The document includes a series of frequently asked question sections that are also included in the guidance for the two major employment schemes designed to protect jobs whilst the economy is in partial suspension.

The guidance also includes a flowchart for firms to determine if and when staff should be furloughed.

Under this, staff are put on paid leave with a proportion of their wages paid by the government. Drawn up last month, the government initiative allows impacted employees to receive up to 80% of their salaries up to a cap of 拢2,500 per month.

Yesterday, Laing O'Rourke announced its 8,000 staff in the UK would be taking a pay cut of between 20% and 30%, adding that it expected to furlough some staff as well.

Others to have furloughed staff in recent days include Kier and Galliford Try.