State labor departments are handling unprecedented levels of unemployment claims and several are struggling to keep pace. Technology systems, running on outdated software, are collapsing from the deluge of user requests, forcing some states to resort to paper applications submitted via mail and fax.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has warned employers to prevent and correct discrimination, harassment or intimidation against Asian Americans or employees of Asian descent. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against this type of improper treatment.

Many companies need to take steps to cut costs, but now is not the time for knee-jerk responses and short-sighted plans for compensation, says Amanda Wethington of Korn Ferry. Consider staff rotations, deferring salary increases, providing mental health support and making employee safety a top priority.

Higher-education institutions around the country that are refunding housing, dining and other fees during coronavirus closures are risking collapse, with some suffering more than $100 million in losses. Regional universities and small colleges are expected to experience the biggest impact, with one in Illinois already closing permanently after this semester.

A silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic could be permanent changes in how workplaces and communities function, which could mean increased trust if employers recognize the opportunity, writes Barbara Brooks Kimmel, founder of Trust Across America-Trust Around the World. "Perhaps the time has come, or is past due, to redesign support systems that not only build trust between employers and employees, but also offer better benefits including counseling services during times of isolation and/or personal crisis," she writes.