Labor & Employment—Employee
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free webinar, A Discussion with Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of NJ’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on Wednesday, April 8 at 11:30 am. The webinar will examine New Jersey’s expanded unemployment insurance and other assistance programs to help employers and employees. To register for the webinar, click here.
Download this 3-page handout that outlines the parts of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that deals with employee benefit plans and employee leaves of absence.
For updates on benefits from the CARES Act for the self-employed and “gig” workers, click here.
Here is a New York Times article with Frequently Asked Questions regarding the stimulus package.
State
The New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development outlines what New Jersey employees need to know about benefits connected with the Coronavirus. On their website they cover Frequently Asked Questions and also offer downloadable fact sheets on outlining COVID-19–related benefits for New Jersey employees. Download the pdfs here: English version & Spanish version.You can also apply for unemployment benefits on the website. Here is the page.
Due to the high claim volume, there is a new system for claiming unemployment benefits that goes by the last four digits of your social security number. Click here for more information. The website also offers information on claiming benefits due to the Cornonavirus.
On March 25, 2020, Gov. Murphy announced the launch of an online job portal to connect New Jersey residents with jobs in critical industries responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Click here to access the portal.
If you were exposed to the Coronavirus through your work and were told to self-quarantine: You may be able to use your sick leave or apply for workers’ compensation. See this page from the New Jersey Department of Labor.
From the NJ Division on Civil Rights, here is a fact sheet about how New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) can protect you in regard to several areas, including employment. Download the pdf.
Read more here about legislation passed in New York & New Jersey to protect employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, If you are sick with the Coronavirus/COVID19 or quarantined or caring for a child under 18 but your employer has not previously offered paid sick leave, you may be eligible for up to two weeks (80 hours) of paid sick leave, with a maximum daily pay of $511/day. This money would be paid to you by your employer, who would then be reimbursed by the federal government. For more information, click here.