The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also regarded as the furlough scheme, is an arrangement provided by the UK Government to help companies retain staff after the COVID-19 disease outbreak. The policy pays a proportion of the salary of workers (currently 80 percent) who are furloughed by their manager due to the Covid-19 pandemic, intending to prevent the need to make the workers redundant at this point. One of the conditions of the policy is that furloughed workers are not permitted to work with their employers at this time. They will work elsewhere if their contract of employment permits.

The government’s furlough policies for companies and self-employed citizens provided critical assistance during the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown, helping nearly 7.5 million working people. However, the HMRC recently announced that it had received almost 800 complaints of alleged evasion in regards to the two schemes and that it will take steps to ensure enforcement with the applicable laws, regulations, and legislation controlling the United Kingdom’s tax policies.

A company or self-employed individual would be known to have committed a criminal fraud crime if it were discovered that they earned reimbursement through either the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employment Income support Scheme by making fraudulent statements to the HMRC.

This furlough fraud as it is now called can indicate that the corporation not only has to refund every portion of the funding that it earned, which was not used for the purpose of providing 80 percent of its workers’ monthly salaries but can also be fined and will have to go through a proper furlough investigation.

When the CJRS came into service, many businesses naturally hurried to get any or all of their workers into the system as soon as possible. For certain firms, this may have indicated that there were real errors in the statements. Maybe inaccurate descriptions have been given, or admin mistakes have been made that have not yet been found or corrected. HMRC suggested that companies had 30 days to warn them of any errors of this sort.

The key forms in which a company will commit furlough fraud and will have to go through a furlough investigation include:

• If the organization furloughs employees but requires them to keep working through this time.
• When the organization does not tell the workers that they have been furloughed, the worker can only find out until they collect their pay.
• If the organization demands a grant for workers who do not currently work for them during the time needed.
• If the salary data for workers have been wrongly entered, the corporation says more money than it currently charged for the salaries of the respective team member.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR FURLOUGH FRAUD?

If a company or self-employed individual is accused of making a false claim under the Coronavirus Work Retention Scheme or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, future fines with furlough investigation include:

• A lengthy sentence of prison
• An unlimited penalty Fine
• Suspension of Manager
• The obligation to refund all fees to which the complainant was not qualified for

In particular, the HMRC recently released recommendations for reforms to the Finance Bill 2020 which if approved by Parliament, would grant the ability to keep directors directly accountable for tax charges if they have knowingly broken the rules of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are going through a furlough investigation.

WHO CAN BE ASKED TO GO THOROUGH A FURLOUGH INVESTIGATION?

Where there is evidence of furlough theft, managers of a corporation, representatives of a partnership, or self-employed individuals may all theoretically be charged and asked to go through a furlough investigation.

However, HMRC has clarified that it can only pursue a furlough investigation for “the most serious situations where the sums are knowingly over-charged with the awareness of the agent and where the business is bankrupt or at serious risk of losing money and there is a considerable likelihood that it will not fulfill the tax obligation.”

In situations where a real error has been made, corporations will be allowed to reimburse the amount falsely claimed.

WHAT WILL OCCUR IF HMRC THINKS AN ORGANIZATION WRONGFULLY CLAIMED MONEY UNDER THE POLICY?

If HMRC suspects that you or your company have received funding that you were not eligible for in any furlough scheme, they are expected to examine if there are reasons for action. There are two forms of furlough investigations that the HMRC can carry out:

• An aspect inquiry – look at a particular portion of the records (in this case, those related to the funding received under the furlough scheme)
• Complete survey and furlough investigation–look through all of the financial reports, including corporate statements and personal bank documents of directors/partners/business members.

If you are convicted of furlough theft, or if HMRC opens an inquiry or furlough investigation into the use of the policy by your company, it could be a very alarming situation to find yourself in. You must obtain professional legal counsel so that the problem can be addressed in the best manner possible for your case.

In the process of the HMRC furlough investigation, you are obliged by law to supply all the details provided by the investigative agents. If you find yourself in this situation, it is reasonable to have the assistance of specialized fraud defense attorneys with expertise in the handling of HMRC furlough investigations. This will simply guarantee that you adhere to your legal responsibilities while defending yourself and your company, as well as minimize the risk of HMRC going to a full furlough investigation.

If you feel that there are no reasons for HMRC to prosecute your company, you can dispute the judgment to investigate if you can prove that the logic underlying HMRC’s decision to prosecute has been mistaken. If you want to go down this path, you would need solid facts to prove your argument, so, again, a specialized defense representative is important.

Any blunders you create at the initial point of the case can be very difficult to learn from so please don’t be afraid in seeking expert counsel if you find yourself undergoing a furlough investigation.

The coronavirus pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill in 2020, forcing huge changes upon the way we live and work. Industries which were previously considered relatively stable, such as hospitality and events, were suddenly no longer able to continue within the so-called “new normal”, and many people were left out of work. This caused many to reassess their careers, as they struggled with watching their industry collapse, or even decided that their job wasn’t what they wanted out of life. Indeed, 70% of workers admitted to considering a change in career, according to a survey by TotalJobs.

But looking for a new job in the midst of a global pandemic is daunting. Searches for “I want a new job” rose by 194%, with “how to move jobs” rising by 138%, so it’s clear that not everyone knows exactly where to begin looking. If you’re one of those people browsing job listings, but aren’t sure where to begin, let us help you.

Find alternative work to keep you busy

If you’ve been left completely out of a job altogether, rather than put on furlough, it’s a good idea to seek alternative work that may not be in your chosen industry to keep you busy, guarantee an income, and even pick up some new skills for your CV template. Many supermarkets are looking to hire extra staff to keep shelves stocked up with essential supplies, especially with the end of year rush. This can help you work on your customer service skills and, if you’ll be behind the till, can give you experience with cash handling. Alternatively, you may look at working in a warehouse or as a courier to help companies deal with the increasing reliance on online sales.

However, if you’re looking for more freedom, why not consider becoming a PCO driver, which covers things like Uber and Bolt. This allows you to set your own hours, making it perfect as a side hustle if you already have a part-time — or even a full-time — job. However, you will have to apply for a PCO license and have access to a car you can use for your trips. If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can hire a PCO-approved car, with prices starting from as low as £150 per week. You just need to organise your hours to be able to afford this while still having time to focus on your career pivot — unless you find driving to be a good fit for you in the long term.

Think about your long-term goals

If you’re unhappy with your current job role or career path, take the time to think about what it is you actually want out of your working life. You may have realised that you’re unhappy with your work-life balance, and looking for a job that offers you more time to yourself rather than stressing about work. However, you also need to take your own lifestyle into account, and how expensive it is, ensuring that whatever job you choose will give you the salary you need to continue living the way you’re used to.

It’s also a good idea to take job stability into consideration. As 2020 has proved, some sectors aren’t as essential or resilient as previously thought, and the last thing you want is to be left without a job due to further industry redundancies as the economy recovers.

Reassess and work on your skillset

Spend some time going over your qualifications, certifications, technical and soft skills, work experience, and career achievements. Maybe you’ve led an industry-specific conference, qualified in a specialist course, or enjoyed regular promotions before the pandemic hit. Ensure that all these skills are clearly outlined in your CV, and on your LinkedIn page, for any recruiters and potential employers to see.

Many people have chosen to work on their skills during the extra downtime provided during lockdown, and searches for ‘online courses’ rose by 192% between February and March 2020 alone. If you haven’t already done so, take a look at how you can work on your own professional development and add to your skillset to make you more desirable to employers. This can be anything from learning to code to learning a new language. In fact, bilingualism may be more beneficial than ever before in a post-Covid world, as remote working can naturally lead to a global workforce. Now that most industries are working virtually, businesses are even less bound by the confines of a local talent pool, so being able to communicate effectively with people around the world can make you incredibly attractive to recruiters.

Remain patient and don’t rush into it

Take your time with applications, ensuring that you’ve filled them all in correctly, and have carefully highlighted your skills and experiences. Have a friend or former colleague check over your CV before you send it out, ensuring that you’ve got everything factually correct, with no spelling errors. It may even be helpful to work with a recruiter, as they’ll have more information about the hiring process, a relationship with a number of potential employers, and may even be able to give you interview tips.

You should also remember that hiring managers and recruiters are also working remotely, and decisions that could have been easily discussed and quickly made during a meeting will likely take much longer during virtual meetings. This makes the overall hiring process much slower, so maybe hold off on sending any emails asking after the status of your application if it’s only been a few days, especially if you’ve already received acknowledgement that your application has been received. In the event that you’re still itching to find out more, use your initiative to gauge when a good time to reach out is. If the company is looking for someone to start in the role immediately, then it may be worth emailing after a week. However, if it’s for a junior level with many applicants, or even a senior role that requires a more thorough interview process, it would be a good idea to give it a little more time before expecting a response.

Slip and fall accidents are no laughing matter, considering they account for over 95% of hip fractures, especially in older adults. A slip, fall, or trip accident can lead to a fatal injury. In 2018 alone, falls were the second worldwide leading cause of unintentional injury deaths. Additionally, the WHO estimates that each year has more than 646,000 deaths from falls globally.

But despite the clear risk, we often overlook slips, trips, or falls. This comes down to the need to educate, train, and create safer environments through prevention strategies. However, establishing these effective measures against slip and fall accidents requires understanding what each risk means.

Slips

A slip will often happen when there is little traction or friction between the surface and your feet. A slip will happen due to wet surfaces, loose mats, oily floors, or waxed flooring. Some flooring types, such as tiles, are also common causes due to their lack of traction.

Fall

A fall is defined as an accident where circumstances see the person land unintentionally from the point of elevation. These accidents happen due to having slippery floors, clutter on surfaces, unprotected edges, or floor holes. A bulk of fall accidents also result from stairs, unsafe ladders, snow, and ice surfaces.

Slips, Trips, and Falls Control Measures

Most slips, trips, and falls are down to unintended or unexpected changes in the walking surfaces around the household or workplace. Here are six guidelines to follow to help keep you and others safe at home or in the workplace.

Work on Your Housekeeping

Since dirt, debris, clutter, and spills are responsible for most slips and trips, the first thing you should do is take some time to clean up any hazards in your home. Each day you may want to:

• Clean spills immediately
• Vacuum and sweep floors for debris
• Secure carpets and mats
• Align and cover all wiring cables in walkways

Get Proper Lighting

With all areas lit well, chances are anyone will spot a floor hazard before they encounter it. Consider replacing burnt-out bulbs or ones that are not working to reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents.

Wear Proper Shoes

Since shoes are always in contact with the surfaces, they make the difference in preventing a slip and fall accident. For example, slippery soles or strappy high heels will increase the risk of an accident. This means appropriate footwear is necessary for the right environment. To be safe, ensure that your footwear is the correct type for the floor or surface you intend to walk on.

Reduce Your Texting

Just as you should not text and drive, texting and walking are also dangerous. Most of us are now so involved in what we’re watching on the screens of our devices, and this can result in slip and fall accidents. You should always pay attention while walking and try not to text while walking.

Have Frequent Repairs

To reduce your chances of slip and fall accidents, you will also need you to pay attention to repairs. This is especially if the environment is a busy home or establishment full of activities. Rather than be liable for any accident, be sure to always check for cracks, loose railing, or any other potential hazards.

Effective prevention will help reduce the number of slip and fall accident victims and the severity of the injuries. Visit this website to learn more about preventive measures concerning slip and fall accidents. It’s worth the time and effort to learn everything you can about this subject, especially if you’re a property owner.