Employment opinion(s)

[13rock]

This is the situation I am in;  Our employees filed for unemployment when the stay at home order(s) were made by the state.

I asked them if they would work for Mother's Day which was when some businesses were allowed to be open.  I advised them we would only allow pre-ordered pick-ups or orders for delivery.  One even asked if she could work isolated because her mother is older and has several health concerns.

They all declined and also declined cash payment for those days because they are collecting unemployment.  Currently they are receiving a good amount more from unemployment than working.  Would you return to work if your employer reported back that you declined work? 

When would you feel safe enough to return to work if you declined? 

[13rock]

Them collecting unemployment is the right thing to do but would you return to work if you are unable to work from home?

[Deleted]

no. don't fuck these people over because they refused to risk their health during a pandemic. unemployment partly functions right now to encourage people to stay at home. your business isn't so important that they should risk their health to work, and fuck you if you report them for declining work right now.

[Deleted]

the situation you are in seems to be that you're a business owner contemplating punishing people for not feeling comfortable working during a pandemic.

[Stevie B]

Pretty straightforward situation. Don’t fuck these people over regardless of your opinions of them

[Stevie B]

Unfortunately we are in a pandemic and it is what it is

[Orlando Magic Johnson]

It depends on what my profession is and where I am working. I would not return to work to do deliveries. I would continue to receive unemployment if I could because why jeopardize your health and other people's health. I wouldn't feel safe to return to work for a while. If you don't feel safe and you don't need the money from the job why return?

[Deleted]

May 27, 2020 19:54:37 GMT -8 @aaronjh said:

no. don't fuck these people over because they refused to risk their health during a pandemic. unemployment partly functions right now to encourage people to stay at home. your business isn't so important that they should risk their health to work, and fuck you if you report them for declining work right now.

[13rock]

Part of the issue to is the banks and SBA are still figuring things out @aaronjh

The first wave of the PPP funding was depleted very fast and you had to apply ASAP. Part of the issue now is the banks are following up because the funds were required to be spent within 8 weeks. I let them know when we applied the employees declined to work and I understand why they are doing so. Nobody really knew how severe this would become and that it would last this long.

I'm not pushing them to work, one employee who wanted to work I would not allow to because he has several underlying health issues and his significant other is a hairdresser who had been still seeing clients to have income. I could not allow him to be delivering knowing he has previous health issues and his significant other is at high risk. If he did not understand this I was going to call his significant other to advise him why he should stay home.

[Erbes]

May 27, 2020 19:54:37 GMT -8 @aaronjh said:

no. don't fuck these people over because they refused to risk their health during a pandemic. unemployment partly functions right now to encourage people to stay at home. your business isn't so important that they should risk their health to work, and fuck you if you report them for declining work right now.

this is the unquestionable right answer

[Erbes]

money <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< lives

don't make people work please. and please don't report them.

are you providing PPE for those who decide to return? you're making deliveries. what steps are you taking to protect your employees? just because states are lifting sanctions doesn't mean this is over. please please please be safe with your workers. do not treat them poorly.

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 19:56:34 GMT -8 @aaronjh said:

the situation you are in seems to be that you're a business owner contemplating punishing people for not feeling comfortable working during a pandemic.

The SBA and banks are still trying to figure things out and it can change.  The original guidelines is the problem because nobody really though this would last this long;

(Copy/pasted from the document)

All funds must be used within the first eight weeks (the “Covered Period”)

For loan proceeds to be forgiven, they must be spent within eight weeks from the date that the loan
proceeds were first disbursed or received by you. This eight-week period is called the “Covered Period.”
For example, if you received your PPP loan on Monday, April 20, the first day of the Covered Period was
April 20 and the last day of the Covered Period is Sunday, June 14.

Exceptions: You will not be penalized for an FTE reduction for an employee in the following cases:
• You made a good-faith, written offer to rehire the employee during the Covered Period or
Alternative Covered Period and that offer was rejected by the employee; or
• An employee was fired for cause, voluntarily resigned or voluntarily requested (and received) a
reduction in hours.

Test #2: You did not reduce wages or salaries more than 25% for any <$100k employee
For employees who earned $100,000 or less in 2019 (or were not employed by the borrower in 2019),
the borrower’s loan forgiveness will be reduced for each employee whose average pay (salary or hourly
wage) during the Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period is less than 75% of their average
pay from January 1 to March 31, 2020. The amount of the reduction in loan forgiveness is based on the
amount of the reduction in pay.

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 20:13:21 GMT -8 Erbes said:

money <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< lives

don't make people work please. and please don't report them.

are you providing PPE for those who decide to return? you're making deliveries. what steps are you taking to protect your employees? just because states are lifting sanctions doesn't mean this is over. please please please be safe with your workers. do not treat them poorly.

Nobody is working aside from myself and my mother.  I'm not allowing the driver who wants to work to work because he has underlying health issues and his partner has been doing client's hair during the pandemic.

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 19:54:37 GMT -8 @aaronjh said:

no. don't fuck these people over because they refused to risk their health during a pandemic. unemployment partly functions right now to encourage people to stay at home. your business isn't so important that they should risk their health to work, and fuck you if you report them for declining work right now.

I'm asking for opinions because of what the SBA and banks are asking for. 

Over Mother's Day I asked if they felt safe enough to help and the doors would be locked and no walkin customers will be allowed.  Only phone/online orders and pickups.  Knowing they were on unemployment I offered cash so it would not affect their unemployment.

I only asked and did not push for an answer.  I already knew the answer would be no when they replied with "Let me think about it." 

So we stopped taking orders once we hit capacity and that was it.

[Deleted]

They not caring about being in danger lol they like having free money

[Deleted]

So many damn people were out for cinco de mayo and days leading up to mothers day

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 20:13:21 GMT -8 Erbes said:

money <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< lives

don't make people work please. and please don't report them.

are you providing PPE for those who decide to return? you're making deliveries. what steps are you taking to protect your employees? just because states are lifting sanctions doesn't mean this is over. please please please be safe with your workers. do not treat them poorly.

I have not asked if they were willing to work since the Mother's Day Holiday.  I told myself they will let us know when they feel safe returning.

I'm not paid by my family's business and do not receive a check so that we are able to cover more expenses. 

The SBA and the banks are asking and everyone was scrambling to get PPP funds before they ran out.  

[footy]

Hey mate,

I gather you are in the hospitality/food delivery space & I'm in a similar scenario although a little bit different given Australia's covid environment.

I think if your employees see you making a concerted effort to ensure their health & safety (ie: providing hand sanitizers, PPE masks, implemented social distancing measures etc) you will find they will be more likely to come back to work. Most people (at least in Oz) hate being not at work as work provides a socializing aspect and an increase in an individuals self worth. I appreciate there are those out there who will do whatever they can to avoid work- there is nothing you can do to appease them.

However, if your current employees don't feel it is safe to return to work, is there anything stopping you from hiring additional casual employees to assist you in the interim?

[footy]

Also I think maintain communication with staff (regardless of if they are working or not) will get them back to work sooner. Give them a call ask about their health, happiness and general well being.

An employee who feels valued will value their employer

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 20:13:21 GMT -8 Erbes said:

money <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< lives

don't make people work please. and please don't report them.

are you providing PPE for those who decide to return? you're making deliveries. what steps are you taking to protect your employees? just because states are lifting sanctions doesn't mean this is over. please please please be safe with your workers. do not treat them poorly.

None have decided to return and the one that wanted to work I would not allow to work.

Our business only has 4 employees and I'm included but do not cash a check.  If the checks I am issued were to be cashed I would be making under $4.00 an hour. 

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 20:41:40 GMT -8 footy said:

Hey mate,

I gather you are in the hospitality/food delivery space & I'm in a similar scenario although a little bit different given Australia's covid environment.

I think if your employees see you making a concerted effort to ensure their health & safety (ie: providing hand sanitizers, PPE masks, implemented social distancing measures etc) you will find they will be more likely to come back to work. Most people (at least in Oz) hate being not at work as work provides a socializing aspect and an increase in an individuals self worth. I appreciate there are those out there who will do whatever they can to avoid work- there is nothing you can do to appease them.

However, if your current employees don't feel it is safe to return to work, is there anything stopping you from hiring additional casual employees to assist you in the interim?

The business is a retail florist and we have very few walkin customers and most orders are placed over the phone or online.  Part of the problem is the Payroll Protection Program offered will only apply to employees that your business already had.

We could try to hire someone to help but it will be somewhat difficult to train them because I have to deliver and my mother does not really want to train people although she was previously a teacher.

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 20:43:44 GMT -8 footy said:

Also I think maintain communication with staff (regardless of if they are working or not) will get them back to work sooner. Give them a call ask about their health, happiness and general well being.

An employee who feels valued will value their employer

I sent them updates of the car accidents down the street.  They seemed to kinda get a kick out of it and replied "Why does the exciting stuff happen when we are not there!"

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 19:59:21 GMT -8 Stevie B said:

Pretty straightforward situation. Don’t fuck these people over regardless of your opinions of them

What do I tell the bank?  Everyone was scrambling for the PPP funding.

The CPA said to apply for it, my cousin who runs budgets for Kaiser said be sure I apply for it.  Nobody knew it would last this long...

[footy]

May 27, 2020 20:54:48 GMT -8 13rock said:

May 27, 2020 20:41:40 GMT -8 footy said:

Hey mate,

I gather you are in the hospitality/food delivery space & I'm in a similar scenario although a little bit different given Australia's covid environment.

I think if your employees see you making a concerted effort to ensure their health & safety (ie: providing hand sanitizers, PPE masks, implemented social distancing measures etc) you will find they will be more likely to come back to work. Most people (at least in Oz) hate being not at work as work provides a socializing aspect and an increase in an individuals self worth. I appreciate there are those out there who will do whatever they can to avoid work- there is nothing you can do to appease them.

However, if your current employees don't feel it is safe to return to work, is there anything stopping you from hiring additional casual employees to assist you in the interim?

The business is a retail florist and we have very few walkin customers and most orders are placed over the phone or online.  Part of the problem is the Payroll Protection Program offered will only apply to employees that your business already had.

We could try to hire someone to help but it will be somewhat difficult to train them because I have to deliver and my mother does not really want to train people although she was previously a teacher.

Okay so your PPD scheme is very similar to one they have here in Australia.

Under the Australian law anyway, the employer can redeploy their employee into other areas of the business (ie: painting a wall or social media etc) provided it is safe and within their competency's to do so. If that is not something you can offer, I again stress, you need to show your employees that you are making their workplace safe for which they can work in. The best way is to communicate to them the hygienic measures you have implemented to minimize their risk of contracting covid

[13rock]

The business does not make much money and my job that actually pays me probably won't exist this Fall/Winter.

Because I'm seasonal and a freelancer I'm not sure if I would qualify for unemployment due to High School Football being cancelled or postponed. Another colleague in the TV production industry is concerned many of the jobs will disappear due to networks choosing to reduce personnel. She is also concerned that many of the gigs will be quickly taken by people who have been in the industry the longest.

[Deleted]

Lol what employers care about well being of its people lol unless you are a superstar in the field lol.

[footy]

May 27, 2020 20:55:53 GMT -8 13rock said:

May 27, 2020 20:43:44 GMT -8 footy said:

Also I think maintain communication with staff (regardless of if they are working or not) will get them back to work sooner. Give them a call ask about their health, happiness and general well being.

An employee who feels valued will value their employer

I sent them updates of the car accidents down the street.  They seemed to kinda get a kick out of it and replied "Why does the exciting stuff happen when we are not there!"

That's only informing them of gossip- make a genuine attempt to connect with these guys & ask how they are, how their family is, what their concerns are about returning to work etc

It's the hardest part of owning any business (particularly a small one) but it will pay off dividends in the long run.

Listen to what they say & don't minimise their thoughts/feelings it will only become toxic and ruin the relationship

[13rock]

May 27, 2020 20:59:42 GMT -8 footy said:

May 27, 2020 20:54:48 GMT -8 13rock said:

The business is a retail florist and we have very few walkin customers and most orders are placed over the phone or online.  Part of the problem is the Payroll Protection Program offered will only apply to employees that your business already had.

We could try to hire someone to help but it will be somewhat difficult to train them because I have to deliver and my mother does not really want to train people although she was previously a teacher.

Okay so your PPD scheme is very similar to one they have here in Australia.

Under the Australian law anyway, the employer can redeploy their employee into other areas of the business (ie: painting a wall or social media etc) provided it is safe and within their competency's to do so. If that is not something you can offer, I again stress, you need to show your employees that you are making their workplace safe for which they can work in. The best way is to communicate to them the hygienic measures you have implemented to minimize their risk of contracting covid

One has asthma and older parents with potential heath concerns and she was concerned about her parents.  Almost the same can be said about the other, she had bad allergies and her mother is also older with potential health concerns.  Due to those reasons I believe they need the state and county to declare it is alright for places to fully open.

Entry to the business is only being allowed to those who have called or placed an order beforehand. 

[footy]

May 27, 2020 21:05:42 GMT -8 13rock said:

The business does not make much money and my job that actually pays me probably won't exist this Fall/Winter.

Because I'm seasonal and a freelancer I'm not sure if I would qualify for unemployment due to High School Football being cancelled or postponed. Another colleague in the TV production industry is concerned many of the jobs will disappear due to networks choosing to reduce personnel. She is also concerned that many of the gigs will be quickly taken by people who have been in the industry the longest.

I think that is a high chance unfortunatly mate, anything you can pivot towards that would help if you got started on now?

IE: You obviously have experience with TV production & small business. Why not make a show about your Mum's florist shop and see if you can pitch it to any local stations.

[footy]

May 27, 2020 21:09:36 GMT -8 @lumley316 said:

Lol what employers care about well being of its people lol unless you are a superstar in the field lol.

I do, every single one of them. If I didn't how can I entrust them with my business?