Business owners are starting to open their doors after a 2-month hiatus but some employees are not wanting to return

It’s a nationwide issue and tonight at 11 p.m. on 23ABC one local business owner speaks out on the topic, saying some of his employees refuse to come back to the place they worked before the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they are now making more on unemployment.

“It's pretty bad when there's jobs out there and you cant get people to work and yet look at the unemployment rates,” said the owner of Wiki's Wine Dive & Grill in Bakersfield.

When asked about the situation, a representative of the California Employment Development Department said: "Individuals are required to accept what is considered 'suitable work' which includes working at the prevailing wage based on the individual’s particular skills and/or occupation. But an individual may have good cause to refuse work if the wages, hours, or other working conditions for the work offered are 'substantially less favorable' than those prevailing for similar work in the locality."

The EDD went on to say "However, you would not have good cause for refusing the work solely because the wages you are offered for the work are less than the amount you have been receiving in your regular [Unemployment Insurance] benefits."

Individuals who commit UI fraud face a variety of penalties, including, prosecution, possible jail or prison sentences, repaying the UI benefits collected, plus penalties and fines, forfeiting future income tax refunds, and losing eligibility to collect UI benefits in the future.

At 11 we will have the full story and look into the repercussions some of these employees may face throughout the state.