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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Library Law “Short” Coronavirus - Layoffs and Unemployment Resources.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt">NOTE:</span></u></b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt">
</span></u><b><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The research and resources below are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or
problem.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">With the extension of the Stay at home order by EO 2020-59
</span><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-526894--,00.html">https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-526894--,00.html</a>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"> and the growing realization that budgets are likely to be negatively affected, library boards are going to be reduced, some library boards which originally planned to pay workers on leave or work from home are re-thinking their
plan. This longer “Short” provides information and resources on layoffs and unemployment resources for Michigan libraries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Layoffs are never easy. It is strongly encouraged for any board and/or director to consult their library legal counsel with regards to proper procedure for conducting a layoff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Employees affected by layoffs are encouraged to carefully read every communication from the employer, and to consult the layoff and unemployment information below in order to understand their rights and the
benefits available to them. Michigan Legal Help is a good resource for researching legal issues
</span><a href="https://michiganlegalhelp.org/">https://michiganlegalhelp.org/</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Layoffs and Furloughs- Employers and Employee Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Guidance to Employers Considering Layoffs (Mi Dept of Labor and Economic Opportunity) This sheet provides helpful information and procedures- and alternatives - for employers contemplating layoffs<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/documents/leo/Guidance_to_Employers_REV_684448_7.pdf">https://www.michigan.gov/documents/leo/Guidance_to_Employers_REV_684448_7.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Know your Employee Rights- Webpage by the Attorney General on employee rights relating to he pandemic.
<a href="https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-98784---,00.html">https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-98784---,00.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Resources and Information on Leave ,Layoffs and other employment law issues during times of Disaster, Pandemic, and Other Emergencies (Library of Michigan information sheet)
</span><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/Employee_Leave_Info_Doc_685044_7.pdf">https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/Employee_Leave_Info_Doc_685044_7.pdf</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Arguments Against Layoffs for Library Boards</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
The library has already budgeted and has the money in hand to pay workers. The fact that libraries are government entities dependent on tax funds that get collected 1 or 2x a year means they should have the money to pay workers. If there is a budgetary concern,
the board could consider WorkShare (see Guidance to Employers, above ) as a possible alternative.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
Boards that are concerned whether paying staff while they are not working is a misuse of public money can be assured that most legal professionals- and library law attorneys in Michigan that I have spoken with agree that paying staff during the pandemic is
defensible as being for a public purpose and for the public good. There is legal authority that supports employee benefits such as paid leave as being within the parameters of “supporting a public purpose” for meeting the standard of the use of public funds.
The reasons for this are:<o:p></o:p></li><ol start="1" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">
Paying staff to work from home or for leave will ensure that you retain the staff that the library has already invested time and $$ in training. It is a good public policy to retain good experienced workers. If workers get laid off, they may seek employment
elsewhere and the library would lose them, and the investment made in them.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">
Allowing staff to work from home will allow the library to remain productive, continue to offer services to their community and permit certain tasks to get done that may not otherwise happen (such as a thorough policy review, collection development policy update,
creation of new programs and creative outreach, even staff training and professional development via many online free options). Paying staff to stay home and learn or work can be a good investment (and reinforce to the community that the library is a resource
worth paying for via millages).<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">
Paying staff for leave or work at home will inspire appreciation and loyalty from the staff and will increase staff morale and likely productivity both at home and once the library re-opens.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">
Paying staff for leave or to work from home will encourage that staff to stay home rather than possibly seek employment elsewhere and be out in the community possibly being exposed (or exposing others) to the virus. The library is assisting the community and
protecting their staff by making it possible for staff to abide by the stay at home order.<o:p></o:p></li></ol>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">See also information on use of public funds for staff leave here (see Q 2):
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fevents.fosterswift.com%2Fviewmailing.aspx%3FMailingId%3D41225%26MailKey%3D1214202&data=02%7C01%7CMembielaC%40michigan.gov%7C8eee07c5b5e64eb3121608d7eb7145dd%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637236744036241889&sdata=CDpwxHsKMz1WEt%2FSh3X2yR4PUFZ0D2E1FTTXF5Xstd8%3D&reserved=0">
http://events.fosterswift.com/viewmailing.aspx?MailingId=41225&MailKey=1214202</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
Layoffs- even temporary- should be conducted in the manner described in this document -
<a href="https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98158-522113--,00.html">
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98158-522113--,00.html</a><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/documents/uia_UC1710_76109_7.pdf">https://www.michigan.gov/documents/uia_UC1710_76109_7.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.5in">
The American Library Association and the Michigan Library Association both urge Boards to provide paid leave or work from home arrangements:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> ALA -
<u><span style="color:blue"><a href="https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/ala-executive-board-recommends-closing-libraries-to-public/?fbclid=IwAR1rbyDkYASdWB8qrbcuAwTeczvK49bKK--NIAtdw-s-EkisLwcu0b3S4Gk">https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/ala-executive-board-recommends-closing-libraries-to-public/?fbclid=IwAR1rbyDkYASdWB8qrbcuAwTeczvK49bKK--NIAtdw-s-EkisLwcu0b3S4Gk</a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">MLA -
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.milibraries.org%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D784%253Amla-s-update-on-covid-19---news---michigan-library-association%26catid%3D27%253Anews-mla%26Itemid%3D292&data=02%7C01%7CMembielaC%40michigan.gov%7C374ed65b8a56406667af08d7e61b1e93%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637230876467927866&sdata=kvn6mllQy7FDvR2Zlip1rurXfJG0MaQEjhmGRA7SCDo%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">
https://www.milibraries.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=784%3Amla-s-update-on-covid-19---news---michigan-library-association&catid=27%3Anews-mla&Itemid=292</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Unemployment Program Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Unemployment Law information relating to the pandemic</span><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">
</span></b><a href="https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-tools/employment/unemployment-and-covid-19">https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-tools/employment/unemployment-and-covid-19</a><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Unemployment EO -2020-57</b> <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-526796--,00.html">
https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-526796--,00.html</a> – Expands availability of unemployment benefits to additional kinds of workers, suspends the payment of unemployment by employers for employees who register.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unemployment Resources – Employees & Employers <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241---,00.html">
https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241---,00.html</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Information</b>- <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241_98585_98650-525471--,00.html">
https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241_98585_98650-525471--,00.html</a> (PUA is the Federal assistance program that provided states with funds for unemployment claims due to covid-19, or unemployment claims due to covid from employees not eligible
to State unemployment. Provides $600 per week on top of available State unemployment claim)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FAQ Unemployment – Employers</b> <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/documents/leo/COVID-19_FAQ_for_Employers_684471_7.pdf">
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/leo/COVID-19_FAQ_for_Employers_684471_7.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FAQ Unemployment – Employees</b> - <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241_98585---,00.html">
https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_97241_98585---,00.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Employee information sheet </b><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/documents/leo/Information_for_Employees_684469_7.pdf">https://www.michigan.gov/documents/leo/Information_for_Employees_684469_7.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please don’t hesitate to contact us at the Library of Michigan if we can be of assistance:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,9327,7-381-88855_89053_89064---,00.html">https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,9327,7-381-88855_89053_89064---,00.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library Law Consultant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:MembielaC@michigan.gov">MembielaC@michigan.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">517-335-8132<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The research and resources above are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your
attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F5192;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">You have the power to shape your future, and the future of all children, by counting everyone in your home in the
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmy2020census.gov%2F&data=02%7C01%7CMembielaC%40michigan.gov%7C96161cc3f10043dd369308d7e2c7a0d8%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637227219332225475&sdata=fMHNDTObgxJaCz1ww1kQqW3XAVYRD3SIQ8kMlFkujPg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://my2020census.gov/. Click or tap if you trust this link."><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">2020
Census</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F5192;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><img border="0" width="187" height="60" style="width:1.9479in;height:.625in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D61D71.AE8B6810"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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