Learn about common employment issues that happen after a disaster.

Learn about your rights as an employee
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance
- Unsafe work conditions
- Job loss due to COVID-19
- COVID-19 protections for employees
Employment Resources
Disaster Unemployment | COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave |
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides financial help to workers that are unable to work because of natural disasters You may be eligible for DUA if you lived or worked in the disaster area, and the disaster affected you in the following ways:
| 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Sick Leave provides employees with sick leave for reasons related to COVID-19. Covered Employees are entitled to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 related sick leave from January 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021 You may qualify for paid sick leave if you are unable to work due to :
|
COVID-19 Worker Protections | Wildfire Worker Protections |
Starting November 30 these emergency protections are in effect: Temporary Cal/OSHA worker protections:
If there have three or more COVID-19 cases at your workplace in the last two weeks
| Cal/OSHA has an emergency regulation (section 5141.1) to protect employees exposed to wildfire smoke.If you are working when the AQI is 151 or greater you are protected!Your employer must do the following to protect you from wildfire smoke |
Relief Fund | Info |
Southern Smoke Foundation | Provides financial help to those in the food and beverage industry |
Employment FAQs
Is my employer required to pay me for the time that I was unable to work due to the fire?
Possibly. Generally, if you are a salaried employee, your employer is required to continue to pay you if you were unable to work due to the fire. Conversely, if you are an hourly or contract employee, your employer is not required to pay you for the work that you missed due to the fire.
Is my employer required to provide me with paid or unpaid leave if I was injured as a result of the fire?
Possibly. Your employer may be required to provide you with unpaid leave, if, you or a member of your immediate family is suffering from a serious health condition or you are disabled and granting such leave would be necessary to reasonably accommodate your disability.
Is my employer required to provide me with paid or unpaid leave if I am too emotionally traumatized to return to work after the fire?
Possibly. Your employer may be required to provide you with unpaid leave, if your emotional trauma constitutes a serious health condition or disability which requires such accommodations
What benefits can I apply for if I am unable to return to work as a result of the fire?
You may be eligible for federal or state benefits, including: disability benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, or disaster unemployment benefits. Check with your employer or the Employment Development Department to determine your eligibility.You can determine your eligibility and file a claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits, either by phone at 1-800-300-5616 or online at eapply4ui.edd.ca.gov.
What is Unemployment Insurance and how canI file a claim for it?
Unemployment Insurance provides temporary income to workers who are eligible to work in the United States but have lost their job through no fault of their own. Unemployment Insurance is paid weekly and the payment amount is generally based on the worker’s earnings during the previous calendar year. You can determine your eligibility and file a claim for Unemployment Insurance, either by phone at 1-800-300-5616 or online at eapply4ui.edd.ca.gov
FAQs by Legal Aid of Sonoma County
Get Help
The following resources may help answer
any legal questions you have
California Free Legal Answers
Write your legal question relating to COVID-19 or the recent wildfires and a volunteer attorney will write you a free answer.
Law Help California
Find information about common legal problems. Get help finding legal aid organizations near you