Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support he plans to provide for employees in the event that their employer requires them to come into work and refuses to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on their behalf but they (a) are not a key worker, (b) do not deem their work to be essential and (c) believe that there is a risk of spreading covid-19 by attending work.

The decision to furlough an employee must ultimately be agreed to by both the employer and employee. If an employee is concerned that their employer is not claiming on their behalf, they should speak with their employer in the first instance, then with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Where it is permitted and does not go against public health guidance, businesses may wish to ask their employees to continue working as usual. Maintaining economic activity where possible will help towards creating a robust economic recovery as the UK emerges from this pandemic.