Families First Coronavirus Response Act
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. This act applies to certain public employers, and private employers, with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may qualify fort exemption from requirement to provide leave due to school closings or child care unavailability if the leave requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.
More Information:
Employer Paid Leave Requirements
Employee Paid Leave Rights
Questions and Answers
Paid Sick Leave and COVID-19 Common Questions
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) ACT
The CARES ACT allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Read More….
CARES ACT Questions and Answers
Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Franchise Business Requirements and Opportunities
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is an SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
- Disaster Loan Applications In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000.
- Employer Assistance Program To help during hard times, L&I can work with financially distressed businesses impacted by the economy, natural disasters, or other serious problems to arrange a payment plan for workers' compensation premiums. Businesses that are impacted and have not paid their most recent quarterly premiums should call L&I for help.
Helpful resources for small businesses:
- FREE virtual advising: Washington Small Business Development Center is providing free business advising, and business plan resources.
- Small Business COVID-19 Survival Guide: This page, put together by Washington Small Business Development Center includes resources on strategies to get through the pandemic, such as expense reduction advice. There are also FREE webinars covering CARES ACT, loans, and strategy.
