Coronavirus Articles

Getting back to business in the office

We’re still at home – and still working for you!!  But from Monday most of the team will be back in our offices, observing the rules, and looking forward to picking up where we left off before we rudely interrupted by a pandemic, with our first class, friendly service!!

If any of our agency partners would like some virtual team training or are just missing our faces, our business development team is available to support you.

Here are some more of our friendly faces working from home for you.

We are still here to support our customers

Umbrella.co.uk staff are still working hard to support our contractors and agency partners from home. We would like to thank you all for your patience and look forward to being safely back together in the office. If any of our agency partners would like some virtual team training or are just missing our faces, our business development team is available to support our agency partners. If you are a contractor with a query, be assured that our full customer service team is active. So, get in touch, they’re waiting to help you!

Government guidance issued on 4 April confirms that Company Directors are eligible to be furloughed and receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

Government guidance issued on 4 April confirms that Company Directors are eligible to be furloughed and receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). This is welcome news as Directors could get paid 80% of wages, up to a monthly cap of £2,500.
 
If the furlough option is followed, the Director may not work for a minimum 3 week period and may only carry out statutory duties set out in the Companies Act 2006. The decision to furlough should be formally adopted as a decision of the company, noted in the company records and communicated in writing to the Director(s) concerned.
 
If you require further information regarding furlough, please email furlough@umbrella.co.uk or follow the following useful links:

Keep well and stay safe. We will continue to update you with any relevant information.

Limited company contractors: How to keep your PSC going through this crisis

The coronavirus outbreak presents a special kind of business crisis for limited company contractors.

Many industries have already experienced a sharp contraction and analysts suggest that things are going to get worse before they get better. Thankfully, however, they’re also forecasting a relatively quick turnaround. 

Businesses that were viable before the international pandemic will be viable again, limited company contractors just need to keep their personal service companies (PSCs) going for long enough to see the economy return to pre-crisis levels.

We would like to share some tips to help your business and your family keep going.

Recruiters and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Good Afternoon

We are awaiting further information from government in relation to the Government’s planned job retention scheme / furloughing workers receiving 80% income.

 We are hoping that the job retention scheme will be applicable to umbrella, but we do not actually know for certain at this stage. 

The situation is changing on a daily basis and we will keep you informed of all developments that we are aware of. 

Please find some useful information about Recruiters and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme here

Nick Holmes, CEO.

Umbrella contractor customers have free access to a professional counselling service with Umbrella Rewards

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. We’d like to take the opportunity to remind our contractor customers that you have access to a free professional counselling service with Umbrella Rewards. If you are affected by mental or emotional strain, especially in these difficult times, login to the Umbrella Rewards Customer Portal and visit the 'Care & Support' area. 

NEW COVID-19 support available in the Umbrella Rewards portal

The new Umbrella Rewards COVID-19 area has been created for you and your family within the portal. To access help and support during these challenging times simply log in to the Umbrella Rewards portal here.

The Job Retention Scheme - Update for Umbrella Contractor Employees

We hope you are staying safe in these testing times.
 
The Job Retention Scheme has been announced by the government to support those PAYE workers who have been laid off due to the coronavirus.
 
Unfortunately as a business we are restricted by the pace in which the government releases the detail. The Directors here at umbrella.co.uk are in talks with our employment lawyers continuously about the Job Retention Scheme as well as liaising with industry bodies like the FCSA & APSCo. See the latest response from the FCSA here.
 
Rest assured we are hoping to be in a position where those whose assignments are terminated due to Covid 19 are able to be furloughed. However, until we are comfortable with the detail we cannot provide you with confirmation.
 
Once we have the full detail from the government in terms of how furlough payments can be processed for umbrella employees, we will be back in touch with the information you need.

Support package announced for self-employed, but it won’t help everyone

Most of Britain’s five million self-employed workers breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when the government announced that they would receive taxable grants to make up for lost income during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that freelancers and contractors would be able to claim up to 80% of their profits from the state if they could prove that they had been adversely affected. But the grants will be capped at £2,500 per month and not everyone will be able to claim them - including contractors that work through a limited company.

In this blog post, we include more details about the support package and who is eligible to receive it. There’s also some good news for limited company contractors that can’t claim the self-employed support.

Working out at home is the new going out. How to weather the storm at home.

Home online video workouts surge amid coronavirus self-isolation, social distancing and working from home.

If you’re feeling well then there are many good reasons for keeping up regular exercise. It will help reduce your stress, improve your mental health and increase your immunity. 

Even the 1980s fitness guru Diana Moran, also known as the Green Goddess, is making a comeback to BBC Breakfast in a bid to help the over-70s stay active while they’re self-isolating. Another blast from the past, Mr Motivator and his neon workout gear, is doing his bit to keep the nation fit https://metro.co.uk/video/mr-motivator-wants-moving-self-isolation-21358...

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