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The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS) recently announced that starting June 28, the work-search requirement for unemployment benefits is once again in effect. DWS had waived the requirement in March in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the job-search requirement, individuals receiving unemployment benefits must make two to three job contacts each week depending on where in the state they live. The work-search requirement also applies to individuals receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), except for those who are self-employed. Self-employed PUA claimants must be engaged in activities designed to resume their usual self-employment and should enter the number of days each week that they were engaged in activities designed to resume their usual self-employment. Individuals receiving Extended Benefits have enhanced work-search requirements and must make three to four job contacts each week depending on where in the state they live.

Governor Asa Hutchinson issued three Executive Orders on Monday, June 15, 2020, in response to the public health crisis posed by COVID-19. Below is a summary of Executive Order 20-35. The purpose of Executive Order 20-35 is to clarify and provide sufficient recourse under the Workers’ Compensation Law for claims related to COVID-19.

We have found the Shared Work Program to be very beneficial for employers and employees. The program allows employers to reduce hours by 10 to 40 percent. The employee receives part wages from his employer, an amount of state unemployment benefits that corresponds to the reduced hours, and the $600 weekly unemployment benefit through the end of July. As a result in most cases, employees are made whole. At the same time, employers are able to keep their employees close so they can be called back to work full-time when needed. The added bonus for employers is that participation in the Program does not impact their experience ratings.

Michael S. Moore was the guest on HoganTaylor's podcast "Accounting for COVID-19." In the episode, Mike discusses the legal issues, or “Rules of Engagement,” for reopening businesses. Mike answers questions and discusses choices that leaders need to make once they reopen their offices, including keeping staff safe while maintaining their privacy, social distancing constraints, and how to avoid some potential pitfalls.

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services Emergency Rule 30 became effective on April 27, 2020 and will expire on December 31, 2020. This rule requires employers to give notice to employees of the availability of unemployment benefits when they are let go. The state promulgated this rule to comply with requirements in the CARES Act to allow it to receive supplemental federal funding. Thus, beginning April 27, 2020 every employer in the state is required to give a copy of the notice prepared by ARDWS to employees upon separation of employment.

While Coronavirus is not an accidental injury as contemplated in the Workers’ Compensation Act, it may be considered an “occupational disease” if it meets the statutory definition for a compensable claim. In Ark. Code Ann. 11-9-601(e)(1)(A), “Occupational disease” is defined as “any disease that results in disability or death and arises out of and in the course of the occupation or employment of the employee or naturally follows or unavoidably results from an injury as that term is defined in this chapter.”

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides expanded unemployment benefits for those individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the CARES Act creates three unemployment programs: (i) Pandemic Unemployment Assistance; (ii) Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation; and (iii) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation. These programs work alongside state unemployment benefits and are fully funded by the federal government.