Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether furloughed employees will have continuity of service in order that, for example, prospective parents do not lose out on statutory parental pay which requires a qualifying period.

Being placed on furlough does not have an impact on an individual’s continuity of service. The Government is committed to supporting all workers at this time, including working parents. We have amended Regulations to ensure that prospective parents do not lose out on parental pay as a result of being furloughed. The changes will apply to workers starting a period of family-related statutory pay on or after 25 April 2020, and mean that individuals will be entitled to pay based on their usual earnings rather than a furloughed pay rate.