[Mick]

Let's remember the people I am talking about are the 50% of Americans without $400 for an emergency.   CARES wouldn't quite apply now in these states.  These citizens are getting an opportunity to go back to work thanks to their state.   By definition the companies in these states have already bridged the impact of COVID19 that CARES was designed to help employers navigate across.

With COVID19 in the rear view mirror (at least according to their Governor), the working class types can go to work and risk the family for ~$10 per hour.  Or they can tell their employer they are scared.   At that point they probably would be fired, since most companies need to reduce their workforce anyway.   This firing wouldn't be related to a slowdown in business because of COVID, this firing would be deemed to be an employee unwilling to do their job.  Or as noted before, they could quit.

Each state is a bit different and the law might protect some of the workers in this scenario.   However, with less than $400 in their pockets it is rather unlikely they will have the money or time to go talk with lawyers about the termination.

In some states regular unemployment is really not much.   Florida's is $275 per week.  Given the uncertainty in the market and their personal finances they are left going back to work even if they fear the death rate.
   
Hard for most of us on this board to understand that dynamic, but for a lot of US workers once the state opens things back up they will need to risk their lives at work or suffer all of the pitfalls that come when there is no money coming in and no money in savings.

No doubt there are fiscal issues with them sitting at home under a stay-at-home order with thanks to ever increasing amounts of government aid.  
However, let's not pretend that everyone has a realistic option to stay at home after a state declares COVID19 sheltering is no longer mandatory.

Yes, the 34 million (over the last 7 weeks) unemployed are screwed, particularly come August when the $600/week stipend runs out. 

Here's a link to the max weekly unemployment benefits by state.  A wide range:
https://www.savingtoinvest.com/maximum-w...-by-state/

A disproportionate share of the RIFs were experienced by the poor and less affluent Americans.  I don't think that half of the 34 million falls into the $400-is-a-problem category, I think it's closer to 2/3rds, maybe as high as 80%.

[Mick]

Let's remember the people I am talking about are the 50% of Americans without $400 for an emergency.   CARES wouldn't quite apply now in these states.  These citizens are getting an opportunity to go back to work thanks to their state.   By definition the companies in these states have already bridged the impact of COVID19 that CARES was designed to help employers navigate across.

With COVID19 in the rear view mirror (at least according to their Governor), the working class types can go to work and risk the family for ~$10 per hour.  Or they can tell their employer they are scared.   At that point they probably would be fired, since most companies need to reduce their workforce anyway.   This firing wouldn't be related to a slowdown in business because of COVID, this firing would be deemed to be an employee unwilling to do their job.  Or as noted before, they could quit.

Each state is a bit different and the law might protect some of the workers in this scenario.   However, with less than $400 in their pockets it is rather unlikely they will have the money or time to go talk with lawyers about the termination.

In some states regular unemployment is really not much.   Florida's is $275 per week.  Given the uncertainty in the market and their personal finances they are left going back to work even if they fear the death rate.
   
Hard for most of us on this board to understand that dynamic, but for a lot of US workers once the state opens things back up they will need to risk their lives at work or suffer all of the pitfalls that come when there is no money coming in and no money in savings.

No doubt there are fiscal issues with them sitting at home under a stay-at-home order with thanks to ever increasing amounts of government aid.  
However, let's not pretend that everyone has a realistic option to stay at home after a state declares COVID19 sheltering is no longer mandatory.

Yes, the 34 million (over the last 7 weeks) unemployed are screwed, particularly come August when the $600/week stipend runs out. 

Here's a link to the max weekly unemployment benefits by state.  A wide range:
https://www.savingtoinvest.com/maximum-w...-by-state/

A disproportionate share of the RIFs were experienced by the poor and less affluent Americans.  I don't think that half of the 34 million falls into the $400-is-a-problem category, I think it's closer to 2/3rds, maybe as high as 80%.