Punching In: Labor Department Preps Coronavirus Response

Monday morning musings for workplace watchers

Layoff Law | Labor Department Watch | Burr HELP

Chris Opfer: The Labor Department Thursday is slated to release new weekly unemployment insurance claims data that will give us the clearest picture yet of the impact the spread of coronavirus is having on the job market. It won’t be pretty. Nearly 140,000 workers in Ohio alone filed new claims for jobless benefits over five days last week.

Businesses shuttered as result of coronavirus response efforts and those facing plummeting demand already are weighing their options. That includes whether to make furloughs or layoffs, and ...