labor lawAdivision of labor law center

 The federal government has a number of resources for employers affected by natural disasters.

 

In just the last two weeks, a number of regions have been struck by hurricanes, floods and other disasters. On September 2, Hurricane Gustav struck Louisiana, resulting in FEMA granting emergency assistance to 24 parishes.

 

On September 13, Hurricane Ike struck Texas and parts of Louisiana with devastating consequences for Galveston, Houston and other areas.

 

The storm systems continued north, and by September 14 had caused catastrophic flooding in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and parts of the Midwest.

 

The US Department of Labor has set aside $22.2 million in funds for Louisiana after Hurricane Gustav.  Several million dollars have already been earmarked for Midwest flood recovery. No doubt additional funds will be released soon for portions of the country affected by Hurricane Ike.

 

The US Department of Labor offers these tips and resources for employers:

 

Emergency Job Information
Spread the word about Emergency Job Information in the community by downloading, printing and sharing this informational flyer.

 

Unemployment Insurance (UI)
The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. This includes employers, small business owners and those who are self-employed, in many cases.  To find your state’s unemployment insurance information, visit http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/map.asp.

 

Information on Wages
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) staff in the affected region are available to provide service to complainants on last paycheck and other wage related issues. WHD staff will also provide compliance assistance to employers and employees on the application of federal law in emergency and disaster relief situations.

In most cases, employers must pay employees for all hours worked, even if the business has since closed. Employers and employees can call 1-866-4US-WAGE (1-866-487-9243) for help on wage-related issues. All calls are treated confidentially. For more information on the Wage & Hour Division, please visit: http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/

 

Disability Program Navigators
Persons with disabilities can receive assistance from specialists in finding employment opportunities and government services in their area.  For more information about ETA’s Disability Program Navigators, please visit: http://www.careeronestop.org/disasterrecoveryservices/

 

Employment and Job Training
One-Stop Career Centers can provide assistance to evacuees and other survivors of victims of natural disasters find employment and training opportunities. Targeted assistance is available to people based on individual needs through the nationwide network of 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country.

 

 

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