The Business and Workers update is a weekly newsletter providing news and information to help businesses and workers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The information is compiled by the state Economic Resiliency Team (ERT), part of the Joint Information Center. Please forward this note to others that may value this content. New readers may subscribe here.  What should Washington workers and employers know this week? Oct. 28, 2020 What you should know about… Preparing workplaces during a fall surge Virus activity is accelerating dangerously throughout the United States, including Washington. Virus spikes threaten our health, our schools and our economy. Workers and employers can help to halt the fall surge - please review and follow safety law to keep your shop running safely. Five key COVID-19 safety requirements for all Washington employers Emergency law requires five key workplace safety practices for all employers. Employees must practice social distancing and mask up. Employees must wash their hands frequently and thoroughly. Workplaces must be routinely sanitized. A plan must be written and in place to address worker illness. Finally, employees must be educated about COVID-19 and how to work safely. Some industries have specific safety requirements Any business or organization that is currently open must follow appropriate safety requirements issued by the governor. These documents institute safety measures that protect workers and customers while keeping these industries in operation. Please refer to this list and see if a document applies to your industry. If so, you are required by law to meet its requirements. Additional industry related resources are available through the Washington Department of Labor & Industries. Universal masking is still required All Washington workers must mask up at work, unless working alone. The face covering must cover the mouth and nose. Further, all Washingtonians are required to mask up in all indoor and outdoor public settings. This means that workers and customers alike are required to be masked in the presence of others. All businesses are required to post signage requiring masks of visitors. Some workers require additional respiratory protection This L&I guide establishes several risk levels and the required protection for each. In high-risk conditions where respirators are required, employers must review WAC 296-842 governing safe use of respirators. What you can and can't do in each Safe Start phase The Safe Start Plan is still in effect, and your county phase status places some limits on gatherings and commercial activity. General limits and requirements for each phase are listed here. Industry-specific requirements may adjust with phase changes as well. We recommend checking back on these pages every so often to review for updates. Employers may screen employees before allowing them into a workplace Employers may screen staff or visitors, with some limits. Temperature-taking, asking screening questions, and asking sick employees to leave are acceptable. Employers should carefully review this Equal Employment Opportunity Commission page before establishing screening measures. Requiring testing of employees is more complicated, is generally discouraged Employers are generally discouraged from requiring a negative test before an employee returns to work following a COVID-19 positive diagnosis, as long as the employee has followed their health care providers guidance on quarantining upon receiving their diagnosis. A COVID-19 test is considered a "medical test" and may only be conducted if "job-related and consistent with business necessity". If a worker meets the conditions to be tested by the Department of Health and is believed to pose a threat to others in the workplace, the employer may request that the worker be tested. Sick workers or those believed to have been exposed should self-quarantine If workers show symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone with the virus or its symptoms, they should self-quarantine for 14 days. This may be a difficult conversation to have with a worker reliant on their wages, but they may use paid leave to cover the absence. Employees may use accrued sick leave if asked to quarantine. Under the FFCRA, an additional budget of sick leave is available to symptomatic workers. Up to two weeks (80 hours) of paid sick leave is to be provided at their regular rate of pay. What you should know about… Important state data dashboards New collection of data dashboards may assist business decision-making The state coronavirus website now features a collection of data dashboards about virus activity, economic activity, education, employment, and more. Bookmark this page for convenient access to key COVID information. Relevant dashboards include: - Risk Assessment Dashboard - county phase map, virus activity, key goals
- DOH COVID-19 Dashboard - cases, hospitalizations, deaths, demographics, testing
- Commerce Economic Recovery Dashboard - employment, retail sales, consumer behavior
- ESD Data Homepage - employment data by county and by sector.
- OSPI School District Status - indicates remote, hybrid, or in-person schooling by district.
What you should know about… Unemployment New phone hours for the Employment Security Claims Center We've changed our unemployment claims center phone hours so we can process claims and get eligible claimants their payments faster. Read the full announcement. - 8 a.m. to noon, Monday – Friday, phones will be open for inbound calls. If we can't answer your question right away, we will schedule a time to call you back.
- Noon to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, we won't be taking calls so claims agents can process claims, make outbound calls, and resolve issues that delay payments.
- Sunday – Tuesday are our busiest days both online and on the phones. If you can't get through, try calling or logging on later in the week. Find more tips for contacting us on our help page.
- The fastest and easiest way to submit weekly claims is using eServices, but claimants can submit weekly claims using our automated phone system, 12:01 a.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Friday.
Job search requirement remains suspended but work search resources are available The job search requirement of unemployment claimants remains suspended through Nov. 9. Claimants may continue to answer "no" to the job search question on weekly claims for now. Employers in search of new talent and job seekers in search of new opportunities may turn to WorkSourceWA.com to find applicable resources. What you need to know about… Halloween Department of Health issues "Tips for a Safer Halloween" The Department of Health urges trick-or-treaters to mask up, observe social distancing, and limit close contact with non-household members. While parties and large gatherings are discouraged, there are still plenty of safe ways to have fun this Halloween. Seasonal and holiday activities open to the public must comply with safety requirements Seasonal events like pumpkin patches and small festivals, even if operated by nonprofits, must comply with relevant business activity guidance. What you should know about… Department of Commerce relief and business education programs Start a new business on the right foot Those interested in starting their own business may benefit from Entrepreneur Academy, established by the Department of Commerce. The site features a selection of workbooks and resources to navigate the path to starting up. $2 million in funding directed to community nonprofits and tribal organizations Commerce is partnering with Philanthropy Northwest to provide $2 million of relief funding from the federal CARES Act with a focus on community-based nonprofits and Tribal organizations most impacted by COVID-19. Stress and anxiety are normal. Talk it out! The pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on our mental health. It's normal to feel anxiety and it's healthy to talk it out. Try calling Washington Listens - it's a non-clinical support line staffed by specialists ready to lend an ear. Call 1 (833) 681-0211. | | 
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