LEVEL 4 LOCKDOWN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE EMPLOYER
Almost to the day a year later we are back in a lockdown, this time, and only for the 2nd time in our Covid-19 life, at Level 4.
Still early in the lockdown with very little information available, we at least know the following;
Government will be re-opening two schemes to assist the employer through the lockdown;
The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) which is available nationally.
Payment rates
This will be paid as a two-week lump sum at the following rates;
$600.00 for people working 20 hours or more per week (full-time rate)
$359.00 for people working less than 20 hours per week (part-time rate).
Applications open on Friday 20 August with the first payments usually available after three days.
The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is a payment to assist businesses or organisations with one-off costs due to an Alert Level increase. This is available to employers at the same time as the WSS.
The RSP is worth up to $1500 plus $400 per full-time equivalent employee, up to a maximum of 50 full-time employees (so up to a total of $21,500).
As soon as we receive more information around the criteria, we will let you know.
The two other subsidies that has been available throughout, will still be available;
The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme (LSS), (used to be 'COVID-19 Essential Workers Leave Support') is available for employers, to pay their employees who can't work.
This means your employees:
can't come into work because they are in one of the affected groups and Ministry of Health guidelines recommend they stay at home, and can't work from home.
A reminder you must have employees who either:
have tested positive for COVID-19 and are required to remain off work until they've been cleared by a health professional to be released from self-isolation, or
have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19 and must self-isolate for 14 days (as required by Ministry of Health guidelines)
are at higher risk if they get COVID-19, and Ministry of Health guidelines recommend they stay at home while public health restrictions are in place
have household members who are at higher risk if they get COVID-19 and the Ministry of Health recommends the employee also remains at home to reduce the risk to them.
Pay Rates:
$585.80 per week for full-time workers,
or $350.00 per week for part-time workers.
The Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP) provides a one-off (once per 30 days) $350.00 payment for workers who must miss work due to a COVID-19 test and cannot work from home.
NB: If you think you will struggle to meet wage payments over this period you should seek to implement a variation agreement – updated agreement in your Toolbox.
(On the Dashboard, select Library, Documents, COVID 19_Aug 2021 can be found there.)