Retailers began shuttering thousands of locations two weeks ago to slow the spread of the virus. Many kept paying employees until the end of March. As that deadline approached, and with the virus far from being contained, Congress and the administration realized the need for an alternative to avoid massive layoffs.
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While furloughed store associates do stop getting paid by the company, they maintain health benefits and can tap unemployment insurance that the stimulus made much more robust.
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The law boosted the benefit by $600 per week for four months. That’s the equivalent of working 40 hours a week at $15 an hour, which would fully replace the income of many employees. Already-existing unemployment benefits from states, which generally try to replace half a low-income worker’s pay, mean that lots of front-line employees may end up earning more while on hiatus.
From the article:
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I was unaware that you could claim unemployment while on furlough, I have some friends to inform now....