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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis is a challenging time for all of us. As we all heed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and individual state and local rules, we, at the same time, can lean into the fact that our publicly-funded workforce system will play a vital role in the recovery post COVID-19. The publicly-funded workforce system is at the center of many of the benefits and services that were included in the recently-enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 for those individuals that have found themselves out of work. Our system will be challenged in the coming weeks and months but as in previous crises we will rise to the occasion- together.
WorkforceGPS has published a COVID-19 Resource page that includes a series of technical assistance resources and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to address grants management questions related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help state and local workforce leaders, and other stakeholders and partners to assist the public workforce system during this crisis. More resources are being added to these pages, so sign-up for a Custom Alert to get the latest information on COVID-19.
DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT COMMUNITY
The Disability and Employment Community has compiled a list of federal resources to support the disabled segment of the American population. This targeted listing will be updated as new information is shared and updated from different federal agencies.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has released guidance in several areas including safe workplaces guidance from OSHA, paid leave guidance from WHD, and UI provisions.
UI PROGRAMS' POSITIVE IMPACT DURING AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
While fluctuations in economic conditions can create uncertainty for workers and businesses, research evidence presents findings from two recent studies of an Unemployment Insurance program available to employers, Short-Time Compensation (STC). This program can delay or avoid worker layoffs by allowing employers to reduce all employees’ hours. Workers’ lost earnings are then made up for in partial unemployment benefits until demand picks up. A third report measures the macroeconomic impact of Unemployment Insurance in stabilizing the economy during the last recession. As states ramp up UI programs to support workers and businesses affected by the economic downturn, the following resources provide a timely review of the benefits of both STC and UI to ease economic instability:
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