On March 19, 2020, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued an Executive Order addressing a wide variety of topics. As to unemployment compensation, the governor suspended certain statutory provisions:
- to allow for unemployment compensation benefits to be granted to any employee who left work after being directed by a medical professional or health authority to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 and who intends to return to work.
- to remove the one-week waiting period for unemployment compensation benefits.
- to remove the requirement that benefit recipients make reasonable efforts to secure work as a condition for receiving benefits.
Click to view a copy of the Executive Order addressing a wide variety of COVID-19 related topics.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has also updated their website to address unemployment claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic and provided answers to general COVID-19 FAQs.
