Other resources for employees in terms of support, including training and upskilling, remote legal clinic, finance management, and unemployment benefits (e.g. insurance relief).

Information on providing emotional support and mental health resources for employees

Information on unemployment resources, such as unemployment insurance relief, benefits, workers' compensation, welfare or temporary assistance, and other unemployment programs and services

Helpful Links

The state of MA has developed a program to help employers avoid layoffs. The WorkShare program is an alternative for employers faced with a cut in workforce. Employers can divide available work between affected employees instead of laying off workers. It allows employees to receive a part of their unemployment insurance (UI) benefits while working reduced hours.

Free 3-month Skillshare membership (Skillshare is an online learning community for creative people, where millions come together to take the next step in their creative and business journeys). They offer thousands of classes, taught by industry icons and experts, in areas like entrepreneurship, leadership, branding, design, photography, and more

A non-profit that provides training / upskilling support for employees.

Provides locations of Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) health centers which provide care on a sliding fee scale so it is affordable for anyone. These centers can sometime provide care to people that are uninsured or cannot pay.

Facilities that provide a specified amount of free or reduced cost health care to low-income people. To find out if you qualify for Hill-Burton assistance you must apply at the admissions or business office at a Hill-Burton facility

The CARES Act makes small changes to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in regards to paid sick leave, paid FMLA and more. These changes include:

Paid Family and Medical Leave

Paid family and medical leave (FMLA) under the FFCRA is capped at $200 per day and $10,000 total per employee.

Paid Sick Leave

Paid sick leave under the FFCRA is capped at $511 per day and $5,110 total per employee. This amount drops to $200 per day and $2000 total for sick leave taken by an employee in order to care for a family member in quarantine or care for a child whose school has closed.

FMLA Leave Provisions

Workers that were laid off after March 1, 2020, but then rehired, are eligible for paid FMLA leave provisions described in the FFCRA immediately instead of needing to be an employee for 30 days.

Payroll Taxes

Businesses can keep money that they would have deposited for payroll taxes in anticipation of refunds from the Treasury Department for paid sick leave and paid FMLA leave outlined by the FFCRA, including amounts that would have been refunded later.