WFM UK: Reopening Sites Furlough Status

Overview

This article contains guidance on reopening sites in Fourth's HR & Payroll product, relating specifically to emlployees who have been furloughed.

Follow this link to return to the Workforce Management Reopening Checklist.

Processes

• Remove Furlough Status

  • This can be done at individual employee level, using the batch update tool or CSV upload. Please see WFM Release Note - Furloughed Status for Employees for guidance

    Please note that removing the Furlough Status from an employee record will not have any impact on the rota or payroll directly. Once an employee returns to work, the employer should go into the rota and start to schedule the employee.

    Important Information: Furlough information/reporting must be available for at least 6 years, so please ensure the Furlough Status is ‘ended’ and not ‘deleted’

• Adjust Furlough Payments

  • Review/ adjust/ remove any automated furlough payments feeding through to payroll, especially for salaried employees that may have been receiving 80% of their normal salary

  • This can be reviewed using the Payroll Preview (Payroll module > Pay Runs > Current Payrun List > select Preview against the required Payroll > select With Pay Elements & Deductions as the Type).

  • Payments can be batch-deleted and uploaded as per requirements. Please see WFM - Furloughed Employees - Paying Salaried Employees for guidance

• Review Access Levels
  • Review access levels of returning employees and re-instate access if necessary. See WFM - Access Level Hierarchy Explained

Important Information: The default setting is for all users to have access to edit Furloughed employee records. This can now be restricted within the access level template as per the instructions below:

• To update a Permissions template, go to HR module > Users > Templates
• Select Template > Assign Permissions
• Enable the permission by ticking the box against Restrict updating Furloughed Employee Status

Please note: This can also be changed at employee level but is not recommended - this should only be done when using a template is not possible.

• Check NMW Updates
  • Ensure that the NMW/NLW update has been completed for all employees. This can be done in the NMW/NLW batch update screen. Please see WFM - Using National Minimum/Living Wage Batch update
    
    
• Turn off Furlough Functionality
  • Once all employees have returned from furlough, the functionality can be disabled
  • Go to HR module > Administration > Global Settings > Edit Default Employee Settings > tick the box against Switch off Employee Furlough Functionality > Save

As you think about re-opening readiness, we know that the safety of your staff and guests will be paramount. Fourth has developed an in-app survey for your team members to declare they are well and able to work ahead of starting their shift. This will be available from the 18^th of June, don’t forget to express your interest!

Also, explore what additional functionality is available from Fourth on Workforce Management and all of the Workforce Management Editions available from Fourth!