Summer economic update: Sunak unveils employer return-to-work furlough bonus

£1,000 for each employee

Jenna Brown
clock • 1 min read

Bosses who bring back furloughed staff and keep them on the payroll until January next year will get a bonus of £1,000 per employee, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said.

Sunak made the announcement during his coronavirus economic update in the House of Commons today. Employees brought back from furlough must remain on the payroll until the new year and be paid at least £520. Sunak said: "This would be a £9bn policy to retain people in work. If you stand by your workers we will stand by you." The Chancellor announced a raft of job-focused plans to help boost the post-lockdown economy. These included tax changes, such as a pause on stamp duty, and policies to encourage companies to hire younger workers where the government pledged to give firms £2,00...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

One in five adults have made panic-driven financial decisions

One in five adults have made panic-driven financial decisions

Link between financial education and levels of anxiety

Jaskeet Briah
clock 25 February 2026 • 1 min read
Who really owns the digital client relationship? From ownership to orchestration

Who really owns the digital client relationship? From ownership to orchestration

The battle for the digital layer

Tessa Lee
clock 23 February 2026 • 5 min read
Why more financial advisers should post on TikTok

Why more financial advisers should post on TikTok

‘In 2026, financial advisers should take another look at TikTok’

Joe Jordan
clock 23 February 2026 • 4 min read