Dear Texas Employers,

With uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the Texas Workforce Commission continues to offer Texas employers our full support. From legal questions regarding work from home policies to resources for loans, we are here to answer your questions and help ensure things go as smoothly as possible.

 In an effort to provide you information as quickly as possible, we are developing an email list around COVID 19. Please sign up here for future updates.

We have developed a webpage with resources and information on actions taken by the commission in response to COVID-19. This page will be continuously updated with answers to questions about operating your business during this time. Please visit https://twc.texas.gov/news/covid-19-resources-employers.

Information about managing multiple layoffs is available at the following site: https://twc.texas.gov/businesses/mass-claims-unemployment-benefits. Here you will find information about filing a mass claim for unemployment benefits for your employees and our Rapid Response services.

For information on preventing layoffs by cutting employee hours or furloughing workers, we encourage you to explore shared work programs. These programs are designed to allow employers to supplement their employees’ lost wages because of reduced work hours with partial unemployment benefits, for more information, or to apply for a shared work plan visit https://twc.texas.gov/businesses/shared-work or email ui.sharedwork@twc.state.tx.us.

If you need to hire new employees in the face of changing demand, we encourage you to post your positions on WorkinTexas.com or call your local Workforce Solutions office. Both resources can instantly connect you with qualified individuals to ensure you are meeting customer needs.

Small businesses are the backbone of our great state. We encourage those concerned about operating capital or making your next payroll to apply for any designated programs under the U.S. Small Business Administration.

TWC will continue to provide up-to-date information on our response to the employment issues facing Texans due to the COVID-19 virus. To stay informed, please be sure to follow our web page and sign up for updates here and on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

We encourage all Texas employers to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting frequently and providing teleworking options when available. Times may be tough but so are Texans. We thank you for your hard work and investment. We remain prepared to help in any way we can.