Support for Employees of Businesses
Support for employees of businesses that have been impacted by COVID 19
State and Federal government agencies and private organizations have responded to this public health emergency by enacting major changes intended to help employees stay safe at work and locate resources for employees facing economic hardships during this time.
Find online resources offering information and guidance on:
- Work Safety Resources
- Support for Workers and Their Families
Work Safety Resources
Employees who have symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, or shortness of breath) should notify their supervisor and stay home.
Sick employees should follow CDC-recommended steps. Employees should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.
Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and follow CDC recommendations.
Support for Workers and Their Families
Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau- Offers a Guide to Mortgage Relief Options.
Ban on Evictions for Renters- Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 27, 2020, banning eviction of renters for non-payment of rent due to COVID-19, through May 31, 2020. The order prohibits law enforcement and courts from enforcing evictions for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19. It requires tenants to declare in writing, no more than seven days after the rent comes due, that the tenant cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19 and to keep documentation. Read the Governor’s news release here. Palo Alto City Council unanimously passed a similar moratorium on Monday, March 23. The County also passed similar restrictions. All three of these regulations apply in Palo Alto. Renters can qualify for protection from eviction by satisfying the requirements of the State, County, or City regulation. The City is preparing changes to our local regulation to align it more closely with the County regulation. The Council will consider these changes at its next meeting on April 6.
Employment Development Department-(en español) provides a variety of support services to individuals affected by the Coronavirus in California:
Sick or Quarantined- If you’re unable to work due to having or being exposed to Coronavirus, you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to non-work-related illnesses.
Caregiving- If you’re unable to work because you are caring for ill or quarantined family members with Coronavirus, you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim. PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member.
Reduced Work Hours- If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to Coronavirus, you can file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own.
Layoff Alternatives- Partial claims for employees whose employers want to keep them when there is a lack of work. A partial Unemployment Insurance claim can be used for any claimant who works less than their normal full-time hours, and whose employers want to keep them.
Deadline Extended for State Tax Filings-Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an Emergency Order delaying the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19.
Helpful Links for Workers