Furlough was introduced in Spring 2020, to stop people being laid off by their employers during lockdown.
The government initially paid 80% of the wages of people who couldn't work, or whose employers could no longer afford to pay them - up to a monthly limit of £2,500. In August and September 2021, the government's contribution reduced again: it now pays 60% and employerspay20%. Furloughwillendon30/9/2021.
Here's one of our guides that is still relevant when clients lose their jobs-