Can We Pay Some FWS Students Who Cannot Work Due To Coronavirus, While Other FWS Students Must Work To Be Paid?

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This guidance is not award-year-specific and applies across award years.

Yes. Under the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) guidance in the March 5, 2020 Electronic Announcement, if the school chooses to allow some students to work FWS jobs, those students are required to work in order to be paid--their FWS employment is not disrupted by COVID-19. Those FWS employees whose employment is disrupted by COVID-19, and based on the school's decision not to allow them to work, can be paid FWS funds while not working. It's the school's decision to allow some to work and not others.

You will want to consult with your human resources (HR) department and/or legal counsel for guidance on other federal, state, or local employment laws that might also apply.

See also AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A, How Do We Determine How Much To Pay FWS Students When Enrollment Is Disrupted By Coronavirus?

See also the April 3, 2020 Electronic Announcement for updated FWS guidance.

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