COVID 19 is still very much with us, but like the rest of the country, Minnesota has decided the risk has subsided enough for the economy to pretty much reopen. Many employees will happily, albeit cautiously, go back to work. Some people, however, may want to stay away, and they worry whether they’ll lose their jobs if they do, and whether they can still receive unemployment insurance benefits. Federal Emergency Legislation Provides Limited … [Read more...]
What to Do if You Lose Your Job During the Coronavirus Pandemic in Minnesota?
Close to one in five Minnesota workers is unemployed or has lost work in the past few weeks due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, many Minnesotans are struggling to pay bills and living expenses with less income than usual or none at all. If your job has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, you should promptly apply for unemployment benefits. You May Be Eligible for Unemployment Benefits if: You … [Read more...]
Eligible for Unemployment if You Refuse to Work in an Unsafe Environment due to COVID-19?
If you quit your job due to your concern that you may be exposed to COVID-19 at work, whether you are eligible for unemployment benefits will boil down to whether you had a “good reason to quit caused by the employer.” (See https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/job-separations/index.jsp.) This is the same standard that applied before the pandemic. While the above-cited website explains that a “good reason to quit” is a reason “that would … [Read more...]
Can My Employer Require Me to Come to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Some Minnesotans are concerned about working in an office or service industry workplace during COVID-19. They’ve asked our team of employment law attorneys whether their employer can require them to come in for their shift even if they’re feeling unsafe because of the Coronavirus. Your employer can never require you to work in an unsafe environment, and that includes during a pandemic. Furthermore, the pandemic does not abolish employees’ … [Read more...]
Employee Rights When Returning to Work Post COVID-19
There has never been a time when an employee’s right to work in a safe environment has been more threatened. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every workplace in this country. The nationwide stay at home orders essentially converted employees in all non-essential industries to working remotely. As we now begin a transition to a gradual return to the workplace, the question about whether this can be done safely cuts across every industry in … [Read more...]
