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The ºÚÁÏÉçÇø College of Law's is helping area residents to cope with workforce impacts caused by COVID-19.ÌýÌý

Founded in late 2005 to meet the legal services needs of mostly immigrant low-wage workers, the WJP as its mission seeks to buildÌýresources and enforceÌýworkers’ rights, cultivating legal and economic opportunities to uphold and respect the dignity of all workers.

Though the College of Law has transitioned to delivering all courses online,Ìýthe WJP remains open and active, accessible to eligible clients through itsÌýintake telephone line and through a new bilingual Google Intake Form.

The WJP is posting critical information related to employment issues , including a listing of employers with coronavirus-related openings,Ìýand Facebook page as it becomes available.

The WJP is also currently coordinating resource-related information with the Music & Culture Coalition of New Orleans and Step Up Louisiana by creating an easy-to-understand flowchart for the benefit of workers and working families. This chart will be available in digital and textable formÌýand will be distributed to those without digital access through food delivery sites, posting at grocery stores, and personal relationships.

With the help of unions and worker advocates in the hospitality, tourism and service industries, and cultural community, the Workplace Justice Project isÌýdeveloping strategies to secure paid leave and relief funds from the public money generated by workers in those industries.

Lawyers in the WJPÌýare also monitoring rapidly-changing policy initiatives on unemployment and paid leave benefits at the state and federal levels, digesting their impact on workers, and planning for the future. TheyÌýhave become part of a policy team working with Rep. Matthew Willard to draft legislation thatÌýwould require employers in the state to provide paid sick leave to their workers; if passed, more than 70 percentÌýof employees in the state would have access to this benefit.Ìý
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