A lot has changed over the last few months. Business owners have been focusing on the various ways to navigate their business operations under new circumstances. On the other hand employees and workers have been navigating the application for state unemployment benefits. As the volume of applications from unemployed workers are getting higher in the system, many of the applicants did not receive the correct assistance for applying with the state. Moreover, employers found it difficult to call the agency due to the state pulling all the staff onto the phone lines of employee.

Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz on 16th March 2020 has signed Emergency Executive Order 20-05 for offering immediate relief to employers as well as unemployed workers during this pandemic situation due to corona virus outbreak. According to the Executive Order 20-04 all restaurants, bars and other non-essential public businesses have been temporarily closed. And the Executive Order 20-05 ensured the workers who have been exiled during the pandemic will have complete access to unemployment benefits and also ensured that taxpaying businesses get relieved from paying into the system for covering these additional costs. The order remains in place until withdrawn by the appropriate authority.

The Executive Order 20-05 For Employees

Employee applicants can take advantage of unemployment insurance if:

• They have either lost their job temporarily or permanently. Also if they had their hours reduced because of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Healthcare professionals and health authorities are ordered to avoid contact with others due to COVID-19.

• Employees are barred from their workplace due to corona virus outbreak.

• Employees have received notifications from a school, day care or other childcare providers that either classes are canceled or ordinary childcare isn't available, provided reasonable efforts have been made by them to obtain childcare.

• The regular rules have been waived off by the Executive Order keeping the crisis in mind. For the time being employee applicants need not have to go at least one week without pay for qualifying for unemployment insurance. It also provides a system that will help workers who have their hours cut back significantly despite of the fact that they are not laid off.

If you are an employee who meets any of the above requirements, then you must apply online with the unemployment agency to get the required benefits.

The Executive Order 20-05 for Employers

• The Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program has been ordered by Governor Walz for not to increase the unemployment insurance taxes for benefits paid consequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Often when the unemployment benefit charges are taken against the account of taxpaying employers, they see an increase in the unemployment tax rate. This Executive Order hence protects employers from a tax rate increase when their workers collect unemployment benefits because of COVID-19.

Want to know more about the Executive Order or any other query about the changes in employment laws due to COVID-19? Then get in touch with a trustworthy and knowledgeable Minnesota employment lawyer. An experienced MN employment lawyer can help you in understanding the benefits you can obtain out of the executive order.

Conclusion:
Madia Law LLC comprises of some of the best lawyers in Minneapolis, who can help you with all your queries associated with the employment laws in Minnesota. For consulting with their Minnesota employment lawyer and know more visit https://madialaw.com/practice-areas/employment-law/

Source: https://minneapolisemploymentlawyer.wordpress.com/2020/11/18/a-brief-overview-on-minnesota-executive-order-unemployment-benefits-and-more/