The Job Retention Scheme was introduced by the UK government during the Coronavirus pandemic. It provided a wage subsidy for businesses who chose to furlough their workers. This meant that they kept their employees on their payroll and did not make them redundant. The Job Retention Scheme paid 80% of the monthly wages of furloughed workers up to £2,500 per person. The scheme lasted from April 2020 through to the end of October 2020.