Restaurant and bar workers in Wisconsin are experiencing a sudden and devastating economic challenge due to COVID-19. In the past few days, many of us had our hours cut drastically or were laid off completely. We do not have sick time, personal time, or employer-provided health insurance to fall back on. We depend on customers tips to make up the vast majority of our income, and we will be feeling the negative effects of this economic crisis for a long time. We need additional resources immediately, and we call on you to provide us relief during this unprecedented crisis.

We are following local, state and federal guidelines for social distancing and self quarantine, as our employers follow mandates for limiting and shutting down service, yet current guidelines for unemployment benefits fail to account for the urgency of a pandemic situation (see: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/publications/ui/ucd-18771-p.pdf). We need the support of state leaders now.

The following actions at the state legislative level are critical:

- Support emergency unemployment benefits for all affected restaurant and bar workers, hourly and salaried;
- Suspend payroll taxes and sales and use taxes immediately;
- Enact rent, mortgage, utility bill and loan abatement for restaurant and bar workers; and
- Enact rent freeze and mortgage abatement for restaurants and bars.

Thank you in advance for taking swift action on our behalf. At this point in time, the support of the Wisconsin legislature is absolutely critical to the survival of these small businesses and the well-being of workers and our families.