Ohio and Federal Unemployment Programs Differ on Refusing Work

Some Ohioans getting called back to work they may still have barriers related to COVID19 – like kids being out of school requiring care, or someone being in the home suffering from the virus. 

“This again is going to be a very murky area, we are going to have to see how it plays out,” says Community Legal Aid Services attorney Michelle Wrona Fox.

Advocates are asking the governor to expand acceptable reasons to quit work or refuse an offer of work to include COVID-19-related reasons, such as having pre-existing conditions or being in a vulnerable population. And, not having appropriate childcare because of the virtualization of schools and closure of daycares. 

“We're going to have to hope that the state steps in or the governor step in to make some rules and some guidelines to protect workers in these situations,” says Wrona Fox.

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