It’s not too late, but soon it will be. Each passing day, more Americans are laid off—and an approach that forces most aid to go through the unemployment process could accelerate the displacement we are trying to avoid.
Of course, employer-based aid is not enough—cash is needed to support domestic workers, gig workers, the unemployed, and more. But covering wages for employers who keep people on the books is our best shot at keeping jobs intact.
And yes, with that said, it still makes sense to give Americans new ways to decouple all kinds of benefits (from retirement and sick leave to health coverage) from specific employment relationships.
