VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:
Gov. Ralph Northam has directed the commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission to waive the one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits. Also, the normal requirement that those receiving unemployment benefits must conduct two job searches a week is being waived. In addition, the governor’s office said Virginians may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if:
RESOURCES AND LINKS
Gov. Ralph Northam has directed the commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission to waive the one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits. Also, the normal requirement that those receiving unemployment benefits must conduct two job searches a week is being waived. In addition, the governor’s office said Virginians may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if:
- their employer needs to “temporarily slow or cease operations due to the coronavirus outbreak”;
- they have been issued a notice to self-quarantine by a medical or public health official and are not receiving paid sick or medical leave from their employer; or
- they must stay home to care for an ill family member and are not receiving paid family medical leave from their employer.
RESOURCES AND LINKS
- Businesses
- VDH Considerations Associated with Cancelling or Modifying an Event in Response to COVID-19
- VDH Interim Guidance: Considerations for Businesses and Employers, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers
- U.S. Small Business Administration to Provide Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act)
- Virginia Employment Commission
- Attention Workers Whose Job Has Been Affected by the Coronavirus
- Q&A on Claims Related to Coronavirus
- In addition, at this writing the U.S. Senate is considering the U.S. House of Representatives-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act that currently contains these provisions:
- Guarantees 10 paid sick days (80 hours) to full-time workers, prorated for part-time workers.
- Temporarily extents the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provide paid leave to employees working for a business with fewer than 500 employees.
- Permits employers to claim a quarterly tax credit against payroll taxes for payments for sick days and family and medical leave up to an amount that does not exceed the business’ total payroll taxes paid in that quarter.
- Department of Labor Poster on Employee Rights
- Legal Advice: Members with employment questions specific to their situation should contact their attorney for legal advice as may be necessary.
MESSAGE FROM REGULATORY SUPPORT SERVICES:
Regulatory Support Services is monitoring Federal and State actions related to COVID-19. The information contained with this communication is current as of March 19, 2020. Without a national mandated directive, any bans on public gatherings remain under the discretion of State or local government. Thus, please make special note of actions related to public gatherings since funerals are not currently exempted for jurisdictions with mandatory bans on public gatherings. Remember that limits can be imposed at the Federal, State and local municipal level. We are hearing reports that some municipal governments are placing limits on the number of people allowed at public gatherings. We encourage creativity in dealing with any mandated limits. For example, consider graveside services or if a firm has the capability to livestream/webcast the service, place attendees in the chapel or sanctuary and use separate rooms such as visitation or other rooms where attendees can view the service via the streaming/webcast. Controlling the number of people allowed in for visitations by having small groups come in, greet the family and then leave, thereby allowing the next small group to come in. One important factor is to control crowds gathering inside a facility’s common areas so as not to exceed the maximum number allowed in your respective jurisdiction. At all times, be conscious of and remind those in attendance at services or visitations to recognize social distancing as recommended by the CDC.
The words we choose are important and with the rapidly changing landscape of actions by government officials to deal with COVID-19 we endeavor to get information to clients as quickly as possible. To that end we must offer some clarification to an update we sent yesterday as well as to direct communication with clients related to the Governor’s action on public gatherings. On March 17, 2020, the Governor directed but did not order compliance with the 10 person limit for public gatherings in accordance with Federal guidelines as expressed by the President. Available information has been a bit confusing, thus we requested a written explanation from the Governor’s office to be sent by email but have not received it in time to report the information today. It appears the 10 person limit is at the discretion of the funeral home. The 100-person limit on public gatherings, mandated by the Governor’s March 15, 2020 executive order, stands as the enforceable limit. We want to be clear: we do not suggest nor recommend ignoring the Governor’s directive on the 10 person limit. Heeding the expertise and advice of the public health care professionals advising political leaders is paramount in dealing with covid-19.
Regulatory Support Services is monitoring Federal and State actions related to COVID-19. The information contained with this communication is current as of March 19, 2020. Without a national mandated directive, any bans on public gatherings remain under the discretion of State or local government. Thus, please make special note of actions related to public gatherings since funerals are not currently exempted for jurisdictions with mandatory bans on public gatherings. Remember that limits can be imposed at the Federal, State and local municipal level. We are hearing reports that some municipal governments are placing limits on the number of people allowed at public gatherings. We encourage creativity in dealing with any mandated limits. For example, consider graveside services or if a firm has the capability to livestream/webcast the service, place attendees in the chapel or sanctuary and use separate rooms such as visitation or other rooms where attendees can view the service via the streaming/webcast. Controlling the number of people allowed in for visitations by having small groups come in, greet the family and then leave, thereby allowing the next small group to come in. One important factor is to control crowds gathering inside a facility’s common areas so as not to exceed the maximum number allowed in your respective jurisdiction. At all times, be conscious of and remind those in attendance at services or visitations to recognize social distancing as recommended by the CDC.
The words we choose are important and with the rapidly changing landscape of actions by government officials to deal with COVID-19 we endeavor to get information to clients as quickly as possible. To that end we must offer some clarification to an update we sent yesterday as well as to direct communication with clients related to the Governor’s action on public gatherings. On March 17, 2020, the Governor directed but did not order compliance with the 10 person limit for public gatherings in accordance with Federal guidelines as expressed by the President. Available information has been a bit confusing, thus we requested a written explanation from the Governor’s office to be sent by email but have not received it in time to report the information today. It appears the 10 person limit is at the discretion of the funeral home. The 100-person limit on public gatherings, mandated by the Governor’s March 15, 2020 executive order, stands as the enforceable limit. We want to be clear: we do not suggest nor recommend ignoring the Governor’s directive on the 10 person limit. Heeding the expertise and advice of the public health care professionals advising political leaders is paramount in dealing with covid-19.