Responding to the needs of Sacramentans whose jobs have been affected by the pandemic, the City of Sacramento, in partnership with the Sacramento Central Labor Council and the Center for Workers’ Rights, established the Coronavirus Job Protection Helpline.
Launched in March and bolstered by a recent round of new funding, the helpline assists Sacramento workers who have questions related to unemployment, paid family leave, disability insurance, paid sick leave, workers compensation and other workplace issues.
“We are excited to be helping our local workers understand and locate resources that could aide them in this time of need,” said Daniela Urban, executive director of the Center for Workers’ Rights. “Our goal is to provide timely, practical and accurate information for workers to determine their next steps.”
The helpline is run by the Central Labor Council and Center for Workers’ Rights. Its recent funding was allocated from the overall $89 million the City received from the federal government as part of the CARES Act.
As workplace rules and available benefits continue to evolve and change, workers may have difficulty determining what protections they have and how to access remedies when their rights are violated, Urban said. The helpline can provide the most up-to-date information and assist in determining the best path forward.
The helpline is available to all workers in the Sacramento region. Calls are answered by live operators who can determine whether the question posed requires a consultation under the supervision of an attorney.
For timely assistance, callers should be prepared to:
- Describe the issue they are facing
- Provide information about their most recent employer
- Give details regarding their income in the last year
The number of the helpline is 916-905-1625.
This helpline is operated by private entities to assist workers during COVID-19 pandemic. It is not a government agency, and there may be certain issues with which they are not able to immediately assist. Should that occur, operators will provide information about how to contact and communicate with the appropriate agencies.