Returning Employees to the Workplace & Unemployment Changes

Michigan reached the 55% vaccination threshold on May 10th. On May 24, we anticipate allowing a return to in-person work across all sectors.

Returning to the workplace brings philosophical, policy, and emotional considerations that employers should take into consideration. Consider writing a Return to the Workplace Plan

to share your organization's approach and resources available to employees.

Here's the Table of Contents for the Return to the Workplace resource we have developed:

  • Company Approach to In Person, Remote, & Hybrid Work

  • Timeline for Change

  • How We are Adapting

  • Office Hours

  • Mask Etiquette

  • Daily Health Screening

  • Managing Stress in a Pandemic

  • Resources for Employees

To learn more about the ‘MI Vacc to Normal Plan’ and Vaccine Rollout, visit www.michigan.gov/covidvaccine to view the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard.

Unemployment Changes in Michigan

  • Michigan unemployment no longer covers missed time related to COVID quarantine, isolation, illness etc. as it had under the temporary orders. The federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program may still be available for the $300. This impacts the strategy of offering unemployment instead of Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) or Emergency Family Medical Leave (EFML).

  • The Workshare program rules have gone back to the traditional requirements such as 15-45% instead of 10-60% of their schedule.

  • Unemployment costs are now being charged back to the employer instead of the “no charge account."

See link for details for the quick summary.  Employment Updates: MIOSHA and Unemployment Benefits Matters - FSBR (fsbrlaw.com)