Colorado has paid back 87% of the $1 billion it borrowed from the federal government to provide out-of-work Coloradans unemployment benefits during the pandemic. As of this week, the outstanding balance was $133.1 million. There’s still a way to go to get the depleted unemployment insurance trust fund healthy again. But with Colorado’s strong job […]
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Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
What’s Working: People are quitting their jobs in record numbers. Here’s what happened in Colorado.
The latest job report caught many, many, many people’s attention because of this sentence: “The quits rate increased to a series high of 2.9%.” That’s from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics summary of its August Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, aka JOLTS. In other words, it was the highest rate since JOLTS began […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
Colorado’s unemployment fund is nearly $1 billion in debt. Small businesses are worried about paying the tab.
The last time Centennial Container saw the cost of its unemployment insurance premiums increase, owner Jim Noon didn’t think too much about the additional $40 a year per employee. “I mean, it adds up, but it’s not close-the-business material,” said Noon, who called a January 2020 state law to increase the base wage employers must […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers demand counties comply with coronavirus restrictions to access relief money
Colorado lawmakers are trying to use coronavirus relief dollars as a way to persuade counties to follow Gov. Jared Polis’ COVID-19 restrictions. A bipartisan bill that won preliminary approval on Monday, the first day of a special legislative session, would withhold direct-aid payments to small businesses and arts organizations in counties that refuse to comply […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Democrats unveil details of their coronavirus relief plans for the special legislative session
Statehouse Democrats on Sunday unveiled eight coronavirus relief bills they will prioritize during Colorado’s special legislative session, which begins Monday and will run at least three days. The legislation, much of it bipartisan, includes direct payments to small businesses, tax forgiveness, grants for child care centers and money to expand broadband access. The aid, which […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Proposition 118 explained: Paid-leave measure would give Colorado workers time off but cost big money
Eight months into a pandemic, Colorado voters will decide an issue made even more relevant by current circumstances. Should Colorado create a state-run family leave program that would allow all workers — from waitresses and mechanics to accountants and engineers — to take paid time off when they have a serious illness, need to care […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Worried about coronavirus safety at work? Colorado lawmakers want you to speak out without facing retaliation
Colorado Democrats are pushing ahead with legislation brought in response to the coronavirus crisis that aims to protect employees from discrimination and retaliation by their bosses if they raise health concerns. “Of course this is not common, but we want to make sure that these employees are protected during this time,” said state Sen. Brittany […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers focus on essential workers amid coronavirus, push to make paid sick leave a right for all
To lift public health restrictions and reopen Colorado, Democratic lawmakers say the first step is to protect essential workers like Mirja McDade in the retail and service industries. McDade’s past jobs in the restaurant industry didn’t include paid sick time, so she worked regardless of her health. “The food industry is probably the worst as […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s unemployment fund could run out of money next month. Here’s what that means for businesses.
By the time Colorado does its annual June checkup of the special fund used to pay unemployed workers, the account will likely be empty, and possibly in the red. Out-of-work Coloradans should be OK, though. They’ll still get unemployment pay because the state, as it’s done in the past, will borrow money from the federal […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Federal coronavirus loans slow as Colorado businesses wonder if they’ll actually be forgiven
The $49,000 small business loan was Linda Jones’ for the taking. But ultimately, the owner of Area Rent-Alls in Westminster abandoned the loan, which could have been forgiven if it was primarily used to pay employees. It certainly would have offset lost revenue as office and construction equipment rentals slowed during the coronavirus stay-at-home measures. […]