As the impact of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, grows throughout the UK and we once again face the possibility of restrictions over the festive period and into the New Year, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has today announced a series of support measures for hospitality and leisure industries.
From Tuesday [21st December 2021] small to medium-sized businesses with less than 250 employees can be reimbursed by government for the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-19 related absences of up to 2 weeks per employee. Claims for the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) can be made through HMRC retrospectively from mid-January.
‘Eligible’ businesses operating within the hospitality and leisure sectors that have been impacted by Omicron will be able to apply for a one-off cash grant of up to £6,000. It is not yet clear as to how employers will be asked to prove that they have been negatively affected by the latest variant.
Businesses within the arts will also be eligible for further funding, with an additional £30million allocated to the Cultural Recovery Fund, to help the likes of theatres and museums.
We will provide more information about how to make claims as soon as this is available, and you can read the full details of the measures to be introduced here.
For more information contact your local Champion Advisor*.
*Please note, our offices will be closed from 23rd December and reopen Tuesday 4th January 2022.
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