The spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United Kingdom and the measures being implemented by employers in the many businesses affected by closures and reduced economic activity have raised questions surrounding the options for an employer to require staff to take unpaid leave, or accept reduced hours or pay cuts.

In the United Kingdom, provisions relating to ‘furlough’ and ‘lay-off’ apply to a minority of workers, those who are paid based on the work they produce (‘piece workers’) or their hours worked (‘zero-hours workers’). In these cases, there may be no employer obligation to provide work, or a certain amount of work, and such workers may only be paid to the extent work is provided or available for them.

Read the full GT Alert: “UK Workforce Considerations for Businesses During Coronavirus Disease 2019.”