Given the coronavirus outbreak in Washington, policymakers are considering how workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance should be applied when workers are quarantined.

Today Gov. Inslee and the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced:

L&I is immediately changing its policy around workers’ compensation coverage for health care workers and first responders who are quarantined by a physician or public health officer.

Under the clarified policy, L&I will provide benefits to these workers during the time they’re quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 on the job. . . .

While L&I is taking this step to bolster coverage for certain types of workers, the agency is also encouraging employers to continue to pay workers who are quarantined after being exposed. Time loss is partial payment and does not replace a worker’s entire income. Quarantined workers who continue to be paid by their employer may not need to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Additionally, yesterday the Senate passed EHB 2965 (which was passed by the House March 3). The bill would appropriate $100 million from the rainy day fund to help address the outbreak. An amendment to the bill was adopted by the Senate that would make individuals under quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, even though they are not available to work.