Hays Travel has furloughed the majority of its employees after the government announced last week that it would pay 80% of all salaries of staff who are sent home without work during the coronavirus crisis.
The UK’s largest independent travel agency chain said all of its 5,700 staff had been furloughed, except ‘key workers’.
In a statement, it said: "Our first concern is for the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers, and we have taken all measures available to protect our industry and jobs.
"The majority of our staff other than key workers are now furloughed with Government support and we are feeling more confident about safeguarding these jobs."
Last week, Hays announced it was putting some foreign exchange staff and apprentices on zero-hours contracts while all other staff had their hours and pay cut in half due to the lack of business caused by the pandemic.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak later announced a coronavirus business support package for businesses, including an offer to pay 80% of salaries of furloughed staff, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month for each employee.
