The furlough scheme comes to an end today after providing support for millions of workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The financial lifeline has helped pay the wages of 11.6million people since it was first introduced at the start of the Covid crisis.
But not everyone has come off furlough, sparking concerns of mass redundancies as the scheme draws to a close.
Almost one million workers are thought to still be furloughed in September, according to estimates by the Office for National Statistics.
Furlough sees both your employer and the government contribute a combined 80% of your pay, capped at £2,500 per month, towards the hours you’re unable to work.
We explain everything you need to know about the end of furlough.
What happens when furlough ends?
When the furlough scheme ends, employers will essentially have to decide whether to bring workers back on their pre-furlough conditions or make redundancies.
Your boss could also consider changing the terms of your contract - such as your hours, pay or working conditions - but they'll need to consult with you first.
If workers refuse to agree with any changes to their working conditions, businesses could choose to push through the changes using a "fire and rehire" tactic.
This is when an an employer sacks a worker in order to offer them their job back under new terms and conditions.
But this can be risky for businesses, as workers with more than two years' service have the right to claim unfair dismissal.
If you're at risk of being made redundant, check out our guide to make sure you know your rights.
Matthew Bradbury, senior employment expert at Citizens Advice, said: “If you’re at risk of redundancy, it’s important to know you do have rights to help protect you from unfair dismissal and to ensure you’re paid what you’re owed.“
Are you being fired and rehired? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Will furlough be extended?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has ruled out extending the furlough scheme once more, calling it a temporary measure to help workers during the pandemic.
It had already been extended four times, but the latest extension saw the government start to wean off its support from this July.
The government used to contribute the full 80% of furloughed hours, but this fell to 70% contribution, up to £2,187.50, from July 1, with employers asked to fork out the remaining 10% to bring it to the 80% mark.
The level of government support dropped again on August 1 to its current level of 60% contribution for hours not working, capped at £1,875, with employers paying 20%.
Bosses also pay pension and National Insurance contributions as part of furlough rules.
Your last furlough payment explained
Even though the furlough scheme officially ends today, you might receive your last payment in October.
This is because businesses can submit claims for the month of September up until October 14.
It is down to your employer to tell HMRC that you've been furloughed. You can't apply for furlough pay yourself.
Once your boss has submitted your furlough claim, it should land in your bank account six working days later.
That means that the very last date you can receive a payment is October 22.
But if your employer submits your claim before the last day, then you'll likely receive your money before this date.
Will my holiday entitlement remain the same?
When you come off furlough, your holiday entitlement should remain the same - that means the number of days you're entitled to, as well as the cut-off point for when you need to use them by.
As travel has been limited this year, many workers may have a backlog of holiday days they need to use.
Some companies will let you carry this over, but it is best to check with your boss as employers have different policies.
You'll also need to get holiday approved by your boss just as you would before the pandemic.
Most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year but again, this does vary.
The general notice period for taking leave is at least twice as long as the amount of leave a worker wants to take, plus one day.
For example, a worker would need to give three days’ notice for one day’s leave.
Be aware of new costs if you're going back to work
If you've been working from home and are returning to the office, there may be additional expenses that'll need to fork out for that you'd perhaps forgotten about.
For example, if you commute or pay for lunch, you'll need to remember to factor these into your budget again.
Check how you can save money through bringing in your lunch from home and taking advantage of travel cards.
James Andrews, senior personal finance expert at Money.co.uk, said: “It’s vital you take a look at your personal finances and work out how the scheme ending is going to affect you.
“It’s also important to remember that while you’ll make more money going back to the day job, you’ll also face higher costs for things like your commute, lunches and other workplace expenses.“
