Legal Impact of Coronavirus

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services announced today that it is non-charging employers’ unemployment accounts for benefits paid to unemployment claimants during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2020. It is taking this action pursuant to its authority granted by Executive Order of Governor Hutchinson and Act 153 of 2021. These non-charges will lessen the effects of the pandemic on Arkansas employers’ unemployment obligations, and employers’ rates will not increase because of any unemployment benefits paid during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2020.