COVID-19: HELP FOR EMPLOYERS
Employers and Employees
Subsidized Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers from Changing Tides
Changing Tides Family Services is providing emergency / temporary subsidized child care services for Essential Workers and at-risk children and families through June 30, 2020. Learn more.
California Stage 2 workplaces start soft reopening:
retail curbside delivery, some manufacturing
CA Resilience Roadmap
Pandemic Safety Guidelines by Industry
Six indicators that it may be safe to lift Shelter in Place orders
Important: County rules can be stricter, but not looser, than the state’s. Check with your County reps first before taking action.
Humboldt
Will be unrolling online certification process and plan templates for businesses that want to reopen.
See May 8 fact sheet for roll out plan
humboldtgov.org
707-441-5000
covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us
English: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Español: Lunes a Viernes 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Hmong: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 2 – 4 p.m.
Del Norte
Is convening business owners by industry to identify what you need and are planning for.
preparedelnorte.com
707-951-2294
economicresiliency_eoc@co.del-norte.ca.us
Monday – Thursday; 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
STAGE 2: Lower-risk Workplaces
FIRST
1. Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan
2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them
3. Implement individual control measures and screenings
4. Implement disinfecting protocols
5. Implement physical distancing guidelines
THEN
Can open Friday May 8 with modifications
- Curbside retail, including but not limited to: Bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, home and furnishing stores, sporting goods stores, antique stores, music stores, florists. Note: this will be phased in, starting first with curbside pickup and delivery only until further notice.
- Supply chains supporting the above businesses, in manufacturing and logistics sectors
Can open later in Stage 2:
- Destination retail, including shopping malls and swap meets.
- Personal services, limited to: car washes, pet grooming, tanning facilities, and landscape gardening.
- Office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged)
- Dine-in restaurants (other facility amenities, like bars or gaming areas, are not permitted)
- Schools and childcare facilities
- Outdoor museums and open gallery spaces
Key Resources
- CA State Compensation Insurance Fund Increases Funding–including grants for essential and non-essential businesses
- CA EDD (Employment Development Department) COVID-19 info page and Ask EDD Inquiry Form
- CA DOL (Department of Labor) COVID-19 info page
- SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) COVID-19 info page
- Links to multiple state resources on GO-Biz (Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development) COVID 19 resources: business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019.
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has very helpful COVID-19 planning tips on their “Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers” web page.
- CA Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) COVID FAQ page explains what employers need to know and do.
- Employment Development Department (EDD) then lays out how to access the sick leave, family leave, disability, and unemployment insurance supports for your employees at their COVID main resources page and this FAQ page.
Hiring
If you’re hiring, remember to send your job postings to The Smart Center in Humboldt County and The Del Norte Workforce Center.
Essential Services businesses! If you’re hiring to respond to increase 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, 707.382.3411
Del Norte
- Turn to the Del Norte Workforce Center for help posting jobs and hiring.
Form I-9 Alert: From 3/20 – 5/19/2020 employers may perform inspection of I9 form via webcam, email, or fax.
Retaining Employees
Watch this important PSA from the Eureka Chamber of Commerce’s Sierra Jenkins.
Are you hoping to reduce payroll costs but keep your team working and paid? The CA EDD Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program allows for payment of UI benefits to individuals whose wages and hours have been reduced. It is considered a temporary and practical alternative to layoffs, allowing you to retain your quality employees, while reducing your payroll burden and allowing them to supplement their wages during this time.
Learn more about the SBA Paycheck Protection Program here.
Laying Off
Help Preventing or Managing Lay-offs. Visit northcoastsbdc.org/layoffhelp. North Coast SBDC and The Job Market (America’s Job Center of California) partners help Humboldtbusiness owners avoid layoffs and closure if possible, or manage down-sizing if necessary.
- Prevent. Consult with an expert business advisor to see if layoffs or closure can be avoided. Apply at northcoastsbdc.org/apply
- Manage. Contact us to learn more about organizing a no-cost, confidential, customized Rapid Response lay-off event for your company and affected employees.
*Call (707) 445 9720 or email LayoffHelp@northcoastsbdc.org*
If you’re laying off, remember to send your employees to a biweekly Virtual Layoff Help Event starting April 24th.
Del Norte County
- Email layoffhelp@northcoastsbdc.org to talk with a SBDC business advisor about how to decide or plan layoffs.
- Turn to the Del Norte Workforce Center for help managing closure and layoffs.
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 contact 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
Recent Legislation
Tax Filing & Tax Credits
- 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.
WARN Act Update
CA Governor suspends 60-day WARN notice requirement for *some* businesses.
CARES ACT (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security)
Click here for details on Senate Ways & Means Committee blog
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
Click here for information on the Dept of Labor web site
- Effective April 1st. Not retroactive.
- Businesses with fewer than 500 employees
- Expanded paid sick leave changes
- Family & medical leave changes
Employer Facts & FAQ
Has your business been affected by COVID-19 or Shelter In Place?
Smart is here to help! Call or email us regarding the topics below or other questions.
Do you have under 500 employees?
HR 6201: Families First Coronavirus Response Act was enacted 3/18/20. It applies to businesses with under 500 employees (certain exceptions are being decided) and establishes new rules and mandates around employee emergency paid sick leave, family medical leave, and tax credits for paid family and medical leave.
Have you had to reduce employee hours or temporarily lay off employees?
EDD Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program allows for payment of UI benefits to individuals whose wages and hours have been reduced. It is considered a temporary and practical alternative to layoffs, allowing you to retain your quality employees, while reducing your payroll burden and allowing them to supplement their wages during this time.
Have you had to permanently lay off employees?
Smart Business Resource Center has programs that can help your employees get re-employed and/or pay for education and training to train them in a new field. We can also pay for supportive services such as transportation, interview clothes, work clothes, tools or equipment, etc.
- Smart Center Participant Services flyer (scroll to bottom of home page)
Do you need to ease cash flow or have a need for short-term funding to help you through this time?
1. Call Your Bank. Many banks are deferring loan payments and offering other assistance for their clients.
2. North Coast Small Business Development Center has information on SBA and other special loans and funding opportunitiesgeared specifically for businesses. Click Here.
3. Superior California Economic Development has additional resources. Click Here.
4. US Small Business Administration has additional resources. Click Here.
Have you been designated as an Essential Critical Infrastructure Organization and have immediate hiring needs to respond to increased demand during this time?
Smart Business Resource Center has programs that can help. Because our mission is helping workforce (employers and employees) thrive, we are already helping employees who were laid off or have reduced hours so we have access to employees that are immediately available for work. We can send you resumes, work-ready candidates, or help with screening and hiring. This is all at no cost to you!
- Smart Center Business Services flyer (scroll to bottom of home page)
Shasta County: 530.246.7911
1201 Placer Street
Redding, CA 96001
Trinity County: 530.623.5538
790 Main Street
#618
Weaverville, CA 96093
Have you had a reduction in hours or have you been temporarily laid off?
EDD Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program allows for payment of UI benefits to individuals whose wages and hours have been reduced. It is considered a temporary and practical alternative to layoffs, allowing businesses to retain quality employees, while reducing business payroll burden and allowing them to supplement employee wages during this time.
Have you been permanently laid off?
File for Unemployment Insurance (UI). UI rules and restrictions are being eased during this time so you may qualify, even if you have been denied in the past.
Smart Business Resource Center has programs that can help you get re-employed and/or pay for education and training to educate and train you in a new field. We can also pay for supportive services such as transportation, interview clothes, work clothes, tools or equipment, etc for those that qualify. Check out our Participant Services flyer for all that we offer and then call or email us to enroll.
- Smart Center Participant Services flyer (scroll to bottom of home page)
Do you need help finding Part Time, Full Time, Temporary or Permanent Work?
Smart Business Resource Center has programs that can help.
- Smart Center Participant Services flyer. Check out our Participant Services flyer for all that we offer and then call or email us to enroll. (scroll to bottom of home page)
- Connecting to currently hiring employers. Because our mission is helping workforce (employers and employees) thrive, we are already working with employers who have been designated as Essential Critical Infrastructure Organizations and have immediate need for available workers. We can connect you.
- Job postings. Check out our local available job postings, updated daily.