UFCW 21 has been working closely with our elected officials and government agencies to ensure our members’ needs are considered as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Employment Security Department’s emergency rules allow for expanded access to unemployment insurance benefits have now gone into effect.

For example:

• Workers may receive unemployment benefits and employers may get relief of benefit charges if an employer needs to shut down operations temporarily because a worker becomes sick and other workers need to be isolated or quarantined as a result of COVID-19.

• Standby will be available for part-time workers as well as full-time workers, as long as they meet the minimum 680 hours.

• Workers that are asked to isolate or quarantine by a medical professional or public health official as a result of exposure to COVID-19 may receive unemployment benefits and work search requirements could be waived, so long as they have a return date with their employer. The return to work date can be the date the isolation or quarantine is lifted.

• If a worker falls seriously ill and is forced to quit, they cannot collect unemployment benefits while they are seriously ill but may be eligible once they recover and are able and available for work.