The pandemic continues to be the impetus behind much of the state's legislation so far this year. Republican lawmakers announced a $1 billion plan which would put local school districts inCapital Building Lansing Cropped charge of their own coronavirus safety protocols, academic calendars, learning plans and extracurricular activities. The “Return to Learn Plan” sends federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to local school districts so officials can craft their own plans amid COVID-19 concerns. The Legislature passed an $880 million supplemental bill, which was sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, allowing the state to hire 500 additional Unemployment Insurance Agency employees and provide childcare and rental assistance, PPE and COVID-19 testing and more. The Legislature also passed a ‘Cocktails to go’ bill for Michigan bars, which was sent to Gov. Whitmer, who is expected to sign the bill. Whitmer extended the State of Emergency, lifted the Stay at Home Order and issued a ‘Play Ball’ Executive Order for professional sports without fans in the stands. Senate Bill 956 would separate COVID-19 nursing home patients, sending them to a dedicated facility in one of Michigan’s eight health care regions. Regular COVID-19 testing of Michigan nursing home residents has been mandated by the state. A ballot committee called Unlock Michigan is seeking to repeal a 1945 law giving the Governor emergency powers. 

For more details about these and other legislative issues, please click here for the June 2020 Karoub Report.

Adapted from an article in the MESSA DiscoverYou May/June 2020 newsletter

COVID-19 has disrupted the structure and routine of daily life, and it has taken a toll on MAPE members and their families. While life as we knew it won’t return any time soon, there are ways to cope with this new way of life by focusing on overall wellness — both physical and mental.

MESSA Health Promotion Consultant Rhonda Jones is the driving force behind MESSA Wellness, a program that focuses on mindfulness, movement and nutrition to help members feel MESSA logo RGB Blue no tag R 2calmer, stronger and healthier overall. Jones is a registered nurse and certified health education specialist with a master’s degree in health behavior. She’s also a personal trainer and has extensive training in mindfulness practices.

Since the Stay at Home order has been in place, Jones has heard from MESSA members experiencing depression, anxiety and fear. Members are also reporting high levels of fatigue, low levels of motivation and a propensity to overeat.

“Anxiety and depression has probably been the No. 1 thing that people are reporting, which leads to the other things,” Jones said. And those feelings can lead to greater health issues, including weight gain, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Without being able to travel to member meetings to help start or revive a worksite wellness program, Jones decided to host weekly wellness sessions during May on Zoom. As part of MESSA’s Spring Self-Care Challenge, she brought together experts in mindfulness, movement and nutrition to help reduce members’ stress during this time of heightened anxiety. All of the sessions can be viewed on MESSA’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/MESSAhealth.

MAPE Legal Counsel Bryan Davis shared an update with members regarding Governor Gretchen Whitmer's latest Executive Order (EO) on workplace exposure to COVID-19:

To All,

Governor Whitmer has issued Executive Order 2020-128: Clarifying WDCA Eligibility for Workplace Exposure to COVID-19 (Rescission of Executive Order 2020-125). Please note that this EO has suspended the Emergency Rules which had been issued by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

Notably, "[f]or purposes of the WDCA, and subject to rebuttal by specific facts to the contrary, a COVID-19 response employee who is confirmed as COVID-19 positive on or after March 18, 2020, either by physician or by test, shall be presumed to have suffered a “personal injury,” as that term is defined by section 401(2)(b) of the WDCA, MCL 418.401(2)(b)."

Please note that "COVID-19 response employee" is defined in the EO.

Please click here for a link to the EO 2020-128 for more details.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Orders moving two regions in Northern Michigan into Phase 5 of her MI Safe Start Plan and opening personal services throughout the state.

Regions 6 and 8, the Upper Pennisula and Traverse City region, will transition to Phase 5 on June 10, opening hair, massage and nail salons, movie theaters and gyms. COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures are established in the Executive Orders to protect employees and customers. Facial coverings must be worn by customers and employees, who are required to maintain a social distance of six-feet between them.

On June 15, personal services, including hair, massage and nail salons, will reopen statewide, with Regions 1-5 and 7 remaining in Phase 4.

Phase 5 also expands indoor and outdoor social gathering limits with restrictions. Indoor social gatherings and organized events of up to 50 people are permitted provided individuals maintain social distance of six feet. Outdoor social gatherings and organized events of no greater than 250 people are allowed with the six-feet social distancing. However, outdoor performance and sporting venues are given an additional capacity of up to 500 persons, maintaining social distance.

Specific indoor public entertainment venues in the northern regions, including: arcades, bowling alleys, cinemas, climbing facilities, convention centers, performance spaces, meeting halls, night clubs, sports arenas, theaters, or similar venues may open up to 25% of their maximum capacity or 250 people, whichever is smaller, with social distancing maintained.

Click here for the complete details in Executive Orders 2020-114 and 2020-115.

Whitmer updated workplace safeguards for gyms, in-home services, hair salons, and entertainment venues and appointed Sean Egan, Deputy Director for Labor at the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, to serve as Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety. Executive Directive 2020-6 details the appointment. Executive Order 2020-91 requires businesses follow strict safety guidelines to protect workers and patrons from COVID-19 infection.

2020 Carl Parsell Scholar got jump start on college education

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

Unlike 2020 high school graduates around the nation, this year’s Carl Parsell Scholarship winner was able to experience his graduation ceremony and other end of senior year milestones.

That’s because 2020 scholar Nathan Sharkey finished his senior year at Grass Lake High School in 2019, although he didn’t officially graduate until June 14, 2020. Sharkey completed his fifth year of high school through a free early college program at Jackson Community College.

2020 Carl Parsell Scholarship recipient Nathan Sharkey (center) at his Grass Lake High School graduation in 2019. He is the son of MAPE member Joseph Sharkey (left) and Laurene Sharkey (right).

“I’m very happy I didn’t have to go to a normal college this year. All of it was on campus until the coronavirus came and the last seven weeks were at home,” Sharkey said. “It’s definitely made me happy that I had graduation last year and got to finish up my whole school year.”

Sharkey did, however, miss the formal celebration of his scholarship during the Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing, which was canceled due to the pandemic. Typically, scholarship recipients and their parents are recognized during the outing’s steak dinner finale by Union staff, event participants and sponsors.

“The Raider Dennis Agency looks forward to the scholarship event every year,” said V.I.P. Sponsor Stuart Raider. “It is an honor to be a part of the long-standing tradition that my father, Jordan Raider, took part in of gifting a scholarship to the next generation of bright individuals. Congratulations to Nathan Sharkey! I look forward to meeting you in the future.”

The son of MAPE member Joseph Sharkey, a Mechanic Operator for the City of Jackson Wastewater Treatment Plant, graduated with a 3.8 GPA while completing his first year of college. He will transfer to Ferris State University this fall to pursue a degree in Applied Science and is planning a career as a machinist.

Sharkey has been working as a Basic Machinist at Mid-America Machining in Brooklyn, Michigan. The Grass Lake resident began working there during a vocational education program through Jackson Area Career Center. “I took the class there for two years and it led me to get a job there,” Sharkey said.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the “Futures for Frontliners” program April 29, providing essential workers a tuition-free pathway to college or a technical certificate if they don’t have a college degree. She also urged leaders in Congress to support U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ Heroes Fund proposal to provide hazard pay to frontline workers who provide life-saving care, food and other critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whitmer said she hopes other states will follow suit with programs similar to “Futures for Frontliners” to recognize their essential workers for putting their lives on the line during the pandemic.

MAPE previously reported on Peters’ efforts to support frontline workers by reaching out to FEMA in a March 31st letter about the dire need for personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers. Peters’ Heroes Fund proposal calls for up to $25,000 in hazard pay for essential workers and presses for additional protective gear and other measures to help ensure the health and safety of frontline workers.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAPE Editor

Out of an abundance of caution for our members and other Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing participants and supporters, MAPE officials have regrettably decided to cancel the 2020 golf outing. The 30th annual event was originally scheduled for June 11 at Links of Novi.

This was a difficult decision as money raised from the event is used to provide scholarship funds for deserving high school seniors who plan to continue their education at an U.S. accredited university, college, community college, junior college, two- or four-year accredited degree-granting institution, or vocational training institution that grants a certification or license. MAPE officials will still be awarding one $2,500 scholarship in 2020, which will be announced in May.

The Carl Parsell Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Parsell, a pioneer in the law enforcement union movement, following his passing in 1990. MAPE has been awarding scholarships in Parsell’s name since 1991.

While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s most recent extension of the Stay at Home Executive Order (until May 15, 2020) does allow golf courses to reopen to the public, her order does not allow the use of golf carts due to social distancing guidelines of six feet between individuals.

With the state's unemployment system overwhelmed by applicants during the pandemic, many are struggling to file for unemployment benefits. As system overload and crashes prevent many from filing their applications in a timely manner, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is assuring everyone who applies and is eligible to receive benefits that they will receive those benefits back-dated to the time each individual was laid off from their job due to COVID-19.

The UIA has a series of how-to videos to help navigate the unemployment system and assist you with filing a claim.

View the full playlist of videos for employees here.

Keep in mind, it’s best to apply online during non-peak hours, between 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. The 24-hour website operates faster when fewer people are on the site. Visit Michigan.gov/UIA to get started.

UIA Director Steve Gray answers FAQs about unemployment benefits

Watch the full video here.
Steve Gray, UIA Director

How to file a claim?

Watch the how to file a claim video here.

How to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)?

Watch the how to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance video here.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) confirmed that funds from the $850 million in Byrne Justice Assistance Grants can be used for "hazard pay" as well as personal protective equipment (PPE), according to Jim Curran of Karoub Associates. The BJA also shared important information about disability and death benefits related to contracting COVID-19 for officers and their survivors.

Public Safety Officers who can prove they were exposed to COVID-19 while working and contracted the virus because of that exposure may be eligible for disability benefits, and if they die because of COVID-19, their survivors may be eligible for death benefits.

Under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Act and its implementing regulations, conditions caused by infectious diseases, viruses, and bacteria may be found to be an injury sustained in the line of duty.

To establish eligibility for benefits for a public safety officer’s death or disability due to COVID-19, the PSOB Act and regulations require evidence that it is more likely than not the disease resulted from the officer’s exposure to the disease or the virus that causes the disease, SARS-CoV-2, while performing a line of duty activity or action.

For more details on qualifications, please click here to read the Bureau of Justice Assistance letter.

Improve mental, physical health by getting enough rest

Excerpted from an article in the MESSA DiscoverYou March/April 2020 newsletter

Do you get at least seven hours of sleep each night? If not, you should plan to hit the sheets earlier tonight.

Overworked or overstressed adults often tend to treat sleep as a luxury rather than a necessity. However, getting enough sleep is as critical to your overall well-being as eating and breathing. Research shows that robbing yourself of sleep can impact your ability to store memories and concentrate, as well as regulate your mood and appetite. It can lead to weight gain and a weakened immune system.

The problem is that too many people don’t get as much sleep as they should. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get at least seven hours of sleep every night. However, more than one-third of adults report they usually get less than that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Shorting yourself on sleep puts you at greater risk for developing chronic conditions, according to the CDC, including:

  • CancerMESSA logo RGB Blue no tag R 2
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Depression
  • Heart attack
  • Kidney disease
  • Stroke

Unemployed individuals are more likely to qualify for increased weekly benefits and extended collection periods because of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 National Emergency. Also, individuals who would not normally qualify - due to being self-employed, an independent contractor, or for other reasons - may now qualify for benefits.

As of March 30, 2020, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, under the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), entered into an agreement with the Department of Labor to implement Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Compensation programs, providing the following to Michigan residents:

  • Benefits to low-wage workers, gig-workers, workers with a limited work history, individuals who are self-employed, and independent contractors who, due to the pandemic, can no longer work
  • An increase in weekly benefits to unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to four months
  • An extension of benefit payments from 26 to 39 weeks

Importantly, the eligibility window to apply has been extended from 14 to 28 days from the individual’s last day of work.

Please click here to begin your application for Unemployment Benefits.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters wrote a letter March 31 to the Administrator of FEMA and the U.S. Attorney General detailing the urgent needs of medical workers, law enforcement and first responders and their inability thus far to obtain adequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE).

"I urge you to work together to ensure that these workers have access to PPE as our country works to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," Peters wrote in the letter. "Frontline personnel across the country have not received the protection they desperately need as they risk their own safety to perform essential duties in their communities. In a survey recently published by the United States Conference of Mayors, approximately 91.5% of the responding cities do not have an adequate supply of face masks for their first responders, including police, fire and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and medical personnel, and 88.2% do not have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect these workers."

Please click here for the complete letter, including Detroit Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as questions Peters posed about FEMA and the Department of Justice response to these urgent PPE needs.

  1. 3 phases of federal funding to aid U.S. during COVID-19 National Emergency
  2. Peters helps Senate pass third coronavirus package with his legislation to expand unemployment benefits
  3. What to do if you think you've been exposed to COVID-19
  4. Michigan resources for Employees, Employers affected by COVID-19
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