If your business employs staff then COVID-19 has added more pressure, the Job Support Scheme and Planning is vital. You want to look after your employees and their welfare, but also the payment of those employees and the cash flow situation, that that creates when income has been impacted negativity.This week’s episode of I Hate Numbers looks at the new Job Support Scheme, Furlough scheme mark 2.There are six things I'm going to cover in this podcast.Overview of the new job support schemeConditions to make a claimJob retention bonusRulesNumbersCash flow and decision makingListen to learn moreJob Support Scheme OverviewThe job support scheme starts on the first of November, and it's initially set to run up until the end of April 2021. It will be divided into two phases, the first three months, and then three months into the scheme the government then will overview how its progressing, any changes to the scheme it will announce in due course.There are two schemes, in common with the current furlough scheme is to provide payments to employers who retain employees do not make them redundant.ConditionsUnder scheme one, your employee must do a minimum level of work. If, however, your business has been forced to shut down because of local lockdown restrictions imposed, then the requirement of your employee to work a minimum level of time is waived.Listen to learn moreCash flow timingIf you have to contribute towards your employees pay then you pay before you claim. That’s important to remember when it comes to cash flow planning.There’s some cash flow pain. You've loss of income, money being paid, hours may not be there to justify bringing them in.Listen to learn moreJob Retention BonusThe Job Retention Bonus may soften the blow. There is a £1,000 one-off taxable payment to you (the employer), for each eligible employee that you furloughed and kept continuously employed until 31 January 2021.You’ll be able to claim the bonus between 15 February 2021 and 31 March 2021. You do not have to pay this money to your employee.ComplianceThere will be rules and regulations, critical that you maintain adequate records to backup and verify your claim. Employment law is not ignored. Your staff have to agree to a reduction in their wages and hours.HMRC will be focusing efforts on those that have taken advantage of the scheme or claimed incorrectly. Expect assertive action over the next few months.Decision timeThere is a very choppy business landscape ahead, if you do have a staff team and you wish to retain that talent, then there's tough decision making that lies ahead. When faced with any tough decisions, you must always, always do a cash flow plan, a cash flow story.Cash flowIt may be that your business can weather the storm and knowing what the cost will be to you as a business for retaining the staff, under the job support scheme is a vital input into that cash flow story.Do not panic, your

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