With increased unemployment benefits due to COVID-19, some employers are having trouble getting employees back to work.
BUT employers have a right to recall laid off or furloughed workers.
COVID enhanced unemployment benefits will not last forever. The extra $600 is set to expire on July 25, 2020.
In the meantime, if a worker refuses to return to work after reasonable notice, the worker can be separated and possibly disqualified from receiving further unemployment benefits. You can report them to the Texas Workforce Commission.
If you are planning to recall any recently furloughed employees here is some recommendations of what to include in the letter:
❑ Send letter or email notifying employee of date you would like them to
resume work.
❑ Provide details on terms of employment: of job, wage/salary, and
specify employment-at-will terms.
❑ Explain what business is doing to create and maintain a safe and
healthy workplace and include new safety methods/expectations of
employees and your reliance on CDC and local health department
information to keep the workplace safe.
❑ Require employee to accept the position by returning a signed and
dated copy of letter/email by a set date and specify that if not returned
you will assume that they are turning down this offer to return to work
and employment will be terminated.
❑ Ask the employee to contact you if they have any questions or concerns about current safety procedures or their personal safety, or if they need any type of assistance to be able to return to work.
Texas Workforce Commission answers questions to FAQ's from employers regarding employees and coronavirus issues.
Click here to read the Q & A.
