Having a hard time getting your unemployment benefits? Can't get anyone on the phone? Try after 5pm.

A word from the Unemployment Department of Washington State

ALERT: Our system update is complete and eServices is online. However, both the site and our phone lines are experiencing extremely high volumes. Pages are loading slowly and call wait times are long.

Please keep trying or come back and try later.

If you are calling to submit your weekly claim, please try back after 5 p.m.

Thank you for your patience. We apologize for the inconvenience.

For more information visit www.ESD.gov  

Is the Worst of the Corona Virus Crisis behind us in Washington State or Yet to Come?

While many of us are itching to get back to some semblance of "normal life," the indicators are not there to suggest that will be possible or safe immediately.

The curve may be flattening, but without adequate testing for antibodies what does that mean for re-opening businesses? Its hard to say. Here are the statistics we do know to date. Read more about Washington's confirmed cases here.

Seattle-King County Public Health’s Jeff Duchin spoke out this week about how prepared Washington is to reopen, noting that even with the outbreak waning, it’s not yet time to relax social distancing measures. Read more.

Dr. Gordan Cohen joined Seattle's morning news to explain: Reopening the Economy before a vaccine will call for strict sanitation protocols.
So, hang in there Washington and we will get through this together. To that end, I found this list of the 80, yes 80, things to do while stuck at home. Read More about things to do while stuck at home bored here.

EEOC update regarding back to work issues

EEOC addresses back to work issues in recent COVID-19 update.
Law360 outlines a few of the issues:
One question covered what employers should do about potential harassment and discrimination once their workplaces reopen. The EEOC said that employers can remind its workers that bias won't be tolerated and advise management of its role in stopping and reporting harassment and discrimination.

In the new section on returning to work, the EEOC fielded inquiries about screening workers and providing accommodations for personal protective equipment. The agency said the ADA lets employers make inquiries and conduct medical exams if they're necessary for keeping out workers who have a medical condition that poses "a direct threat to health or safety."

But the agency also advised that employers should be careful not to "engage in unlawful disparate treatment based on protected characteristics in decisions related to screening and exclusion."

Additionally, while employers can require workers to wear personal protective equipment and engage in certain infection control practices like hand washing, they should be ready to discuss disability and religious accommodations, the EEOC said. 

--Editing by Orlando Lorenzo.

For more information visit the EEOC website: Here.

Washington State launches web form to clarify “essential” businesses under COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. March 25, 2020 Joint Information Center 253-512-7100 wajic@mil.wa.gov State launches web form to clarify “essential” businesses under COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation A simple online form and comprehensive resources are available at www.coronavirus.wa.gov to answer questions from businesses and individuals about their essential/non-essential status. Camp Murray, WA - Washington state today launched an online form so businesses can get clarification or submit a request for inclusion as essential under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation. The proclamation goes into effect at midnight tonight, closing non-essential businesses for the next two weeks. State officials continue to emphasize that the state COVID-19 web portal is the central location for the most current information and resources for businesses and individuals: https://coronavirus.wa.gov/business-workers. Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation defines essential and non-essential businesses and workers related to the COVID-19 emergency response. People are encouraged to review the proclamation language carefully on what is open and what is closed for the next two weeks. “This is a difficult time for all of us, and we recognize the hardship on many businesses and families,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “As Governor Inslee said Monday night, we want to get back to normal as soon as possible, and to do that, we have to hit this hard. We are taking steps to relieve and mitigate the economic impacts of this action to the greatest extent possible.” Brown underscored that this is for now a two-week closure, and state officials will be evaluating the situation as we move through the expected increase in numbers of people testing positive for COVID-19. Inquiries from businesses about their essential/non-essential status are being reviewed as quickly as possible. For fastest response, businesses are urged to use the portal. In response to widely-circulated rumors, state officials also want to be clear that no one needs to be registered on any list, and no one needs a letter or pass of any kind to continue moving about, conducting essential business and activities. Visit the portal's Spread the facts page. The COVID-19 portal at www.coronavirus.wa.gov will have the most current and accurate information. Contact: Penny Thomas Media Relations penny.thomas@commerce.wa.gov | 360-704-9489