What you should know about…

Vaccines

On August 9, 2021, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation mandating that most state executive branch employees and on-site contractors and volunteers, along with public and private health care and long-term care workers, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th. Individuals included in the proclamation’s mandate must receive the final dose of their vaccination no later than October 4th.

Exemptions from the vaccine requirement are allowed for those individuals who are entitled to a disability-related reasonable accommodation or a sincerely held religious belief accommodation.

Business resources

U.S. Small Business Administration launches PPP loan forgiveness portal

Businesses who received a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program can now apply for forgiveness through the new streamlined portal launched last month by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small business owners with loans up to $150,000 can apply. Visit the SBA’s PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal for information. Customer service is also available by phone at 877-552-2692.

Additional business information

Unemployment insurance

Are you ready to bring back employees, but the work was turned down? People receiving unemployment benefits must have a good-cause reason not to accept an offer to return in order to continue receiving benefits. Learn more about refusals of work on the Employment Security Department website.

Businesses, employers, families and communities win with SharedWork.

The SharedWork program is an ideal solution as you advance toward full operation. With an approved plan, your workers can receive both unemployment insurance and earned wages. For a short time, you can even add new hires to a SharedWork plan, but only through August 27th at 4pm.

SharedWork benefits do not affect your unemployment tax rate through the week ending Sept. 4, 2021: a new state law says businesses won’t be charged anytime the federal government fully funds benefits.

Enrolling in SharedWork is easy! Employers submit both the employer application and participant list. Plan specialists are available to support you in completing an eligibility check and in the management of your plan Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm. Call 800-752-2500, option 3. Learn more by attending our Weekly Wednesday SharedWork Q&A live webinar at 8:15 to 9 a.m.

Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) Employer Awards

The GCDE is seeking nominations for the 2021 Washington State Governor’s Employer Awards, recognizing excellence in recruiting, hiring and advancing employees with disabilities. The GCDE presents these annual awards as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This year’s theme is America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion. The awards will be presented during a virtual event on Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to recognize the best organizations, the best people, and the best leaders who support employees with disabilities! Nominate yourself, other businesses, or leaders in the community. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 31, 2021. Please submit your nomination(s) electronically. If you need the nomination packet in an alternate format or have any questions, please contact GCDE Awards Program staff at gcdeawards@esd.wa.gov.

Webinars

Grow Your Business – free September 16th webinar

Grow Your Business is a free, one-hour webinar for established businesses that are actively seeking opportunities to grow their business from beyond its current model – new markets, new products, new locations, new staffing, and new financing. Its focus is on government-supported opportunities and assistance and regulatory impacts of growth to factor in your planning. The webinar includes brief presentations from several state agency small business liaisons with dedicated time for questions and answers. The next webinar is scheduled for July 14 at 2 p.m. The webinar includes brief presentations from several state agency small business liaisons with dedicated time for questions and answers. Click here for more information about the SBRR webinars and to register online

Start Your Business – free October 13th webinar

Start Your Business is a free, one-hour webinar for aspiring entrepreneurs or newly-started businesses to gain valuable information about business registration and licensing, other regulatory requirements, and resources for further assistance. The next webinar is scheduled for August 10 at 2 p.m. The webinar includes brief presentations from several state agency small business liaisons with dedicated time for questions and answers. Click here for more information about the SBRR webinars and to register online

Free Video Webinars – Anytime!

Visit Business.wa.gov to view pre-recorded videos of our “Start Your Business” and “Grow Your Business” webinars. These videos are approximately 1 hour long and will provide you valuable regulatory information about starting and growing a business in Washington state. Visit our Small Business Requirements and Resources webpage to learn more and to view these videos anytime.