COVID-19 Update for Small Business Owners & Employees

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - This Friday afternoon, at 4:00 p.m., Senator Vin Gopal will host a Facebook Live to provide an update on COVID-19 for small business owners and employees. The update will discuss workers' eligibility for paid sick leave, unemployment, and other benefits; state programs that can help small businesses and their employees stay afloat; and the current status of COVID-19 in New Jersey.

Residents with any specific questions regarding a small business, employment, or benefits that they would like to see answered during this update can submit a question ahead of time using the event's Question Submission Form.

Attendees can click here to view the Facebook Live, which will begin broadcasting on Friday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m.. To receive a notification automatically when the Facebook Live broadcast begins, click "Get Reminder" here.

All other questions are also welcome, though the Facebook Live will largely focus on small business- and employment-related topics. Not all questions will be answered live during this event, but every person who submits a question will receive an answer by email or phone from Senator Gopal's office.

"As the owner of a Monmouth County small business, I know firsthand that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a big and negative impact on many folks' paychecks and bottom line," said Gopal (D-Long Branch). "With curfews, closures, and layoffs everpresent around our state, it's never been more important to let our small business employees and owners know what programs can help, what rules affect them, and what the state is doing to help.

"I won't lie - getting through this crisis will be difficult. But by coordinating our efforts and keeping the lines of communication open between businesses, working families, and government, I believe that we can make our way through this together."