UK Government has confirmed that parents on statutory maternity and paternity leave who return to work after a long period of absence can be furloughed.
The announcement means that staff who return from maternity and paternity leave after July 1 will be able to join the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if their employer is unable to take them back to work.
However, this will only apply where they work for an employer who has previously furloughed employees.Many parents had worried they were facing redundancy once their statutory leave ends.
Almost 9 million workers are currently having their wages paid by the UK Government through the furlough scheme which closes to new staff on June 30.