- Unemployment benefits will now be available to workers whose employer needs to temporarily shut down or slow down business.
- Employees who are furloughed by the emergency, but expect to return to work can access up to at least 6 weeks of benefits.
- Employers reducing hours, but not furloughing employees can partner with DOL’s Shared Work program, which allows employers to reduce employees’ work schedules by 10% to 60% and supplement lost wages with unemployment benefits.
- DOL is suspending the requirement that workers applying for new unemployment benefits directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic be actively searching for work.
- Please see the CT DOL document that contains a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” for workers and businesses regarding unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- The Governor announced today that Access Health CT will provide unemployed individuals with health insurance – go to https://www.accesshealthct.com/AHCT/LandingPageCTHIX for more information.
Additionally, you should be aware that early this morning, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a major coronavirus bill that will give Connecticut $400 million in additional funding and guarantee all workers 2 weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave (more detailed summary below). The bill now heads to the Senate, which is expected to approve the package on Monday and send to the President for his signature.
Below we’ve summarized a number of specific program areas that may be helpful for businesses in Connecticut. Please feel free to share this information with others as you see fit:
Overall:
- The President has now issued a broad declaration of National Emergency which will activate increased flexibility with many laws and programs and provide additional money for states, including Connecticut.
- The Governor has announced the creation of a new State of Connecticut Joint Information Center (JIC) to provide information on developments related to coronavirus (COVID-19).
- The JIC is intended to provide all stakeholders with specific information related to the COVID-19 outbreak in CT.
- The JIC can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 860-754-8342or emailing JIC@ct.gov
- Last night Gov. Lamont amended his recent Executive Order of a civil and public health emergency to give him additional dramatic powers, if needed. He now has the ability to order the quarantine of an individual and have that person arrested if he or she resists.
- We understand they are also considering potentially issuing additional orders, similar to other states, that would allow Gov. Lamont to take over hotels, motels, and medical facilities in order to quarantine, isolate or treat patients and activate the CT National Guard to help manage a quarantine districts.We want you to be completely prepared for the potential of this order being issued in Connecticut soon.