LATEST UPDATE
March 19, 2020
Employee Unemployment Claims resulting from COVID 19
We at Techneeds care about the health and welfare of our employees and their families. Due to the COVID 19 virus the Governors in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont as well as other states in the country have passed legislation in order to assist with our employees by offering unemployment benefits for the following reasons due to the COVID 19 virus:
Anyone in the following situations will now be eligible to file for state unemployment:
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If your employer temporarily closes due to COVID 19.
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Individuals that need to self-quarantine or are directed to quarantine at the instruction of a health care provider, employer or government official.
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Individuals that need to care for a family member that has COVID 19 or is under quarantine.
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Individuals that need to care for a dependent because of school closures, child care facility closures or other similar types of care programs.
Employees are not required to provide medical documentation but do need to be available to work when and as they become available.
The individual State Administrations are passing legislation that will allow the affected employees to receive their unemployment benefits more quickly by waiving any waiting periods for Unemployment benefits for claims resulting from any of the above circumstances.
If you are working in the state of New Hampshire and need to file an unemployment claim due to the COVID 19 virus you can do so by calling the NH Dept. of Employment Security at (603) 271-7700 or by going online to www.nhes.nh.gov.
If you are working in the state of Massachusetts and need to file an unemployment claim due to the COVID 19 virus you can do so by going online to www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-unemployment-benefits or by calling the TeleClaim Center at (617)626-6800.
If you are working in the state of Vermont and need to file an unemployment claim due to the COVID 19 virus you can do so by going online to www.labor.vermont.gov/covid19 or by calling 1-888-807-7072 or 1-877-214-3330.
Note:
If necessary these time periods for COVID 19 Coverage could be extended by the individual states. We will advise you of any extensions or changes to this process as we become aware.
March 13, 2020
As a valued member of the Techneeds team, your health and well-being are important to us. While many questions regarding the novel coronavirus remain unanswered at this time, there are practical, commonsense ways for you to take care of yourself, protect others, and monitor latest developments.
Based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Techneeds recommends that employees
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when they are sick
- Cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
- Not wear a face mask unless they show symptoms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19
- Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing (if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol)
We are asking anyone who has traveled to any of the following countries within the last 14 days, or had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, NOT TO report to work.
China, Italy, Iran, Japan, South Korea, and other European countries except for the U.K.
As a precaution, we are asking you to:
- Stay home if sick. If you have symptoms of acute respiratory illness, you should not come to work until you are fever-free and symptom-free without using medication for at least 24 hours. If you come to work with acute respiratory illness symptoms or become sick during the day, you should expect to be sent home.
- Notify your Manager or your Staffing Recruiter if you are sick or have been exposed. They will maintain your confidentiality and work to minimize risks to colleagues of further transmission.
Employees who have questions or concerns regarding this information or any other issue should speak with their Staffing Recruiter or Immediate Supervisor.
To learn more about the novel coronavirus and keep up with the latest developments, see the About Coronavirus Disease 2019 and CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions and Answers webpages. For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website.
We at Techneeds stand ready to assist you in navigating this public health challenge and furthering the well-being of all employees.
Thank You
Techneeds