DES PLAINES – As some businesses prepare to reopen during the modified Stay at Home Order, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) seeks to protect employees and consumers by highlighting new employee safety measures intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

“It’s great to see businesses able to reopen, but as we begin that process, we must keep health and safety in mind,” said Murphy. “These simple guidelines are vitally important for protecting employers, employees and shoppers from the spread of COVID-19.”

At the end of April, Gov. Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-32 to provide specific regulations for businesses and workplaces. All employers with workers physically reporting to a worksite must post this guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General regarding workplace safety during the COVID-19 emergency.

As businesses begin to reopen, employers will be required to provide face masks for employees who are unable to adhere to social distancing requirements. Businesses must also observe other measures, like limiting occupancy and staggering shifts to ensure workers can maintain six feet of social distancing.

Other requirements and guidelines for employers to help limit the spread of COVID-19 can be found in this FAQ, issued by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

If your place of work is not adhering to these new guidelines, please report violations to a certified local health department or IDPH. The Office of the Illinois Attorney General is also accepting complaints through their Workplace Rights Bureau at 844-740-5076 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Up-to-date information and resources related to the status of COVID-19 in Illinois can be found at coronavirus.illinois.gov. Murphy’s office is currently closed, but her staff is working remotely and responding to calls and emails. With questions or concerns, call 847-718-1110 or visit senatorlauramurphy.com/contact-us.

DES PLAINES – To protect the region’s representation in government and ensure its fair share of federal funding, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) encouraged residents of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago to fill out the 2020 Census.

“Census data is used to determine federal funding for our roads, schools, hospitals and more. Especially during these challenging times, our communities need help to continue providing important services to residents,” said Murphy. “Your response could help our community secure that much-needed support.”

As of May 11, 73.4% of DuPage County residents have responded to the census, significantly higher than Cook County’s response rate of 58.2%. Both counties have yet to reach their response rates from the 2010 Census.

Murphy also pointed out that when more individuals respond to the census on their own, fewer census workers must visit households in-person. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that means less risk to the health of census workers and their families.

The fastest way to respond to the census is by filling it out online at www.my2020census.gov. However, individuals can also respond over the phone or by filling out the form they receive in the mail.

“It only takes 10 minutes to fill out the census,” said Murphy. “If you’ve already completed it, call a family member or neighbor to check if they’ve been counted. Taking that extra step could make all the difference for our community.”

Individuals can find additional information about the census at www.2020census.gov. To see local responses rates across Illinois and the entire nation, visit www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us.

DES PLAINES – Contract and gig economy workers who believe they may be eligible for new federal benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program should apply for and be denied regular unemployment insurance before applying for benefits under PUA, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced Friday.

“It may seem counterintuitive, but you must have your application denied before you can submit a claim through the new PUA program,” said Murphy. “If you think you’ll be eligible for federal benefits, I encourage you to apply as soon as possible to get a head start on that process.”

If claimants apply for unemployment benefits through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and receive an eligibility determination of $0, they can then submit a claim for PUA benefits. Claimants who have already applied for and been denied regular benefits can submit a claim through the new PUA portal when it opens.

PUA provides up to 39 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits for individuals who are unemployed for specified COVID-19-related reasons and are not eligible for the state’s regular unemployment insurance program. Independent contractors and sole proprietors are newly eligible for benefits under this program.

PUA claims will be backdated to a claimant’s first week of unemployment, but no earlier than Feb. 2, 2020, and will continue for as long as the individual remains unemployed as a result of COVID-19, but no later than the week ending Dec. 26, 2020.

IDES is contracting with Deloitte to run the online PUA program. The department expects the program to launch Monday, May 11, 2020.

IDES processed over a million initial unemployment claims between March 1 and May 2, nearly 12 times the number of claims the department processed over the same period last year. The number of initial claims has slightly declined over the last two weeks, but the department expects to experience an increase when the PUA program launches.

“Lots of gig economy workers are struggling at this time, and the current unemployment program doesn’t cover them,” said Murphy. “I hope the PUA program rolls out smoothly and offers some relief to these Illinoisans soon.”

For more information and to apply, visit the IDES website.

I have heard from numerous nursing home workers and administrators in my community that adequate protective personal equipment (PPE) has been unavailable to staff during the COVID-19 crisis. The distribution system isn't providing these workers with the protection they need to do their jobs safely.

This news is deeply concerning to me. The staffs in our nursing homes are an enormous asset to the state. They have bravely stepped up to care for some of our most vulnerable residents— our aging parents, friends, and loved ones— during this outbreak.

We must ensure they feel as safe as possible on the job. That's why I joined my colleagues to request information from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding the amount of Personal Protective Equipment that has been distributed to those nursing homes and the process by which it was distributed.

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