Walters: Five Years on, the Pandemic Still Plagues California Employee Safety Nets

Walters: Five years on, the pandemic still plagues California employee safety nets

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck California five years ago, it massively impacted California families not only medically but economically. As the state forced many businesses to close their doors, 3 million Californians lost their jobs, shooting the state’s unemployment rate up to more than 16%. In turn, two state programs that are supposed to cushion employees from the effects of workplace disruption were hard-hit. The most obvious impact is w…

Five years later, the pandemic still weakens two California employee safety nets

The state still hasn't fixed problems with its unemployment and workers compensation funds, both of which faltered during the COVID pandemic.