Pa. bumping up outreach to workers left unemployed by coronavirus pandemic

Pennsylvania officials are bumping up outreach efforts to workers facing unemployment from the rising coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, state Secretary of Labor & Industry Jerry Oleksiak said workers facing a job loss may be eligible for unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits.

That prospect has hit home for millions nationwide as markets have plummeted, events have been canceled and businesses are under orders to close or limit operations in an effort to contain the spread of the highly contagious illness.

“As Pennsylvania and the nation implement mitigation efforts to slow the spread of covid-19, it is important to relieve some of the financial pressures our workers are facing so they can focus on remaining healthy and safe. The best option is for employers to offer their employees paid time off. If leave is not available and your job has been impacted by this new virus, you may be eligible for benefits either through unemployment or workers’ compensation,” Oleksiak said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is weighing an emergency measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives late last week that would require businesses with 500 or fewer employees to provide two weeks of paid sick time and up to three months of paid family and medical leave at two-thirds pay.

But The New York Times reported the measure includes gaping loopholes. It does not include those who are employed by large businesses and provides exemptions for companies that employ 50 or fewer workers.

Meanwhile, Oleksiak urged Pennsylvania residents employed in businesses or industries likely to be affected by closings or slowdowns to prepare to file applications online so they can be processed quickly.

Those who may be eligible for unemployment compensation include:

• Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of covid-19;

• Your employer reduces your hours because of covid-19;

• You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread covid-19; or

• You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts.

Oleksiak said those who believe they were exposed to covid-19 in the workplace may be eligible for workers’ compensation. He advised those who believe that happened to:

• Notify your employer to file a typical “disease-as-injury” claim, which requires you to provide medical evidence that you were exposed to covid-19 in the workplace.

• Notify your employer to file an “occupational disease” claim, which requires you to show that covid-19 is occurring more in your occupation/industry than in the general population.