Bloomberg Law
April 22, 2020, 7:16 PM

As States Reopen, Fear of Virus Won’t Justify Jobless Benefits

Chris Marr
Chris Marr
Staff Correspondent
Ben Penn
Ben Penn
Reporter
Cheryl Bolen
Cheryl Bolen
White House Reporter

Laid-off workers counting on unemployment benefits to carry them safely through the Covid-19 pandemic face a wake-up call in Georgia and other states where governors are eager to reopen for business.

Once employers call their employees back, workers will need a state-accepted reason if they wish to decline the job and keep collecting unemployment benefits. A fear of going to work during the pandemic isn’t likely to suffice.

The same goes for self-employed and independent contractors, such as the hair stylists and massage therapists that Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp (R) cleared to reopen for business beginning Friday, subject to social ...

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