Many companies across the country have had to lay off employees or reduce their hours because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Millions of other workers have had to request extended leave or quit their jobs altogether to care for children or other family members suffering from COVID-19 or to handle their own medical issues after contracting the coronavirus disease.
If you're a worker and the coronavirus outbreak has impacted you, you might qualify for unemployment benefits, workers' compensation benefits, or a period of paid or unpaid leave. Depending on your state, you might be eligible for workers' comp disability benefits while under quarantine after on-the-job exposure to COVID-19, especially if you're a healthcare worker or first responder. If you’re an employer offering leave to your employees to deal with COVID-19, you might qualify for certain tax credits.
You might also have questions about employee rights when returning to work during the coronavirus crisis, like whether an employer can take an employee’s temperature, whether an employer can require an employee to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and worker rights if an employer hasn’t taken the necessary health and safety precautions to prevent the disease from spreading in the workplace. Find out more here.
Workers' Comp: Can I Get Wage-Loss Benefits While in Quarantine for Coronavirus Exposure?
Depending on your state, you may qualify for workers' comp disability benefits while under quarantine after on-the-job exposure to COVID-19, especially if you're a healthcare worker or first responder.
Coronavirus: Returning to Work FAQs
Many employees will have questions about their rights when they return to work after the coronavirus pandemic, especially related to safety and privacy. Fortunately, a number of federal and state agencies have provided guidance on what employers can and can’t legally do to ensure the health and safety of their workforce.