How the Employment Incentive can help you
Jersey businesses can claim the first 6 months’ wages when they fill a new permanent position with a jobseeker registered as Actively Seeking Work with Back to Work.
Under the incentive, employers can claim minimum wage plus the employer’s 6.5% Social Security contributions for 35 hours per week for the first 6 months of employment. The employee will need to be on a permanent contract of 35 hours per week.
Who you can employ
To qualify for the Employment Incentive, the person you employ must:
- be locally qualified (they should be ‘Entitled for Work’ or ‘Entitled’ on their registration card)
- have been registered as Actively Seeking Work with Back to Work for at least 6 months
- be employed into a permanent full-time position
Details of the job
Jobs should be permanent. You're able to employ an eligible candidate for up to 4 weeks on a trial or temporary basis (this will be fully reimbursed by Back to Work) before committing to a permanent contract.
How the Employment Incentive works
When you have a vacant permanent position, email or call Back to Work. If you already have a candidate who you think is eligible, but who Back to Work was not involved in finding, contact us to check if the candidate is eligible.
Your job description will be used to create a shortlist of good, eligible candidates, and the Back to Work recruitment team will work with you to find the right person. Once you've employed them you'll be given in-work support by a Back to Work employment advisor.
Starting employment
Employ the candidate as normal, using your standard permanent contract and terms and conditions, including your standard termination and probation periods.
Complete a simple application form and provide Back to Work recruitment with a copy of the contract, signed by the employee. Once we have the signed copy, you'll get confirmation that you'll receive the Employment Incentive.
Employment Incentive payments
You must submit payslips or other evidence of having paid the employee's salary before Back to Work recruitment will pay the Employment Incentive.
You will be paid the Employment Incentive monthly by BACS into your company account. Payments will cover both the wages and employer Social Security for the preceding month.
Employment Incentive payments are taxable and you're required to list the funding received as taxable income.
Paying above the minimum wage
You can pay your employee more than Jersey's minimum wage, but will only be able to claim a maximum of 35 hours at minimum wage per week, towards their wage and Social Security contributions. You'll be expected to fully fund the person’s salary after the incentive period has ended.
Businesses can make bulk claims for multiple Employment Incentive employees.
In-work support
A Back to Work advisor will be in touch at least once a month during the Employment Incentive period to ensure the employee settles in properly. You can raise any issues at those times, but contact us if anything arises which needs more immediate attention.
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