COVID-19 relief bill set to provide help for previously neglected entertainment industry employees

 While the promised $15 billion in aid to go to exhibition theaters and live venues will probably be the biggest takeaway for the entertainment industry from the newly-passed aid bill, it’s not the only positive. We’re finally seeing some unemployment relief that could help hard-hit individual members of the entertainment community. BLAKE & WANG P.A has the information you need. 

Freelancers finally recognized

The bill has finally taken note of what earlier pandemic-related relief has not. Expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits. This includes allowing those with ‘mixed’ employment (i.e traditional and freelance) to access these services at all. This form of employment disproportionately affects some areas of the entertainment industry, including those in the music industry. It’s partially thanks to the hard work of the Recording Academy and SAG-AFTRA that we’ve seen them included at all, and all due kudos to these entities for pushing for inclusivity. Intriguingly, it’s also been established that the previous exclusion of this employment category has hit certain cities far harder than others, possibly the reason it was finally recognized as an issue. Naturally, L.A and other entertainment hubs were heavily included in this stat. 

What’s on offer

$300 on top of the typical level offered by each state, for 11 more weeks than normal, will be offered to workers. While gig workers, contractors, freelancers, and those with ‘mixed-income’ are now included, it’s important to realize this is only half the aid offered under the original CARES Act passed in March. The struggle isn’t quite over for many workers. Combined with other assistance (like rent schemes), however, it could finally allow a little room to relax.

In a move that could be positive for the U.S overall, it seems several high-profile eyes have finally been opened to the prevalence of this category of worker throughout the U.S economy. Perhaps we will also see greater protections put in place for such workers in general? Very possibly even some form of revolution to allow them to access the unemployment insurance system long-term, instead of merely for the duration of the pandemic crisis? While the global health crisis hasn’t brought much good to the world, that would definitely be a positive for U.S workers overall.