September 2020 MiMfg Magazine 19
Dealing with Unemployment
During a Pandemic
The CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act (FFCRA) provided extended benefits
for those on unemployment due to a COVID-19-related
layoff/furlough — adding $600 beyond the typical
unemployment benefit that Michigan offers. Those
benefits expired the weekend of 7/24/20.
When negotiations collapsed, President Trump
issued a Memorandum of Policy on 8/8/20 to continue
enhanced benefits retroactive to 8/1/20. Shortly after,
FEMA approved Michigan’s application to access
federal funds through the Trump memo to continue
adding $300 per week in additional unemployment
benefits for an estimated 910,000 residents.
The federal CARES Act also provided enhanced
support for workshare programs and, under Governor
Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-76 (effective for
the duration of Michigan’s declared pandemic), nearly
all employers and workers are eligible to participate.
Michigan’s Workshare program allows employers
to keep their employees while reducing hours and
wages anywhere from 10 to 60 percent, all while
permitting the employee to continue receiving
prorated unemployment benefits. MMA supports
the state’s efforts on Workshare as it helps reduce
pressure on the UITF if people are working even
part-time. While the extra benefits help attract
people to Workshare, we remain opposed to
expanded benefits as it creates a barrier to attract
workers back to work.
Inaccurate UIA Statements
and Imposter Claims
Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-76
pertaining to unemployment also specifies that
unemployment benefits payable to workers who
were laid off or on a leave of absence during the
COVID-19 crisis would not be charged to employers.
However, numerous MMA members have
discovered errors on their quarterly statement from
the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
(UIA) this summer with inaccuracies and charges
inconsistent with the executive order. While MMA
has received assurances from the UIA that all
erroneous charges will be corrected, members should
closely monitor their statements and immediately
protest improper charges with the Agency.
Additionally, this is a perfect time for employers
to double-check for imposter claims. The sooner a
fake claim is discovered, the easier it will be for
everyone involved to address the potential crime. 6
Has your company received inaccurate UI charges?
Have your employees been the victim of imposter
claims? Contact the MMA Government Affairs team, at
517-487-8552, so we can advocate on your behalf.
David Q. Worthams is MMA’s Director of
Human Resource Policy. He may be reached
at 517-487-8511 or [email protected].
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