(Last Updated May 4, 2020 at 4:53am)
Some helpful tips below for Ward 3 Businesses on how to take care of your employees during this COVID-19 epedemic. Employers who have individuals working from home may also wish to visit the Working From Home Page.
- If you are looking for employees, or you are a current job seeker looking for work at an essential visit, please visit this site to post and search for job opportunities: https://jobsearch.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/jobsearch
- The IRS Employee Retention Credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business was financially impacted by Covid-19.
- SharedWork Ohio is a creative alternative to avoid layoffs for employers. It allows workers to remain employed and employers to retain their staff during times of reduced activity. By utilizing the SharedWork tool the employer reduce hours to avoid a layoff, the employee works the reduced hours and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides an unemployment insurance benefit proportionate to their reduced hours. Learn more here.
- All health insurers have been required by the Ohio Department of Insurance to allow employers to defer their insurance premium payments for up to two months. You can keep your employees covered and push back the costs until later to free up cash.
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides up to 14 days of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family medical leave to help those dealing with exposure, diagnosis, or even symptoms of the coronavirus. The majority of workers of small and midsized companies and non-profits are eligible as long as they have been employed for at least 30 days. The White House has stated that businesses and non-profits who provide this paid leave will be reimbursed for the full amount within 90 days (in the form of a payroll tax credit). The bill also requires employers to provide additional protections for healthcare workers. Read more about the bill here. You may also reference this FAQ documentfrom GBQ.
- Businesses may direct employees that they were forced to lay off to this resource from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as well as this FAQ on Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance Benefits.
- The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation have created a BWC Covid-19 FAQ. March to May payments may be deferred until June 1, 2020.
- Employers planning mass layoffs or shutdowns as a result of the coronavirus are asked to share a specific code (2000180) with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to speed the processing of unemployment benefits.
- The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services offers a Rapid Response Team to help employers with transitions such as layoffs and assistance with the federally required WARN act.
- Businesses that are interested in learning more about the products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against the Coronavirus may reference the publication List N.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a resource documenton what to do if your employees are having trouble with bills, experience a loss of income or may be targeted by scammers looking to take advantage of a bad situation.