A YouGov poll shows that half of businesses say they will have to reduce their workforces within three months of the furlough scheme ending. Of 503 business leaders surveyed, 34% said they would not lay any staff off, while 21% said they would cut 10 or more jobs.
The study also found that 48% of bosses believe the Government's response to COVID-19 in regard to business has been good, compared to 38% who said it has been bad. While eight in 10 respondents expect the economy to be in worse shape in a year than it was before the pandemic, six in 10 believe their own business will be in the same condition or better than it was before the coronavirus crisis.
Read more: The Independent