oregon employment department director

Following is a statement from Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld: “We know that many Oregonians have been counting on the extra $600 per week through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program. Most callers get only busy signals, and the few that get through spend an average of more than three hours on hold -- and sometimes many hours longer. © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Oregon Employment Director Kay Erickson resigns at Gov. Oregon senator says “litany of incompetence and unresponsiveness has hit the breaking point” for unemployed Oregonians Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today released the following statement about the Oregon Employment Department: MIKE SMITH | Chief Financial Officer, Employment Department. Kate Brown had said nothing publicly about the crisis at the employment department for more than a month. About half of her professional career has been in the private sector, mostly in the printing industry. Kay is the Director for the Oregon Employment Department. the department’s long delays in delivering jobless benefits to out-of-work Oregonians, relying on an antiquated computer system from the 1990s, impossible for the vast majority of laid-off workers to fix issues with their applications or to learn the status of their claims, at least 200,000 claims haven’t been paid, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden called for Erickson to resign, she faced a three-hour grilling from state legislators. Kay has over 20 years of experience successfully managing business operations in many organizational settings. These benefits amount to $300 per week for an estimated three to five weeks. She first applied for jobless benefits in March, when Congress expanded the unemployment benefits program to include self-employed workers like her, but has received no checks -- or even confirmation of her claims status -- from the state. On Sunday, she said Erickson’s firing seemed like a step in the right direction but she’s still not sure what to expect from the state, or when. All rights reserved. August 26: Media Briefing (video and audio) August 24: Statement from Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld on Lost Wages Assistance Program. Thousands of claims have been pending for more than a month, though, and many workers say they have been waiting for benefits since March. Kate Brown announced she has replaced the director of the Oregon Employment Department. The OED faces a backlog of tens of thousands of unprocessed unemployment cases. Wyden Calls for Resignation of Oregon Employment Department Director. Subdivisions of the Employment Department. Gerstenfeld, the newly appointed interim director, has been with the employment department since 2009 -- most recently as director of the paid family and medical leave insurance division. The Director's Office is unable to assist or answer questions regarding your claim or Unemployment Insurance. Following is a statement from Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld: “We know that many Oregonians have been counting on the extra $600 per week through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program. When the pandemic hit, though, the employment department was quickly overwhelmed as more than 440,000 Oregonians filed for jobless benefits and the state’s unemployment rate spiked to an all-time high, 14.2%. Information about Unemployment Insurance Brown fires Oregon Employment Department director, Local News, Portland local News, Breaking News alerts for Portland city. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 'I'm in survival mode': Oregon Employment Department backlogged with 38,000 claims, nearly 40,000 unprocessed unemployment insurance claims. BOB UHLENKOTT | Workforce and Economic Research Division Director, Employment Department Copyright 2020 KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation. “I honestly don’t know what to expect or when to expect it. Gerstenfeld has served as the Oregon Employment Paid Family and Medical Leave Division Director since September of 2019. The department, relying on an antiquated computer system from the 1990s, was unable to keep up with the volume of claims or adapt its technology to accommodate changes in the jobless program. Governor Kate Brown fired the head of the Oregon Employment Department on Sunday, responding to the department’s long delays in delivering jobless benefits to out-of-work Oregonians and the agency’s inability to communicate the status of workers’ benefits claims. State agencies maintain their employees’ information. Before coming to this role, she served as the Employee Relations, Labor Relations and Litigation Manager for Oregon Department of Transportation. oregon employment department.JPG. The governor said she had asked for and received the resignation of Kay Erickson, who had run the department since Brown appointed her to the post in 2016. She steered the department through a period of relative calm afterwards, as the state’s jobless rate fell to an all-time low of 3.3% and the agency had relatively few benefits claims. The tool is updated regularly, but may not contain all current information. The Oregon Employment Department in Salem. This search tool is made available to locate employees of Oregon state government’s Executive Branch for state business purposes. “I have no idea whether they’re even receiving my weekly update. Salem, OR. For well over two months it has been impossible for the vast majority of laid-off workers to fix issues with their applications or to learn the status of their claims. Before that served as director of the unemployment insurance division. Mary Geddry is a freelance publisher and website designer in Coquille whose business cratered last winter as the pandemic hit. On Sunday, Brown said she had asked for and received the resignation of Oregon Employment Department Director Kay Erickson. GERHARD TAEUBEL | Interim Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance Division Director, Employment Department. Statement from Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld on Lost Wages Assistance program August 24, 2020 (Salem, OR)- The Oregon Employment Department is applying for the federal Lost Wages Assistance program. “In these incredibly stressful times, Oregon families are counting on these benefits. Her announcement comes as the state deals with a backlog of nearly 40,000 unprocessed unemployment insurance claims, with some people now going on more than two months without any income and without much information on their claims from the from OED. There’s no way to check. August 19: Media Briefing (video and audio) “(Erickson) obviously wasn’t able to adapt to sudden changes,” Geddry said. "I could be contributing to the local economy if I had any money.”. Wyden heralded Erickson’s exit on said it provides a “much-needed” opportunity to address the employment department’s backlog. I mean, you can’t get through," said Geddry, 64. She broke her silence Friday with a telephone press conference but was unable to tell reporters how much the department owes workers. She appointed Erickson’s deputy, David Gerstenfeld, to serve as interim director, and said she expects “proactive communication with claimants" and a timeline for addressing the department’s claims backlog. RELATED: 'I'm in survival mode': Oregon Employment Department backlogged with 38,000 claims. The state has paid out $1.5 billion in jobless benefits since the middle of March, but at least 200,000 claims haven’t been paid. Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Division Director David Gerstenfeld will immediately take over as interim director of the department. Statement from Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld on Expiration of Federal Program Providing Extra $600 per Week in Unemployment Benefits July 24, 2020 (Salem, Ore.) – The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which was created through the passage of… Please support high-quality local journalism. Since the pandemic hit in March, the department’s phone lines have been hopelessly overloaded. SALEM, Ore. — David Gerstenfeld took over the Oregon Employment Department on Monday after Governor Kate Brown asked for former director Kay Erickson's resignation on Sunday. Charles Boyle, a spokesman for the governor, said “Brown has directed interim Director Gerstenfeld to take any measures necessary to clear the backlog of claims with extraordinary urgency and to communicate regularly about the progress the department is making.”, “We expect him to use any and all expertise from the public and private sectors needed, and for proactive communication with claimants to begin immediately,” Boyle said in an email. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Prior to that, he had served as Unemployment Insurance Division Director since 2011. “This is an unprecedented crisis, and the problems at the department demand an urgent response,” Brown said. On Saturday, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden called for Erickson to resign, and she faced a three-hour grilling from state legislators who held a special committee hearing to examine the department’s problems. Gov. Members of the Legislature and Oregon’s congressional delegation grew increasingly critical of the department during that time as constituents flooded their offices with urgent calls over unpaid jobless claims. Brown expects solutions from the department, with a timeline to get the job done.”, -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |. “This is an unprecedented crisis, and the problems at the department demand an urgent response. SALEM, OR (KPTV) – Oregon Gov. Director Of Oregon Employment Department Resigns May 31, 2020 @ 2:39pm Salem, Ore. – Covid-19 impacts are causing big changes at the Oregon Employment Department. Aug 2016 – Jun 2020 3 years 11 months. It is not for use as a mailing list. The employment department struggled through a series of leadership crises in the years before Erickson took over. Gerstenfeld, the newly appointed interim director, has been with the employment department since 2009 -- most recently as director of the paid family and medical leave insurance division. Before that, he had served as Unemployment Insurance Division director since 2011. “In the middle of this pandemic, the continued delays from the Oregon Employment Department in delivering unemployment insurance benefits to thousands of out-of-work Oregonians are unacceptable,” Brown said in a news release. The Employment Division operated within DHR until 1993 when the Employment Department was created. The official website of the Oregon Secretary of State. If you have an Unemployment Insurance issue, please see below for the correct number to call. If you are still waiting to hear from the Oregon Employment Department about your unemployment benefits, you're not alone. Director of Oregon Employment Department Ousted May 31, 2020 Tyler Francke Coronavirus , Government The director of the Oregon Employment Department has been replaced, Governor Kate Brown announced Sunday, as the beleaguered agency has struggled to process the avalanche of new jobless claims stemming from the coronavirus … August 28: Oregon Employment Department Approved to Begin Dispersing Lost Wages Assistance Benefits. Gerstenfeld has served as the Paid Family and Medical Leave Division director since September 2019. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). (The Center Square) – Amid months of jammed phone lines and IT troubleshooting, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) is now contending with thousands of payouts its director says went to the wrong people. Brown said she has directed the OED to address the current backlog in unpaid claims and to clearly communicate the status of any unpaid claims. “Whether the issue is computer programming hours, fielding the calls of Oregonians, or processing claims, Gov. Today's announcement of new leadership at the Oregon Employment Department provides a much-needed opportunity to get countless unemployed Oregonians the urgent help they are counting on during this economic and public health crisis. Director Oregon Employment Department. “In the middle of this pandemic, the continued delays from the Oregon Employment Department in delivering unemployment insurance benefits to thousands of out-of-work Oregonians are unacceptable,” Brown said in a statement. This is not an unfamiliar role for her as she has served as the HR Director for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Forestry and the Employment Department. Oregon Business and Industry Employer Representative ... Employment Department Deputy Director. David Gerstenfeld, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Division director, will serve as interim director of the Department, effective immediately. JEANNINE BEATRICE | Deputy Director, Employment Department. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The governor apologized for the department’s lapses in April but had been silent on the subject for more than a month as the crisis mounted. Beth Nakamura/Staff. Oregon Public Broadcasting first reported on the startling discrepancy Friday. Kate Brown's request. For several weeks, as the employment department’s problems mounted, Erickson refused successive requests for interviews to discuss the situation. Kate Brown announced she has replaced the director of the Oregon Employment Department. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Gov. Lawmakers convened the unusual Saturday hearing after Erickson spent a Wednesday hearing on an hourlong presentation on the history of the unemployment benefits program and recent changes, allowing legislators no time for questions or comments. "I don’t know that she’s 100% responsible but it seems like they need to get somebody in there who’s able to adapt to this crisis.”. Author: KGW … Subscribe to OregonLive. He has worked for the State of Oregon since 1997, and received a law degree from Lewis and Clark. Kate Brown's request. Brown replaces director of Oregon Employment Department. (Yuxing Zheng/The Oregonian) By MOLLY YOUNG and RICHARD READ. There’s absolutely no way to call. Oregon Employment Department. We will make this right. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Even among those calls, though, fewer than half ever reach a claims processor. I’m like a lot of other people," Geddry said. The governor’s office said neither Brown nor Gerstenfeld were available to answer questions Sunday. On Sunday, David Gerstenfeld accepted an unenviable job: director of the state's beleaguered employment agency. PORTLAND, Ore. --- Kay Erickson, the head of Oregon’s Employment Department, has resigned at Gov. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. Director of Oregon Employment Department steps down Kay Erickson, the head of Oregon’s Employment Department, resigned at Gov. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Coronavirus updates: Biden's ambitious plan will take time; Florida combats 'vaccine tourism' by limiting shots to residents, 3 National Guard members who died in New York helicopter crash identified. Today, the department employs approximately 1,200 staff, providing services to approximately 140,700 Oregon businesses and over 382,000 Oregon citizens. Although Oregon received $86 million federal funding for a computer upgrade in 2009, and successive audits warned the department was unprepared for a spike in jobless claims, work replacing the computers isn’t due to be complete until 2025. She said she has credit card bills, a car payment and a mortgage payment and has been negotiating with the lenders to defer payments while she waits on her benefits. The Oregon Employment Department supports business and promotes employment. He has worked for the state of Oregon since 1997. Oregon congresswoman pushes for public webinars, calls for interim director of employment department to clear backlog of insurance claims FOX 12 Staff Posted Jun 2, 2020 Kate Brown's request Claire Withycombe, Statesman Journal 5/31/2020 … All rights reserved (About Us). Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Many of those are from workers ineligible for benefits or from those who are receiving checks through other programs, but the department acknowledged this week it has no clear idea how many people it really owes money to. Before this weekend, Gov. Oregonians will receive the benefits that they are owed,” she said. SALEM, OR (KPTV) – Oregon Gov. The department said Saturday it has a 10-week backlog to fix complex claims that require adjudication, but did not say how many claims are in that category. ... Council members are appointed by the governor and assist the Employment Department director in the effective development of policies and programs with respect to unemployment insurance, employment services and labor market information. I’d like to thank Director Erickson for her years of service to the State of Oregon, but it is clear that new leadership is needed.”. 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