If you have been laid-off or put on short-time working you are entitled to full pay for days on which you do not work at all unless your contract says otherwise or you agree to another arrangement. If your contract allows for unpaid lay-offs or short-time working, you are entitled to 'statutory guarantee pay' (or simply ‘guarantee pay’). This is the minimum amount your employer must pay you during unpaid lay-offs or short-time working. Note that your employer may offer enhanced guarantee pay (ie more than the legal minimum) instead of statutory guarantee pay.
Guarantee pay is currently limited to £35 a day for 5 days in any 3-month period. This means that the maximum amount of statutory guarantee pay you’re entitled to within a 3-month period is £175. If you normally earn less than £35 per day, you will get your usual daily rate instead. If you work part-time, your statutory guarantee pay is worked out as a proportion in relation to your part-time hours.
To be eligible for statutory guarantee pay, you must:
be an employee (ie not a worker)
have been continuously employed for at least 1 month
reasonably make sure you’re available to work
not refuse any reasonable alternative work
not have been laid off because of industrial action (eg strikes)
If you are not eligible for statutory guarantee pay, you may be able to claim support from the Government (eg Universal Credit or New Style Jobseeker's Allowance). For more information, see the Government’s guidance.