Guidance for Jobseekers Impacted Due to COVID-19

By visiting the NYC Department of Small Business Services website, you can learn more about current employment and training opportunities. In order to access any of the services, you can begin the registration process online and apply for up to three (3) job opportunities without visiting a center.

You can visit the NYS Department of Labor website to learn more about how to file a claim to see if you are eligible for Unemployment Insurance and/or visit AccessNYC - an online public screening tool that you can use to determine the City, State, and Federal health and human service benefit programs for which you are potentially eligible to enroll.

Unemployment Insurance Relief During COVID-19 Outbreak Frequently Asked Questions

If you work in fast food or retail, you may also be entitled to extra pay for schedule changes including reduced hours. For more information or to file a complaint contact the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection by calling 311.

Beginning December 27, 2021, workers in New York City who perform in-person work or interact with the public in the course of business must show proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Workers will then have 45 days to show proof of their second dose (for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines).

Businesses may not allow any unvaccinated workers to come to their workplace. A workplace is considered any location — including a vehicle — where you work in the presence of at least one other person.

Learn more at nyc.gov/vaxtowork.

Hate and discrimination against anyone on the basis of their race, national origin, or other status is not tolerated in New York City. The NYC Commission on Human Rights, Mayor's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, and NYPD are monitoring and responding to reported hate and bias incidents resulting from fear and stigma related to COVID-19.

• Call 911 if you are the victim of a hate crime or witness what you believe to be a hate crime. NYPD officers will not ask about the immigration status of anyone seeking help and language assistance is available.
• Call 311 and say "human rights" to report harassment or discrimination in housing, at work, or in public places based on your race, national origin, immigration status, disability, or other protected classes under the NYC Human Rights Law.

Under the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, employers with five or more employees who work more than 80 hours per calendar year in New York City must provide paid safe and sick leave to employees. Employers with fewer than five employees must provide unpaid safe and sick leave. Covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member.

For more information, please read the Paid Sick Leave FAQ or to file a complaint contact the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection by calling 311.

Continue to exercise basic precautions while going about your life: wash your hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. You can visit nyc.gov/coronavirus to see more information about best practices for good hygiene and for disinfecting workspaces. Ask your employer to provide any equipment or supplies needed to maintain proper hygiene in the workplace.

Text COVID to 692-692 to receive SMS texts with the latest news and developments, and visit nyc.gov/coronavirus at any time for more information. (Text COVIDESP to 692-692 to receive updates via text message in Spanish.) If you have any questions on finding medical care, call 311. NYC will provide care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

For up-to-date information, please visit nyc.gov/accesstraining.

We encourage you to contact your training provider. Additionally, updated program statuses are posted at nyc.gov/accesstraining.

Stay informed, listen to public health messages from reliable sources like the NYC Department of Health or the CDC, and implement good personal and public health practices to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.

Avoid stigmatizing people who have recently traveled from any affected areas. There are a lot of things in social media and on the news that are not rooted in science and are offensive, demeaning, and racist.

People who do not show symptoms may still be able to spread COVID-19. A face covering can help prevent you from spreading COVID-19 to other people, so you should wear one whenever you leave the home.

A mask is a well-secured cloth or disposable covering that covers both your nose and mouth. Masks:

• Protect the wearer by reducing their exposure to respiratory particles that may contain the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Protect others by reducing the amount of respiratory particles that enter the air when someone with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes.

When adopting policies related to face coverings and social distancing, businesses must offer reasonable accommodations to customers with disabilities and should follow the guidance of the NYC Commission on Human Rights for Public Accommodations Protections.

More information regarding HRA benefits can be found here.

WF1CC staff will screen and connect qualified candidates to employment opportunities that are a match for both the candidate and employer, however, employment offers and acceptances are left to the discretion of the employer and candidate.

Yes, open positions with other employers can be found here.

If you plan to go to a one-on-one interview, please follow these guidelines:

• If you are sick, STAY HOME.
• If you have chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, a compromised immune system, chronic lung disease, and/or cancer, we are advising you to limit your exposure.
• If you have no symptoms, it's ok to go but continue to practice good hygiene and remain vigilant about your health.

Read NYC Health's Guidance and Safety Tips here.

Stay informed, listen to public health messages from reliable sources like the NYC Health Department or the CDC, and implement prevention practices to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses such as covering your coughs and sneezes, washing hands regularly and avoiding touching your face.

If you do not have health insurance, you can visit a NYC Health + Hospitals facility. To find healthcare: visit NYC Health and Hospitals or call 311. Hospital staff will not ask about immigration status. Strict laws protect patient confidentiality.

For more information on benefits you may be eligible for, please visit the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.