Coronavirus Questions and Answers:

• Please post your coronavirus related questions in the discussion form below.  UNOG and Kids 'R' Kids Corp will work to get them answered by an appropriate resource (e.g. Insurance questions to Marc Sklar or HR/Legal questions to Bert Brannen).  Please also post your answers or advice to questions others have asked.  We will maintain an easy to read, organized list of questions and answers gathered from the posts in the discussions.

Insurance Related Questions:

Am I covered if my business is interrupted due to Coronavirus? 

1. All of your businesses currently carry business interruption coverage as part of your commercial property coverage.  Business interruption coverage is designed to help cover financial losses in operations, generally arising from a direct physical loss to the property.  In the event of a claim for coronavirus, related business interruption, questions may arise as to weather this “physical loss” requirement has been met.  In particular, in circumstances where you have been closed as part of a mandatory or voluntary closure, but are otherwise still habitable and uncontaminated, you have probably not suffered a direct physical loss since infectious diseases generally will not qualify as property damage.   In contrast, if a property has become physically contaminated and uninhabitable due to coronavirus, there may be a basis for you to claim that a direct physical loss has occurred.  (Answered by Marc Sklar 3/6/20)

2. You do have Business Interruption/Business Income and Extra Expense coverage - but it does exclude Coronavirus/illness and contamination just like the other policies.  I confirmed this with an underwriter, but I ALWAYS think that it is better to go ahead and file a claim when and if there is one instead of assuming that the underwriter is correct. The worst the carrier can do is deny and an Adjuster has the expertise to determine whether or not some or all of a claim would be paid. (Answered by  Stephanie Torrez, Owner of Dare Insurance Agency 3/10/20)

Under what circumstances are my employees eligible or ineligible to receive unemployment benefits if they cannot work due to coronavirus related issues?

1. If you are asking about employee benefits, then you would want to ask your Benefits company or short term disability carrier. If you are asking about time missed from work - there is no coverage due to Coronavirus. (Answered by Stephanie Torrez, Owner of Dare Insurance Agency 3/10/20)

Will Workers Comp cover an employee who contracts coronavirus while at work?

1. If it can be proven that the employee contracted the virus at work, I believe there would be coverage. (Answered by Marc Sklar 3/5/20)

2. As for WC, iSurity was told by their attorney that contraction of the coronavirus would not be compensable. I haven't seen any company willing to cover Coronavirus yet so a lot of people are asking these questions and have concerns. (Answered by  Stephanie Torrez, Owner of Dare Insurance Agency 3/10/20)

Legal / Human Resource Related Questions:

Fisher Phillips Information:

Fisher Phillips State by State COVID-19 Chart - updated 3.23.20

FFCRA Poster

1. What do I do if an employee says they do not want to come to work because they are afraid they might be exposed?

2. What can/should I do if an employee comes to work sneezing and coughing?

3. Can I require an employee not to come to work for 14 days if they have travelled internationally?

4. Can I or should I pay my teachers and/management team if I have to close my school?

5. Am I required to allow employees to wear a mask to work if they want to?

6. What are the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits?

   • To meet Texas unemployment benefits eligibility, you must meet three requirements:

     • You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, and within the guidelines as defined by Texas law. Those guidelines include situations such as losing your job in a reduction-in-force action, or you are let go due to a downturn in the economy or at a particular employer.

     • Your past earnings must meet minimum amounts within your given base period. Texas is much like most other states that require that you earned a specified minimum amount during your base period for unemployment to make sure you are eligible for unemployment benefits. You must be able to show that you earned wages in at least two of the four calendar quarters that make up your base period. In addition, your earnings for the entire unemployment base period must be at least 37 times your weekly benefit amount.

     • You must be ready, willing and available to work. If you are offered a suitable position based on your past work history, qualifications and skills, you must accept the position or run the risk of losing your benefits. As part of your availability to work, you must register with a state Workforce Center, either in person or online. After you register, you must make a minimum number of job search contacts each week and record those efforts through a Texas unemployment weekly claim. You will need these records when you are asked to verify your efforts, which could happen at any time. These Texas unemployment weekly claims ensure you will continue receiving your benefits. Your weekly benefit amount is the total you earned in your highest quarter divided by 25. The current weekly maximum amount is currently capped at $454.

   • If you are still unemployed at the end of a 26-week benefit period and your regular state benefits run out, you may be able to apply for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). This program and other similar programs were enacted during the nationwide recession that took place in 2008. They provide up to 47 additional weeks of benefits through a Texas unemployment extension, depending on when a person first became unemployed.

   • The Texas Workforce Commission has created an unemployment benefits calculator that will tell you whether or not you are entitled to receive benefits, and how much those benefits may be. To access it, go here.

   • You may be able to claim some benefits if you work less than full-time in a quarter. If this is the case, you will be asked to estimate your monthly or quarterly wages when you use the calculator provided by the Workforce Commission. (Answers provided by Wendy Fredrick 3/6/20)

School Closure Related Questions:

1. Under what circumstances must I or should I close my school?

2. What do I do if the county or other schools around me decide to close, but there has been no order to close by the Health Department or other governing agency

3. If I do close my school, whom do I have to notify?  What permission do I need to reopen?

Parent / Student Related Questions:

1. Can I ask families if they have traveled internationally or may have been exposed to Corona and request/require them to keep their children home if they have? 

   • Here are some ideas to inquire about travel and exposure and restrict attendance.

Resources:

1. Is there a collection of sample letters or other communication owners have used to communicate with parents or staff?

   • Yes!  Please see attachments in the Discussion Forum here.

   • Corona Virus Letter to Staff & Parents

   • Employees Being Placed on Unpaid Leave

   • COVID-19 Update Letter

2. View the Google Discussion for peer information here.

3. Here is a list of disinfectants approved by CDC for Corona virus.

4. Bert Brannen Q & A