Resources for Employees
We want to hear from you: contact us directly regarding your needs or concerns as they pertain to COVID-19 response in our region.
If you have been sick or quarantined
- Housing for the Harvest
This is a new program that will offer temporary hotel housing to agricultural workers who need to isolate due to COVID-19. It will help positive or exposed workers protect their loved ones and coworkers by giving them a space to self-isolate. - Side by Side Comparison of CA Paid Family Leave, CA Paid Sick Leave and Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Paid Leave Rights
Labor Department tool explains how state and federal benefits work together for employees. - California COVID-19 Risk Screening and Testing
If you are interested in getting tested for COVID-19, complete an online screener based on guidelines from public health officials. Based on the responses and testing appointment availability, you will learn whether you qualify for testing through this program at this time. Currently offering COVID-19 testing in California:
San Jose (Santa Clara county)
San Mateo (San Mateo county)
Lake Elsinore (Riverside county)
Sacramento (Sacramento county) - California EDD Disability Insurance
If you’re unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week. - California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
If workers are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of their work, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Additional information can be found on their main website.
Caregiving
- California EDD Paid Family Leave
If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim. PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week. If you are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim. - U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL’s) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Online Dialogue for Paid Family and Medial Leave
Mental Health
- Disaster Distress Hotline
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
Call: 1-800-985-5990
Text: Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call: 1-800-273-8255 - California Peer-Run Warm Line
Call: 1-855-845-7415 - HOPE Cooperative Peer Support
Call: 1-855-502-3224 (available 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday- Friday) - I Got Your Back
Mental Health Resource and Hub for those tied to the hospitality industry led by Sacramento restaurateurs, healthcare providers and businesses. I Got Your Back provides peer-to-peer support for those in distress and provides a safe place to talk.
Call: 1-800-273-8255
Text: Text “HOPE” to 916-668-4226 - Alcoholics Anonymous Virtual Meetings – Sacramento Chapter
- Sacramento Bee Facebook Live on Mental Health with Dr. Jonathan Porteus of Wellspace Health
Unemployed or Reduced Work Hours
Disaster Relief Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants
The California Department of Social Services has selected twelve immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations to help individuals apply for and receive this disaster relief assistance in their region. An undocumented adult who qualifies can receive $500 in direct assistance, with a maximum of $1000 in assistance per household. Read frequently asked questions.
California EDD Unemployment Insurance
If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Workers who are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19 and expected to return to work with their employer within a few weeks are not required to actively seek work each week. However, they must remain able and available and ready to work during their unemployment for each week of benefits claimed and meet all other eligibility criteria. Eligible individuals can receive benefits that range from $40-$450 per week.
Labor and Workforce Development Agency Worker Benefit Chart
What employees are entitled to may be confusing. The purpose of this information is to make it easier to understand what resources may be available.
Hiring
California EDD – Current Exams
Onward CA
One-stop resource for the people of California impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Organizations Hiring
Banking Resources
- SAFE Credit Union
Information on loan programs, payment deferral programs - Golden 1 Credit Union
Member services and emergency relief resources.
Debt Relief
- U.S. Department of Education and Federal Student Aid
FAQ on student loan debt relief- California to expand student loan debt relief- more information here.
Mortgage & Eviction Relief
- 90-Day Grace Period for Mortgages
Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions have agreed to put off collecting residential mortgage payments for up to 90-days for those that can demonstrate they are impacted by COVID-19. In addition, these financial institutions also committed to not report late payments to credit agencies during this period and for at least 60 days, financial institutions will not initiate foreclosure sales or evictions, consistent with applicable guidelines.Important: This applies only to mortgages, and not rent payments.
City and County Moratorium on Residential Evictions
- Multiple cities and counties have instituted a moratorium on evictions for residents impacted by COVID-19. Each municipality has their own criteria and guidelines; all of which only provide a temporary delay of payment with full payment due at a later date. The following have declared these temporary moratoriums on residential evictions for renters (as of March 26, 2020):
Health Plan Resources
- Covered California
Covered California opened the health insurance exchange to any eligible uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 national emergency. Open-enrollment is through June 30. - Health for California
Self-Employed
- EDD’s PUA Assistance Video
An overview of EDD benefit programs available for Californians impacted by COVID-19 and tips for navigating the website. - California EDD’s Self-Employed/Independent Contractor website
The available benefits are insurance programs. To be eligible, either you or an employer had to make contributions in the past 5 to 18 months. It is possible these contributions were made at a prior job, or if you were misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee. We encourage you to apply for the benefit program that is most appropriate for your situation. - EDD’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program