What does a return to work order mean for the millions of Americans who have filed for unemployment since mid-March, workers who were furloughed but remain employees with their company, and workers who had their hours cut and qualified for partial unemployment?

OSHA rules were in place before the Covid-19 pandemic and state worker’s right to refuse dangerous work.

That guidance will vary for state to state and may change as businesses reopen and workers are called back in the coming weeks.

If an employer is following federal, state, and local safety guidance and calls it’s employees back, they will likely be considered a “suitable work.”

Workers cannot refuse suitable work and receive unemployment benefits.