COVID-19 Resources for Employers

• Hazard Recognition
• OSHA Standards (including enforcement guidance (for example, on handling complaints and illness reports), directives and workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities)
• Medical Information regarding COVID-19
• Guidance Employers and Workers on Control and Prevention of COVID -19
• CDC Website with Resources for Business and Employers
• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
• Cleaning and Disinfecting your Facility
• Preparing your Small Business and Employees for the Effects of COVID-19
• Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person With COVID-19

SBA updated information for business
*Please note, although not all businesses will qualify for these specific programs, there is other SBA assistance that is always available.
Important SBA tips from our public assistance unit 

There are some excellent financial resources available to assist small business partners during the this trying time. Businesses should apply for all benefits-because they can turn down funds if the discover that the program does not suit their needs. Funding is available under the Cares Act. This will assist owners of multiple businesses to apply for loans for each business separately.  Loans covers- past due expenses- not a loss of sales and  75% of the funds must be used for payroll.

• Disaster Preparedness Factsheet (English | Spanish)
• Disaster Mitigation Factsheet (English | Spanish)
• Disaster Assistance Loans: Businesses & Nonprofits (English | Spanish)
• Disaster Assistance Loans: Homeowners & Renters (English | Spanish)
• Disaster Assistance Loans: Community Impact (English | Spanish)

From Congresswoman Nita Lowey: Supporting Small Business Community with Disaster Loan Assistance: As of March 18, SBA has made a disaster declaration for the state of New Jersey, and has named both Rockland County and Westchester County as contiguous counties eligible for disaster loan assistance. The Disaster # to reference in your application is NJ-00057.

If your business is forced to close, you should provide required notices as soon as possible and identify the circumstances that required the closure. The 90 day notice requirement has been waived due to COVID-19

Private sector employers in New York State that employ more than 50 employees must file a WARN notice when:

• Closings affecting 25 or more workers
• Mass layoffs involving 25 or more full-time workers (if the 25 or more workers make up at least 33% of all the workers at the site)
• Mass layoffs involving 250 or more full-time workers
• Certain other relocations and covered reductions in work hours

Notice must be sent to:

• Employees
• Their representatives
• The State Labor Department at WARN@labor.ny.gov, and
• Local workforce development (LWD) partner (djthomasrcwdb@gmail.com in Rockland County)

Consider the Shared Work program as you manage business cycles and seasonal adjustments. Shared Work lets you keep trained staff and avoid layoffs. Employees can receive partial Unemployment Insurance benefits while working reduced hours. Full-time, part-time and seasonal employees are eligible.  For more information call 518-549-0496 or email sharedworkinfo@labor.ny.gov

Eligible business will have:

• Employed at least two employees working in New York State
• For four consecutive calendar quarters, you or your predecessor, must have:
  • Paid UI Contributions or
  • In lieu of contributions, elected reimbursement of benefits paid to your former employee
•  A Shared Work plan that must:
  • Reduce work hours and corresponding wages 20 – 60%
  • Apply to employees who normally work no more than 40 hours per week
  • Not reduce or eliminate fringe benefits unless fringe benefits are also being reduced or eliminated for the entire work force
  • Not extend beyond 53 weeks (when nearing the end of the plan, you may submit a request for a new plan)
  • Replace a layoff of an equal percentage of employees

Businesses cannot hire additional employees for the work group covered by the plan.  If there is a collective bargaining agreement in effect, the collective bargaining agent must agree to take part in the Shared Work plan.
Shared Work Program Employer Fact Sheet
Shared Work Program Employee Fact Sheet