About Eirlys Jones

Eirlys is the Commercial Director at North Wales Tourism and can be contacted at eirlys.jones@gonorthwales.org.uk or connect with her on LinkedIn you can also follow her on Twitter @EirlysJones5

Draft guidance for insurance companies

As part of its investigation into Coronavirus (COVID-19) related business interruption insurance, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have published draft guidance on expectations for insurers and insurance intermediaries when handling claims and complaints for business interruption policies during the test case. The guidance highlights the steps firms should be taking to: identify the potential implications of the test case on decisions to reject claimskeep policyholders informed about the test case and its implications for policies, claims and any settlement offerstreat policyholders fairly when the test case is resolved https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/guidance-consultations/business-interruption-insurance-test-case-draft-firms In addition, the FCA have provided an update on where they are in terms of their legal case – they have […]

Honouring bookings and advertising availability

To help further clarify, no bookings can lawfully be honoured in respect of ‘stays’ during any restricted period, which is currently up to 18 June 2020 unless you are requested to re-open by the Local Authority or Welsh ministers for specific purposes only.  As a reminder, businesses should also not be advertising availability during a restricted period. If you advertise via third party websites or the Online Travel Agencies, please take some time to review your entries on these sites and amend your availability accordingly. You are able to accept bookings or reschedule bookings that fall outside this restricted period, however, there is a risk the restrictions will remain in […]

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing:

From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have previously been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for their normal hours not worked. When claiming the CJRS grant for furloughed hours employers will need to report and claim for a minimum period of a week. The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full 3 week period prior to 30 June. This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee […]

Changes to the lockdown announced

Plans to allow family and friends to meet outside have been unveiled by First Minister Mark Drakeford as the strict stay-at-home coronavirus (COVID-19) regulations are eased in Wales. From Monday, 2 households in the same local area will be able to meet outdoors. In doing this, however, people must follow social distancing and strict hand hygiene practices to control the spread of the virus.’Local’ means not generally travelling more than 5 miles from home to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading from one area to another. The changes mean people can meet another household outdoors in their local area but all the other rules to protect people from coronavirus will […]

Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Scheme to Launch in May

A new online service will launch on May 26 for small and medium sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees, the Government has announced. The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme was announced at Budget as part of a package of support measures for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This scheme will allow small and medium sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, to apply to HMRC to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related SSP. Employers will be able to make their claims through a new online service from May 26. This means they will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that […]

Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please see below link to the guide explaining how holiday entitlement and pay operate during the coronavirus pandemic, where it differs from the standard holiday entitlement and pay guidance. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/holiday-entitlement-and-pay-during-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=458b84c0-5181-43ea-9d13-fd803529f23d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate&utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsflash-Covid19-HolidayentitlementandpayduringCoronavirus&utm_content=version_A