Coronavirus In RI: Gov. Raimondo Wants Low-Wage Worker Bonuses

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Gina Raimondo said she is asking the state's federal delegation to push for a $600 bonus per week for what she called "low-wage workers" who are required to go to work for what have been deemed essential businesses during the new coronavirus health emergency. Gov. Raimondo said she hopes that benefit will soon be added for those who continue to work, as all unemployment checks in the state are set to go up $600 per week starting next week.

"I think there should be an increased benefit for essential workers that have to still go to work, to provide an incentive to go to work, and frankly to compensate for the fact that it's harder than ever now to go to work for these essential businesses," Raimondo said. "I know our federal delegation supports that, and is fighting for that, and I hope to soon have an announcement to that effect."

Raimondo discussed the benefits and restrictions of unemployment insurance in the state at length during Friday's new conference on a day when there were six more deaths in the state, bringing the total to 49, due to COVID-19. There were 288 additional cases from Thursday, bringing that total to 2,015. Of the new deaths, five were nursing home residents. One was in their 60s, four were in their 90s, and one patient who died was over 100 years old.

Gov. Raimondo said that new federal regulations allow for all employees to receive at least 10 paid sick days and said it is imperative for businesses that remain open — and are considered essential — to allow any worker who is not feeling well to remain home. However, she said that those who are feeling well and able to work, and who work for businesses considered essential, must go to work and are not eligible for unemployment benefits except for in very limited exceptions.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program provides for unemployment insurance for those self-employed and business sole proprietors who have lost work due to business shutdowns, as well as those who must stay home as the only available caretaker for a high-risk dependent who cannot be cared for in another setting. Gov. Raimondo said those who are applying for that latter exception will be examined on a case-by-case basis and that all claims will be investigated thoroughly.

She added that because of those investigations, those will also be the claims that will take the longest to fill.

"You are going to go through a lot of scrutiny to prove to us that you fit the criteria," Raimondo said. "Please do not quit your job because you think getting unemployment insurance will be easy to get, because it isn't."

She reiterated her statement from Thursday that all those who can work, and still have a job, must continue to work.

"I'm warning you that if you try to quit your job to get an unemployment benefit you will be denied," Raimondo said. "If you slip through the cracks, and we find out that you were trying to get away with something you shouldn't, it's fraud. There will be punishments."

In addition, Raimondo said she is waiving the unemployment "tax" that is imposed on companies when former employees apply for unemployment insurance.

"I am the one who told you that you have to close your business," Raimondo said. "I don't think punishing you with a higher unemployment tax is fair. This is an unprecedented situation. I know almost all of you would rather be open right now. But you can't be."

Raimondo also said she is "saddened" by the increase in cases of domestic violence during the stay-at-home orders. She said she is most troubled that there has been a decrease in calls to domestic violence hotlines and shelters at the same time overall cases are up, indicating to her that many may be suffering in silence.

"If you are hearing this as a victim of abuse realize you are not alone," she said. "I want you to reach out for help."

She said she intends to unveil a "more robust" domestic violence plan next week and that, while general court business is suspended during the health crisis, emergency restraining orders are still being granted.

"Don't let yourself get isolated if you are being hurt in your own house," she said. "The services (to help victims) are still there, and we're going to be ramping up those services.

"(It's important to access them because) I, unfortunately, don't see this problem going away anytime soon," she concluded.

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