Coronavirus March 2020
Coronvirus (CoViD-19) Statement
Payroll Options has a coronavirus policy in the workplace focused on hygiene and disease prevention. In the event of forced isolation of staff and only a limited workforce available then work could continue from a single office. Communications would be sent to clients depending on how severe the staff shortage.
Payroll Options will follow guidance from the NHS and PHE as it becomes available and applicable, and we have not assessed the nature of our work, or location of our offices, to currently be at high risk.
The most likely scenario for us in this outbreak would be an increase in processing time, but still operating from two offices. It is possible we will ask for less information; could the payroll be processed with salaries only and no amendments for instance? We would have less capacity to deal with late payroll submissions, so if a payroll request was sent to us late it is likely it would also be returned late.
Payroll Options has multiple back-ups and disaster recovery procedures in place to ensure BACS payments can go through on time. These payments do rely on a payroll to be processed however, so if a payroll were processed late the BACS payments would also be late. In the event of BACS failure it is likely no payment transfers would be available, so clients own banks would also effectively cease to function as well. If Payroll Options had an issue with BACS affected clients would be notified.
It is possible for you to pay your staff an estimated amount, then we could report it at a later date. It is likely HMRC will be understanding where there are genuine reasons for a late submission, and this is already built into RTI. We will offer guidance on what information is required on a case by case basis.
We have asked clients to also have plans in place in the event their own staff, responsible for payroll information, are not available. We need to have authorisation in advance if a different member of the team may be sending instruction or receiving reports.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19