Employer / Employee HR Resources

From the State of Michigan:

July 19, 2021 – Michigan Adds Requirements for Unemployment, Relaxes Rules for Manufacturing Workers

Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 501, which allows workers temporarily laid off due to a manufacturing shutdown to continue to receive unemployment benefits without looking for a new job. Under current law, workers laid off more than 45 days ago are not eligible for a work search waiver. SB 501 recognizes that, in the manufacturing context, certain events triggering a temporary layoff like an equipment retooling, a parts shortage, or a temporary production volume adjustment, can last more than 45 days. For manufacturing workers, this bill allows them to keep getting benefits without looking for work for up to 135 days.

The bill also requires unemployed people to register for work through a Michigan Works! agency. Previously, state law required unemployed workers to register for work to get benefits, but did not say who people had to register with. Senate Bill 501 clarifies this requirement.

 

From the American Society of Employers (ASE):

July 20, 2021 – The Importance of Having a “No Show, No Call” Policy in Place

A “No Show, No Call” policy states simply if an employee is absent from work and does not call within a certain period of time the company will consider this abandonment of a job and a voluntary quit. In Michigan, our unemployment compensation law considers not calling and not showing up for work for three days a disqualification for unemployment benefits when a “No Show, No Call” policy is in place.

July 13, 2021 - Fighting Unemployment Claims When Employee is Ghosting

In a recent ASE poll, 88.2% of respondents said they have been ghosted by an applicant within the last six months.  Now the employer can take repercussions. When an employer makes an offer of suitable work to an employee or makes an offer for an employee to return to their previous job, the employee can possibly lose unemployment benefits it he/she refuses. Wages, workplace safety, and other factors are considered in determining whether work is “suitable.”  Both employers and employees have an obligation to report offers and refusals of suitable work to the Agency. The employer should notify the UIA by submitting details of the refusal in MiWAM.  

If a claimant fails to return to work or refuses an offer of work, this can be reported online through your MiWAM account (Under Online Services for Employers, Click on Report Refusal of Offer to Work, Complete all steps with information and then submit).  If a claimant fails to interview, you can submit the date, time, and employer name and address of where the interview was to take place, along with the claimant's name, address, and phone number so the UIA can research and investigate. This type of protest will need to be mailed to:  UIA, P.O. BOX 169, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0169. 

 

From the Unemployment Insurance Agency:

July 14, 2021 – UIA Encourages Certain Claimants to Provide Information to Requalify for PUA Benefits

The Unemployment Insurance Agency is encouraging claimants who are required to requalify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to provide the agency with the necessary information to remain eligible for the federal program. At the onset of COVID-19, there was ambiguity in the federal guidelines and more latitude was given in the interpretation of those guidelines by the states, including Michigan. As the program continued, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) became more prescriptive to states regarding what could and could not be included.

Because four PUA COVID-19 eligibility reasons included at the beginning of the pandemic were found to be non-qualifying by the USDOL, the UIA is providing affected claimants with the tools necessary to be re-evaluated for eligibility under federal law.

 

From the US Department of the Treasury:

Small Business Tax Credit Programs

The American Rescue Plan extends a number of critical tax benefits, particularly the Employee Retention Credit and Paid Leave Credit, to small businesses.

Employee Retention Credit: The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to $7,000 per employee per quarter. This credit of up to $28,000 per employee for 2021 is available to small businesses who have seen their revenues decline, or even been temporarily shuttered, due to COVID.

Paid Leave Credit: The American Rescue Plan extends through September 2021 the availability of Paid Leave Credits for small and midsize businesses that offer paid leave to employees who may take leave due to illness, quarantine, or caregiving. Businesses can take dollar-for-dollar tax credits equal to wages of up to $5,000 if they offer paid leave to employees who are sick or quarantining.

 

EMPLOYER / EMPLOYEE HR RESOURCES

County Resources

St. Clair County Health Department

 

St. Clair County Community Mental Health

 

Federal Government Resources

US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) COVID-19 Resources

 

US Internal Revenue Service

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Resources

 

State of Michigan Resources

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services


Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA)

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Unemployment Insurance Agency

 

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Worker Adjustment and Retaining Notification Act (WARN)

 

General State of Michigan Resources

 

Non-governmental Resources

American Society of Employers

Koppinger & Associates

Michigan Small Business Development Center

Small Business Association of Michigan

Wheels to Work Program

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center

Michigan Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

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