Firms face criminal action if they force staff to keep working while off due to coronavirus, Britain's top tax official warned today.
Tax chiefs are preparing a crackdown on businesses that abuse the system by claiming a state subsidy for 'furloughed' staff - while still keeping them in work.
Employees whose industry is hit by coronavirus can have 80% of their wage paid by the state under the Job Retention Scheme. But they must do no work for that firm at all.
HM Revenue and Customs chief executive Jim Harra today admitted some employees on furlough are already being told to carry on working.