News
Martin Lewis warns that ‘hundreds of thousands of furloughed workers could face redundancy’
Worrying news…
According to Martin Lewis, hundreds of thousands of furloughed workers face redundancy.
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, has issued a warning to those on furlough due to changes in the scheme set to happen in August.
Unfortunately, despite furlough being designed to keep people in employment, it doesn’t protect you from being made redundant.
Employers will be required to start to make contributions towards costs from August, and this could mean redundancies begin to be announced soon.
This is because employers have to give 45 days notice before making redundancies, and this can still happen while staff are on furlough.
If employers think they can’t afford to start contributing towards furlough pay come August, redundancy letters could start being sent this month.
This situation will likely spiral come October 31st, when the furlough scheme ends.
Currently, those unable to work due to coronavirus such as hospitality staff are able to get 80% of their wages paid by the government, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
The scheme was launched on the 20th March and was backdated from the 1st of the same month, and as of the end of today, no new employees can be put on the scheme.
From August the rules are changing and employers will be expected to pay the National Insurance and Pension contributions.
From September they will also be required to pay 10% of the salary, which will be upped to 20% in October when the scheme is set to finish.
Martin Lewis has explained that this means 100,000s or even millions of people could face redundancy. This is because 8m people are currently on the furlough scheme.
In his weekly email published today, Martin said: “I’m sorry for the stark warning. From August, employers need to start contributing towards furlough costs.
“This means redundancy is likely by then for those in roles employers don’t consider viable after October, when furlough ends.
“As redundancy can require a 45-day consultation period, that means many will soon get letters. I suspect this will impact 100,000s or even millions.”
If you are furloughed and made redundant it doesn’t affect your redundancy pay rights and your employer is still required to carry out a fair redundancy process.
How much you are entitled to depends on your age and length of service. If you are under 22 you are entitled to half a week’s pay for each full year; one week’s pay for each full year if you are between 22 and 41; and one and a half week’s pay for each full year you are over 41.
You are not entitled to a redundancy pay out if you have been working for your employer for under two years.
A HM Treasury spokesperson said: “The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is one of the most generous schemes of its kind and it has so far protected more than 8million jobs and supported millions of businesses during this crisis.
“As the economy re-opens, we will continue to look at how to adjust our support in a way that ensures people can get back to work, protecting both the UK economy and the livelihoods of people across the country.”
Employers are not allowed to base redundancy payout on the rate of your furlough pay instead of your usual salary.
To help those affected, Martin Lewis has released a guide to redundancy which you can see here.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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