Any UK employer can apply to the scheme to temporarily cover people’s salaries, including businesses, charities, agencies and public authorities. Employees must agree to be put on furlough — and an individual can’t apply by themselves.
There is no requirement for the business to be considered “essential” in order to access the scheme.
Nor it is necessary for employers to show that they are suffering any sort of financial hardship. If employers are already receiving public funds, they are expected to use them to cover the staffing costs rather than also applying for the furlough scheme.
Companies can find out whether they are eligible to claim furlough for their employees in relatively simple steps.
First, prove that its employees cannot do their jobs due to the coronavirus measures put in place by the government. Second, notify employees of their new ‘furloughed’ status. And finally, submit information to HMRC about furloughed employees to set up a system for reimbursement.