Employment Resources
Guidance:
Is your business healthy and safe?
For information on protecting workers from COVID-19, refer to the Cal/OSHA Guidance on Coronavirus website.
Businesses and employers can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for help with planning and responding to COVID-19.
Have hours been reduced?
Employers experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the coronavirus impact on the economy may apply for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing Program.
This program allows employers to seek an alternative to layoffs — retaining their trained employees by reducing their hours and wages that can be partially offset with UI benefits. Visit Work Sharing Program to learn more about its benefits, and how to apply.
Is there potential for closure or layoffs?
Employers planning a closure or major layoffs as a result of the coronavirus can get help through the Rapid Response program.
Rapid Response teams will meet with you to discuss your needs, help avert potential layoffs, and provide immediate on-site services to assist workers facing job losses.
For more information, refer to the Rapid Response Services for Businesses Fact Sheet (DE 87144RRB) (PDF) or contact your local America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM.
Do you need tax assistance?
The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced updated special tax relief for all California taxpayers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information.
Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest.
For questions, employers may call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center: Toll-free from the U.S. or Canada: 1-888-745-3886 or Hearing impaired (TTY): 1-800-547-9565.
- San Diego Regional Economic Development Council’s Resources for Companies – Includes Reopening Reference Guides, COVID-19 resources for companies, financial resources, and hiring resources
- San Diego Workforce Partnership COVID-19 Business Impact Support - Resource support for employers to help mitigate COVID-19 impacts, such as access to working capital, layoff prevention programs, and resources for affected employees, such as unemployment, disability, and leave benefits, remote career services, financial planning, and more.
- San Diego Region: COVID-19 Business Resource Guide – Collection of local, state and federal financial resources for businesses affected by COVID-19, including resources for companies looking to pivot manufacturing operations.
- City of San Diego Business Relief and Support – Resources and information about the Small Business Relief Fund.
- Labor and Workforce Development Agency – Resources and information about workers’ compensation and paid sick leave.
- Labor Commissioner’s Office FAQs – Resources and information about employee leave options, compensation, and salary.
- Department of Fair Employment and Housing – Resources and information about job protection and employment discrimination.
- California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBANK) – One of the IBank Small Business Finance Center’s loan guarantee programs was designed for Disaster Relief specifically and is currently available to small businesses needing assistance to overcome economic injury caused by COVID-19.
- California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) – Designed to provide up to 100% coverage on certain loan defaults.
U.S. Department of Labor announced new guidance outlining flexibilities that states have in administering their unemployment insurance (UI) programs to assist Americans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
FOR CALIFORNIA: www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
Guidance:
Are you sick or quarantined?
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.
Have your hours been reduced?
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. For more information, please see the eligibility requirements and unemployment insurance benefits calculator. The Governor’s Executive Order waives the one-week unpaid waiting period, so you can collect UI benefits for the first week you are out of work.
- As part of the federal CARES Act, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic. You are able to apply on UI Online starting April 28th.
Layoff Transition Support Webinars
Register for San Diego Workforce Partnership’s webinars for workers experiencing work stoppages, layoffs or furloughs every other Friday at 10 a.m. covering topics like:
- How to file for unemployment insurance
- How to get re-employed as soon as possible
- Options regarding retirement assets and health insurance
San Diego Worker Assistance Initiative (SDWAI) Support
Part of the greater San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, SDWAI provides flexible resources to low-wage workers impacted by layoffs and reduced working hours implemented by employers. Employees can apply for assistance with utilities and/or rent or mortgage payments. For more information.
Are you self-employed?
Individuals who are covered by the Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program may be eligible for Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. Visit EDD - Self-Employed to learn more. To see if you qualify to elect DIEC, read the Information Sheet: Elective Coverage for Employers and Self-Employed Individuals (DE 231EC) prior to filling out the application.
- Federal Disaster Loans: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. For more Information about SBA disaster assistance programs, and to apply directly online, go to: www.sba.gov/disaster. Or, contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at: 1-800-659-2955 / 1-800-877-8339 (TTY) Or by email at: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov .
- Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF): To ensure the resiliency of local businesses and assist in job retention, the City of San Diego established the Small Business Relief Fund to provide grants and forgivable or low- to zero-interest-rate loans to eligible small businesses for working capital. Financial assistance, in the form of grants and loans, will range from $10,000 to $20,000 and will be allocated to eligible, qualified small businesses based on the availability of funds, program guidelines and the submission of all required information and supporting documentation. For more information about eligibility and to apply.
- San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund: rapidly deploying resources to nonprofit organizations that are supporting low-income workers, families and vulnerable communities most affected by the coronavirus crisis. For more information. If you are a 501c organization and would like to apply for funding.
- Paycheck Protection Program: To incentivize employers to maintain payroll during the crisis, the Small Business Association is providing 100 percent federally-backed loans for certain payroll expenses through June 30, with up to eight weeks of forgiveness for small businesses, certain nonprofits and self-employed individuals. The loans are forgivable if employers retain employees at comparable salary levels prior to the crisis. For more information.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Information
- San Diego County COVID-19 Small Business & Nonprofit Loan Program
- News Release: San Diego Among CA Counties Declared Disaster Areas for SBA Assistance
- Small Business Support Centers - California has a network of small business support centers for assistance with business resiliency, help figure out your best loan options, and find other resources.
- Facebook Small Business Grants
- Health Information and State Guidance
How can small businesses learn more from their network of support centers?
California’s network of small business support centers help businesses figure out which loans are best for them, develop resiliency strategies, and find other resources.
Is there any relief for small business owners who pay rent for their space but have had to close due to the coronavirus?
Governor Newsom’s executive order suspends all state laws that would prevent local governments from enacting policies to protect you as a resident or business owner from eviction because of nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19. As a resident or business owner, a financial institution holding your home or commercial mortgage is requested to implement an immediate moratorium on a foreclosure involving you, when the foreclosure or foreclosure-related eviction arises from economic hardship caused by COVID-19 conditions.
COVID-19 Website