COVID-19 Guidance for Employers
|
|
|
|
North Coast SBDC
The Smart Center
CA Employment Development Department
CA Department of Labor
Society for Human Resource Management
|
|
Multi-Employer Layoff Help Events
|
|
- North Coast SBDC, The Smart Center/Job Market and partners will co-host the first of several virtual events for employers and employees in Humboldt County.
|
|
|
|
- TODAY: Support for Employers in Crisis. North Coast SBDC "Surviving Together" Webinar Series # 3 on Friday, March 27 12-1 pm. Register here by 11 am on the day of the webinar to receive your Zoom login link. Webinar will be recorded.
|
|
|
|
Essential Services businesses! If you're hiring to respond to increased demand
(grocery, stockers, delivery drivers, etc)
Humboldt
- Turn to The Job Market for help posting jobs and hiring.
- You can also just email your job posting info to dangela@thesmartcenter.biz (Angela Dennis, Program Supervisor, Smart Business Resource Center, Eureka, O: 707.382.3414)
Del Norte
Form I-9 Alert:
From 3/20 - 5/19/2020 employers may perform inspection of I9 form via webcam, email, or fax.
|
|
|
|
Work-Share
- Employers who have been affected by COVID-19 but want to avoid permanent layoffs might consider the Unemployment Insurance Work Sharing Program. This program allows you to retain your workers by reducing their hours and wages 10 - 60% and partially offset the wage loss with UI benefits. Visit the EDD web site to apply for CA Work-Share Program.
Furlough
- An employer may furlough employees rather than permanently laying off. (Also called "temporary layoffs" and similar to an unpaid leave of absence.) A furlough is a mandatory period of time off work without pay initiated by the employer and intended to be for a temporary or limited duration. The employee should be encouraged to apply for unemployment insurance immediately. They may remain eligible for benefits, including health insurance coverage. A furlough helps an employer reduce its compensation costs and potentially also hiring costs when it brings furloughed employees back to work instead of having to hire and train replacements. Read more on SHRM page.
|
|
|
|
Del Norte County
Humboldt County
- Email layoffhelp@northcoastsbdc.org to (1) talk with a SBDC business advisor about how to decide or plan layoffs, (2) access a Rapid Response layoff event to help your employees connect to services while unemployed.
- Employers and Employees: sign up for the first Multi-Employer/Employee Virtual Layoff Help Event on Friday, April 3rd 10-11:30 am. (Humboldt County only - In Del Norte, please contact Del Norte Workforce Center for help.)
- Employers affected by closure or lay offs please complete and send the Laid-off Employee Roll Sheet immediately so your employees can access special services through the Dislocated Worker Program. Send it to dangela@thesmartcenter.biz and cc layoffhelp@northcoastsbdc.org. Direct questions about dislocated worker services to: Angela Dennis, Program Supervisor, Smart Business Resource Center, Eureka, O: 707.382.3414
|
|
|
|
State.
Reminder: you can request 60 day
extension of state payroll tax
reporting and payments. Call EDD for help:
1-888-745-3886
Federal.
In case you missed it,
click here for March 20th announcement
that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.
|
|
|
|
CA Governor suspends
60-day WARN notice
requirement for *some* businesses.
|
|
CARES Act
(
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security)
|
|
Highlights from TheHill.com:
- Small and medium businesses with fewer than 500 workers will be able to apply for government-backed, forgivable ["paycheck protection"] loans to cover the costs of their workers’ wages, as well as some other business expenses such as rent, up to a maximum of $10 million. If companies lay off workers, however, parts of the loan will not be forgiven.
- For workers who still lose their jobs, the bill offers additional support to unemployment programs.
- It creates a special Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that will expand coverage to the self-employed, independent contractors and people with limited work history, who typically are iced out of the benefit.
|
|
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
|
|
- Effective April 1st. Not retroactive.
- Businesses with fewer than 500 employees
- Expanded paid sick leave changes
- Family & medical leave changes
|
|
North Coast SBDC Center Service Continuity
|
|
Get Answers
to Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19
for your business
here
and download the California SBDC's COVID-19 Survival Guide for Small Business
here
.
Get confidential layoff or closure help
... manage and support your employees during forced closures or layoffs emailing
layoffhelp@northcoastsbdc.org
or calling (707) 445-9720
Get confidential management or finance help
... figure out how to maximize income, reduce expenses, apply for disaster funding and more by signing up to speak with a business advisor at
northcoastsbdc.org/apply
|
|
Is the Center headquarters open?
The office is closed BUT your North Coast SBDC team is working from home during our Shelter in Place order. Please call 707-445-9720 or email admin@northcoastsbdc.org instead. Visit the
North Coast SBDC Service Continuity Update page
to understand how we are handling your needs and questions.
Also, please be aware that staff are working at top intensity to respond to increased demand during the crisis so please start by accessing the resources above to see if we've already answered your question.
Is my workshop still running?
Probably. Most of our workshops through May are
still on
and are being offered virtually via Zoom. Register for the workshops you want to attend
northcoastsbdc.org/calendar
and we will send you login instructions. You'll need a computer, decent Internet speed, and ideally a separate phone. The workshops that require a high level of interaction and/or computer labs will be postponed.
Can I still meet with my business advisor?
Yes. Our advisors are independent contractors so we leave it up to you two to decide where and how to meet. Many of our advisors are prepared to meet with you by phone and/or videoconference to make sure you continue to get the help you need.
How do I use Zoom to access services virtually?
Zoom is the videoconferencing services we're using to deliver our workshops live. Most of our business advisors are also using to be in communication with you. It's flexible--can be used as a phone service, a videoconference service, to share views of what's on your computer so you can look at financial statements together, etc.
Please make sure that you have downloaded and installed the
Zoom
program
on your computer in advance. It’s fairly fast and easy, but does take a few minutes.
|
|
North Coast Small Business Development Center
Humboldt: (707) 445-9720 | Del Norte: (707) 464-2168
|
|
North Coast SBDC Learning Programs also generously funded by:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
