A company may operate a growth share scheme to incentivise their employees and managers. Growth shares are a special class of ordinary shares that generally have a low or nil value until a certain target is reached by the business. Conditions are specified by the employer when the shares are issued and may refer to:

• Company performance
• Individual performance
• Leaver provisions

An award of growth shares can be beneficial for:

• Employers as they can reward participants by providing for a hope equity for short to medium growth without diluting current equity.
• Employees as they own shares in the company and can participate in the company’s growth.

From 2020 employers must report details of shares awarded on the Employers Share Awards return (Form ESA) for any year growth shares are awarded. Details of growth shares forfeited must be reported under the relevant columns of the Forfeitable Shares section of the Form
ESA in the return year when they are forfeited. Form ESA 2020 was due to be filed by 31 August 2021. For subsequent years the reporting date of 31 March following the relevant tax year will apply. The return must be completed offline and then uploaded to Revenue Online Service (ROS) .

​Maintaining communication with the absent worker is important and will help you in assessing whether the worker is fit / unfit to return
to work. Employers should apply existing policies and procedures to encourage workers back to work, after a longer absence due to COVID-19, in the same way that return to work following any long illness is managed.