26 May 2020

This update covers:

  • Statutory Sick Pay scheme now open for claims.
  • Retail opening plan currently excludes hair and beauty.
  • Government webinar for Scottish businesses on managing finances. 

Reclaim Statutory Sick Pay from today 

The government scheme to repay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to employers opened today. 

The rebate scheme will repay employers SSP paid to current or former employees. You can claim for periods of sickness starting on or after:

  • 13 March 2020 - if your employee had/has coronavirus or the symptoms or is self-isolating because someone they live with has symptoms.
  • 16 April 2020 - if your employee has been shielding because of coronavirus. 

Find out more and claim on the government website. 

Plans to reopen retail in June excludes hair and beauty 

Non-essential retail businesses may be allowed to reopen from 15 June if they follow guidelines to protect against coronavirus and the government’s ‘five tests’ are met. 

This announcement specifically excludes the hair and beauty industry: 

“As per the roadmap, hairdressers, nail bars and beauty salons, and the hospitality sector, remain closed, because the risk of transmission in these environments is higher where long periods of person-to-person contact is required.” 

Read the full government press release. 

Webinar for businesses in Scotland: structuring your finances 

This free webinar run by the Scottish government will share the positive and practical steps you can take now to structure your business finances in response to the coronavirus. It will include an overview of the government’s funding schemes. The webinar is on 29 May 2020 at 2pm. Find out more and register for the webinar. 

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