Employment in Oregon March 2018 News Release Loading: 4/17/2018: Employment in … He drove passengers for Uber and Lyft, delivered meals for DoorDash and Grubhub, and dropped off groceries for Instacart and Amazon Flex. In doing so, it paid him from a state trust fund that about 145,000 employers in Oregon contribute to through payroll taxes. But about eight months in, Oregon is just now processing that payment. After all, he was a gig worker when the pandemic hit Oregon in early 2020, and no company had considered him their employee for many years. For the first time in seven months Oregon’s unemployment rate increased, according to a new report from the employment department. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Employment Department is bracing for a second wave of unemployment claims as businesses shut down once again. He exhausted his regular unemployment benefits and the first round of a federal extension program. When California enacted a law that effectively classified ride-hailing drivers as employees, Uber and Lyft fought back — and won. NEWS. PORTLAND, Ore — The Oregon Employment Department (OED) on Tuesday said claimants may experience a gap in benefits “during the time period when … A COVID-19 outbreak at the Oregon Employment Department's (OED) new Wilsonville office is expected to slow processing of unemployment claims. If you intentionally hide or report wrong information, it is fraud. The state has a small fraction of the ride-hailing drivers that California does. Self-employed people and others who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits—and who are out of work due to COVID-19—can now get PUA, a new unemployment benefits program (ends March 13, 2021). oregon employment department issues statement regarding passage of federal unemployment benefits News Release from Oregon Employment Department Posted on FlashAlert: December 22nd, 2020 12:20 PM In a November declaration, David Gerstenfeld, the acting head of the Employment Department, confirmed that the agency had made a global decision on how to treat payments to gig workers from companies including Uber and Lyft. Congress first approved a $600 weekly unemployment bonus last March. July 10, 2020 (Salem, Ore.) —The Oregon Employment Department launched a new informational website today aimed at improving customer service for the record number of Oregonians applying for and receiving unemployment benefits. “To this day, it’s still not clear to me why that decision was made,” Harley said, “but it protected myself and my family the last nine months.”. Oregon’s unemployment rose to 6.4% in December from 6.0% in November, according to the state Department of Employment. Oregon one of 24 states paying $300 in extended unemployment benefits in first week ... all but 13,000 of those facing a gap in payment had been paid and the department … Some gig drivers ferrying groceries and packages for Amazon Flex got regular benefits too. Especially people affected by COVID-19. Tax unit employees had the laborious task of determining which claimants were independent contractors eligible for PUA and which were employees who could get regular benefits. Oregonians whose employment is impacted by this effort to curb the exponential spread of COVID-19 will need to either file an initial claim or restart a stopped claim. Due to the pandemic, Emilie Wyqued wasn't able to continue her regular work as a driver for Uber and Lyft. The state’s unemployment rate rose to 6.4% in December from 6% in November. The question is whether the Oregon Employment Department’s decision to treat many gig workers as employees is permanent — and what that means for the future of gig companies, the unemployment insurance trust fund and the many Oregonians who rely on government aid when they lose their jobs. But its director acknowledged people … ... Oregon Employment Department. The federal CARES Act created a new class of unemployment benefits for gig workers. In June, the agency began paying Harley — not the federal PUA he expected, but regular state benefits instead. Federal data shows how long people have waited to get unemployment benefits. Salem Area: (503) 947-1500. Christopher Harley was a gig worker when the pandemic hit. Oregon’s unemployment rose to 6.4% in December from 6.0% in November, according to the state Department of Employment. This was the state’s first monthly increase in its unemployment rate following seven months of declines. The Oregon Employment Department told KOIN 6 News they’re still waiting for guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor on what it will take to implement the new legislation. Around $344 million in such payments have gone to nearly 240,000 people in the state to date, the department reported. If you’re a self-employed worker, use the department’s new form for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims. The documents included excerpts of a deposition recorded the following October with Lindsi Leahy, the head of the department’s unemployment insurance division. According to the Oregon Employment Department, four major industries each added thousands of jobs: retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; health care and social assistance; and professional and business services. The Oregon Employment Department said it has made big progress processing record numbers of unemployment claims. According to the employment department, the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 6.7% in both November and December. Employers must provide information about Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits at the time of the layoff or separation of employment, even if the layoff is not permanent. He’s been looking for other work for the last nine months, with no luck. Driving passengers during the pandemic still feels too dangerous. Corinna Spencer-Scheurich, director of the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project, doesn’t know the answer. RELATED: Oregon Employment Department director to testify in front of legislative committee To fix the backlog, the Employment Department started Project Focus 100. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Employment reported more than 25,000 jobs were lost throughout the state in December. The Oregon Employment Department relies on a definition in state law to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. She counts herself lucky. We review every message, but are prioritizing those from customers with the oldest issues and from those who have been impacted by recent wildfires. “My doctor immediately said you shouldn’t be doing this type of work,” said Harley, 53. The Oregon Employment Department is pleased that Congress has passed an extension of federal benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Court documents and interviews show the Oregon Employment Department paid many gig workers traditional benefits from the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. In particular, couriers and messengers added 3,600 jobs in December according to the Oregon Employment Department. OPB's critical reporting is made possible by the power of member support. The Oregon Employment Department disagreed. The department now says it’s open to significant changes in light of the unique circumstances created by the pandemic. 'I'm in survival mode': Oregon Employment Department backlogged with 38,000 claims PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - Tens of thousands of Oregonians are going on … Today the Oregon Employment Department announced it has begun paying the ‘waiting week’ for eligible Oregonians who received regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unit was swamped. In the lawsuit, petitioners represented by the Oregon Law Center focused on payment delays. The two companies spent $100 million to pass an initiative allowing them to continue treating workers as independent contractors. Tim Gruver/The Center Square (The Center Square) — Thousands of out of work Oregonians will be pocketing extended jobless benefits this week that were passed by Congress last month, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) reported on Monday. And some drivers received regular unemployment benefits even before that memo went out last June. The Oregon Employment Department would not confirm to OPB whether it considers gig workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers to be employees rather than independent contractors. New Jersey, for example, sought to charge Uber $649 million in 2019 for years of unpaid employment taxes. The fund pays for benefits when employees get laid off. The Oregon Employment Department is expecting a shipment on Monday: 3,000 face masks and roughly 300 face shields. Berkeley Labor Center estimated Uber and Lyft would have paid California more than $400 million in unemployment payroll taxes over five years if the companies treated drivers as employees. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, How I’m teaching my Black children to thrive in a world that isn’t fair, U.K. Says Covid-19 May No Longer Be Spreading Exponentially. At more than $200 million, Proposition 22 was the most expensive ballot fight in California’s history. The program began in Oregon during September and paid out just six weeks of unemployment benefits for jobless Oregonians who already received unemployment benefits this summer. A manager had an update from the agency’s tax unit. By the end of April, the state began paying her regular unemployment benefits, even though she hadn’t worked a W-2 job in years. Chat with an employment attorney: (412) 626-5626 or lawyer@lawkm.com . RELATED | The Oregon Employment Department's priorities going into legislative session. In … The state paid her regular unemployment benefits for laid-off employees, rather than federal benefits for gig workers. As 2020 came to a close, Congress and President Donald Trump agreed to extend federal benefit programs into March. Oregon's rate remained lower than the country's, which came in at 6.7% in both November and December. Meanwhile, many small businesses struggling to survive the pandemic, including restaurants and gyms, have seen their unemployment taxes jump. But gig companies such as Uber and Lyft don’t pay unemployment taxes for drivers and delivery people, who they consider independent contractors. Following a federal determination, Extended Benefits (EB) will be reduced from up to 20 weeks of … In Oregon, most people who started getting regular benefits last month waited more than ten weeks. In Oregon, if you apply for unemployment, you do not get paid for the first week you are eligible for benefits. Try the employment department’s new contact form for long-delayed claims. This was the state’s first monthly increase in its unemployment rate following seven months of declines. Without an extension of PUA or PEUC, approximately 70,000 Oregonians would have lost a vital safety net after Dec. 26. Then in bold, capital letters, she listed the biggest names in the gig economy: The June 26 email later became public in court documents filed in a class action lawsuit against the Employment Department and its acting director. Today’s announcement comes one week ahead of the Employment Department’s end of November goal to begin paying the waiting week. So as the economy shut down in March, Harley was relieved to hear help was on the way. “And put them on regular unemployment.”. As Congress negotiates, Oregonians prepare for a gap in payment - or worse. August 12, 2020 (Salem, Ore.) – Self-employed claimants could get a boost today from the Oregon Employment Department. Officials say the state lost a total of 25,500 jobs over the last month. But she doesn’t discount the possibility. Employees come with costs gig companies do not want to bear. The Oregon Employment Department (OED) on Tuesday said claimants may experience a gap in benefits “during the time period when CARES Act … The OED said the new website will help answer questions and guide people through the claim process. By treating many gig workers as employees, the Employment Department is in line with states around the country who have confronted Uber and Lyft with a growing number of fines, laws and lawsuits. Within leisure and hospitality, full-service restaurants cut 17,600 jobs in December. Uber is a large company, flirting with a stock-market value of $100 billion. PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) – The Oregon Employment Department is beginning to pay out what's known as "waiting week" money. The Oregon Employment Department is pleased that Congress has passed an extension of federal benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Nov. 25, 2020 (Salem, OR)--Today the Oregon Employment Department announced a reduction in extended benefits as a result of Oregon's falling unemployment rate. Be a part of it! The Oregon Employment Department on Friday started issuing the extra payments, which are funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to a news release. The Oregon Employment Department has new guidance for employers who have or will be laying off some or all of their employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It declined to elaborate on the court filings themselves, citing pending litigation. The Oregon Employment Department said Monday that it has begun paying a $300 weekly unemployment bonus that Congress authorized last month as part of a $900 billion coronavirus relief package. Oregon also lost a … If the employer presents no satisfactory solution, then the employee can quit and be fairly secure in the fact that they will be granted unemployment benefits. Wyqued also exhausted her regular unemployment benefits and moved onto an extension program. For the first time in seven months Oregon’s unemployment rate increased, according to a new report from the employment department. The Oregon Employment Department is pleased that Congress has passed an extension of federal benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The Oregon Employment Department is pleased that Congress has passed an extension of federal benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Leaders decided to streamline. The employment departments in Oregon and Washington are still waiting for guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor on how to implement new federal legislation. DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates kicked in tens of millions more. It can charge penalties and interest if those companies don’t pay. ... New … Contact the Oregon Employment Department Internet Relay: Sprint Relay Online If you have an Unemployment Insurance issue, please see below for the correct number to call. “Tax has made a decision to stop conducting interviews with the following companies,” manager Kristine Wardlow wrote to adjudicators on June 26, 2020, “all the claimants are deemed employees and you just need to obtain POE [proof of earnings] and process the claim.”. The Oregon Employment Department has leased space for a new contact center to help process more unemployment claims, according to the department's spokesperson. The … The Oregon Employment Department had previously resisted curbs on the payroll taxes that fund jobless benefits. Unemployment Insurance December job losses in Oregon were greatest in leisure and hospitality, which cut 28,600 jobs, according to the employment department. Employment Department officials say Oregon is in far better shape than many other states, some of whom have had to borrow money to prop up their trust funds. The Oregon Employment Department hopes to have the new system up and running in a week, and it can't come soon enough. “It was me.”. READ MORE | Where does the economy stand now, and what's in store for 2021? That's thanks to the new $900 billion COVID relief bill … January 13: Media Briefing (video and audio)January 6: Media Briefing (video and audio)December 30: Media Briefing (video and audio)December 22: Oregon Employment Department Issues Statement Regarding Passage of Federal Unemployment Benefits December 16: Media Briefing (video and audio)December 15: Oregon Adds 4,200 Jobs in November “As soon as they pay out regular unemployment benefits out to misclassified workers, that starts the ball rolling,” she said. In Oregon, these gig companies would owe far less in unemployment taxes. The benefits went out, but payroll taxes hadn’t gone in. The reasons Oregon unemployment claims get held up vary considerably based on individual circumstances. Oregon's unemployment rate increases for the first time in 7 months. Several other industries also cut at least 800 jobs in December, including private educational services, government, wholesale trade, manufacturing, and construction. Oregon employers, facing three years of sharp increases in unemployment taxes, could get a break under proposals laid out at a Senate committee hearing Thursday. “Then it becomes an enforcement issue.”. PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Employment Department has unveiled a new website to help people through the unemployment process during the pandemic. TOLL FREE: (877) 345-3484 Far more people are in a ‘type of adjudication’ than was previously known, according to Friday court filing. PORTLAND, Ore - A new interim director took over the helm of Oregon's employment department this week, while thousands of Oregonians still wait for their unemployment … The Oregon Employment Department's new interim director explained changes being made to address the unemployment backlog, and what people can do while they wait. The Oregon Employment Department has a new site for guiding people through the unemployment … “She actually called me and said they’re trying to process as many drivers as possible as employees,” Wyqued said. the most expensive ballot fight in California’s history, more than $400 million in unemployment payroll taxes, Federal data sheds light on Oregon unemployment delays, For Oregonians facing expiring unemployment benefits, little assured but disruption, Oregon employers could face higher unemployment taxes, Court documents show Oregon’s unemployment backlog bigger than publicly described. People who drove enough hours for Uber and Lyft received benefits normally reserved for laid-off employees, as did many drivers with income from Grubhub, Instacart and DoorDash. At least 5,800 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUC) claims are on track to be processed by … Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, covered workers who usually don’t qualify for jobless benefits because they’re considered independent contractors, not employees. Christopher Harley was shocked when he got regular unemployment benefits. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Employment Department still has thousands of unemployment claims to process before its self-imposed deadline on … He bounced between those apps, cycling through numerous travelers, restaurants, grocery stores and apartment buildings each day. SALEM — The Oregon Employment Department reported unemployment across the state rose to 6.4% in December from 6.0% the month before. Oregon Employment Department says it's waiting on more instructions from the federal government, but that should be coming in the next couple of days. Harley, the gig worker who worried about bringing the pandemic home, has now joined the ranks of the long-term unemployed. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Employment reported more than 25,000 jobs were lost throughout the state in December. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 6.7% in both November and December. So the tax unit was contacting gig employers one claim at a time — a painfully slow process that contributed to an immense payment backlog. It asks whether they truly control how their work is performed and whether they have an independently established business. “OED did not issue a global decision about how to treat these employers’ payments to gig workers until June 26, three and a half months after the COVID-19 emergency began,” the lawyers wrote in one motion. OREGON — The Oregon Employment Department reported the state unemployment rate rose last month after a steady seven months of decline, growing to 6.4 percent in December from 6 percent in November. “It pointed directly to the work that I was doing,” Harley said. This new law did three main things: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). She confirmed that, prior to June, the tax unit had tried to contact Uber or Lyft every single time a driver filed for PUA. Oregon has fielded more than 790,000 claims for regular unemployment benefits and pandemic-specific jobless assistance since the middle of March, an unprecedented surge that resulted in … Oregon Employment Department Issues Statement Regarding Passage of Federal Unemployment Benefits - 12/22/20. The kind of help he got, however, raises fundamental questions about how businesses operating in Oregon are taxed — and whether gig economy companies should be required to pay into the state’s employment safety net. Tags: Business, Economy, Employment, Unemployment, Oregon. It’s not an uncommon time of the year to see a rise in unemployment… Oregon’s unemployment rate climbed to 6.4% in December, up from 6.0% the prior month. Eastern/Central Oregon/Bend: (541) 388-6207. Because of the formula used to replenish the fund, businesses that suffered the greatest layoffs, such as restaurants and gyms, bear some of the biggest tax increases. They criticized the Employment Department for conducting time-consuming, individual interviews with companies such as Uber and Lyft when unemployment had skyrocketed. The Oregon Employment Department would not confirm to OPB whether it considers gig workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers to be employees rather than independent contractors. Oregon has paid out more than $2 billion in regular benefits during the pandemic, leaving about $3.8 billion in its trust fund at the start of this year. However, as the Employment Department pointed out, Oregon lost 1.4% of … Wyqued said she spoke with a worker in the Employment Department’s tax unit. Because of Oregon’s high unemployment rate during the pandemic, the Department began paying up to 20 weeks of HEB on the week ending July 11, 2020. SALEM, OR (KPTV) - If you're collecting unemployment benefits, you could soon get $300 extra each week. Among them: required contributions to state unemployment insurance funds. The Employment Department can audit and bill companies believed to be misclassifying employees. Without an extension of PUA or PEUC, approximately 70,000 Oregonians would have lost a vital safety net after Dec. 26. FRAUD IS A CRIME and can result in penalties up to and including criminal prosecution. As the main phone number for the Oregon Employment Department … That's thanks to the new $900 billion COVID relief bill … Latest News. Still, some Oregon drivers wonder whether the state is preparing to crack down on Uber and Lyft. Here are some basic steps anyone awaiting benefits can do. Many people are … The law outlines several tests for independent contractors. Unemployment Insurance Contact Centers: Portland Area: (503) 292-2057. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 6.7% in both November and December. Gov. In Oregon, once a person is back on unemployment, penalties and offsets automatically kick in. The petitioners’ motion, Gerstenfeld wrote, “correctly narrates how OED innovated to streamline its process for certain ‘gig workers.’”. Emilie Wyqued was working full-time for Uber and Lyft when the pandemic hit. The move is meant to bolster the trust fund used to pay unemployment benefits. Unemployment insurance fraud is the intentional misreporting or withholding of information in order to get benefits. — The Oregon Employment Department has unveiled a new website to help people through the unemployment process during the pandemic. Skip to the main content of the page; Employment Department / Unemployment. He had suffered through pneumonia before and was scared of bringing the coronavirus home to his family in Portland. Some ride-hailing drivers who started getting paid PUA were later surprised when the Employment Department switched them to regular benefits. The Oregon Employment Department announced Friday, Nov. 13, that it is preparing for an increase in unemployment claims following Gov. It’s the first increase in seven months as the state hunkered down amid a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections. 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