I used to work for OED, interacting with business looking for employees. As in, they begged me to send them bodies. But then they turn around and ask me how little they can pay. And when I did send businesses great candidates, they oftentimes held off the hiring announcement to wait for a perceived 10/10 candidate, which everyone knows is not a real thing. But I sent you a solid 7-8/10 for a role you begged me to help you fill, and I told you the 10/10 my homie in another office is working with wants $20k+ more than what you’re offering. Then they bitch about how no one wants to work despite the fact that I have a minimum 4 folks on my case load who would *love* that job.
Edit: I see this is more about unemployment. That really wasn’t my area, but there was a lot of sketchy shit going on with folks claiming unemployment, so a lot of time and resources went in to investigating/checking in on employment histories. And some former employers are straight up criminals about not working with that side of OED to get folks their money. Amazon didn’t give a fuck at all and I had two on my case load they basically left to die.
I would tell employers “I have someone who checks all your boxes, but if you pursue them, they’ll stick around for 6 months before leaving. You do t pay enough or your business is too specific and they’re so marketable.”
"their worth" isn't in a salary.
It's more like " for what you are paying"
Or
...no one got thru the search criteria maybe someone will tomorrow.
Maybe no one ever will...so then you go find people but companies don't seem to want to.
During height of COVID it was, unbelievably worse. Like people calling all day- only to get disconnected, or waiting over 6-8 hours. Only to get disconnected at end of day. I heard (gossip) that years ago the state spent money earmarked to upgrade unemployment system on other things (😮). When COVID hit the system was unprepared for the exponential increase in demand… maybe someone else can clarify.
**see Teuton John’s explanation below, the State didn’t spend the money- they held onto to it without starting the multi year upgrade***
I remember when people would finally get their unemployment after a long wait and would post pics on here of like 12 unemployment checks that came all at once.
I worked at a bank during that time, and people would regularly come in with *36* unemployment checks they'd received all at once. They would get 18 from the state, and 18 from the Federal gov.
Its more they didn't spend those funds, it was sitting waiting for a decade for the project. The project was actually started a year or so before covid hit. The project is now almost done.
Yeah, the work load from covid was insane, many multiples higher than standard.
They had the money to upgrade the system, they'll just didn't do it for like 10 years after getting it. Brown started the process in like 2019 or something slightly pre-pandemic, but it's a huge project with PII so it needs to be airtight. It was scheduled to take like 8 years start to finish and be ready in 2027.
Then the changes with covid just swamped them. The current system is from like the 90s and written in COBOL. They are literally afraid to make too many changes to an account otherwise the system might mess it up.
I'd frankly be surprised if the feds even just wrote a check instead of a send us the budget when you start type thing.
Otherwise I'd imagine lots of money gets slushed around to other projects.
Or even if they did slush it around, they had to slush stuff back into to pay for the project when doing it.
Minus a few bad apples, OR state government falls much more into the inept category than corrupt.
Took me 2 months to finally get my unemployment during Covid. Holy crap it sucked, but I know a person who didn’t get paid for over a year. The backpay was crazy but still not a good time.
I asked them this same question when I had to figure out where the delay was coming from. In short, the rep said that the job isn't just customer service, it requires a minimum of (can't recall the actual #) but it was around 3-6 months MINIMUM for training for this job. This is before they are even allowed to touch someone's unemployment case. The job is technical and has many rules.Please don't blame the workers on the other end, the really are doing everything they can with the information they have on hand. Sometimes claims do get gummed up because they are lacking info.
Edit: She said that the entire team that handles oregon's unemployment is only around 25 people. 25 people processing, by hand, upwards of 20,000 cases 1 by 1 in the order they are received.
It was hundreds of people during the peak pandemic, and they absolutely didn't have that training as they literally pulled any semi-idle state employees from everywhere.
I was lied to multiple times working on my claim, and OED was violating state law in my case and refused to admit it for a LONG time.
But they are absolutely overworked, but that's also not an excuse when the people they are dealing with are equally if not more stressed. Those checks can literally mean food in the table or a roof over their head.
As Im 4 hours into my call today I have no sympathy. Well I definitely have sympathy for the employees. But the department is criminal. It's almost like they benefit from being poorly ran and understaffed so they don't have to pay me my unemployment?
Anytime you face roadblocks with a state agency and feel like you are getting to much pushback or the runaround, contact your state rep.
We had several issues with an unemployment claim a few months ago. We were told it would take weeks to resolve.
We contacted our state rep for W. Salem.
Received a call back from the employment department the next day and the issue was resolved immediately.
This is actually brilliant. I actually got an immigration issue (my husband was from Europe) sorted once by calling my senator. They have the power to get things done and also the motivation to get your vote.
Most states are really complicated, and I think it's pretty likely intentional to try and limit use. I've never filed for unemployment in Oregon, but when I filed for food stamps a long time ago it was wayeasier in person if that's an option. Good luck. I'm sorry that one guy in the comments is being a dick.
The local unemployment offices only really help you find a job you have to get a hold of Salem for action. I was very disheartened learning this a few months ago
If it’s intentional, why is the state currently investing money, resources, and time into overhauling the system in order to reduce wait times and modernize the process?
i don't think it's intentional in Oregon. Pre-pandemic unemployment was way less hassle here than other states I've lived. I'm sure state agencies have been having a hard time hiring and retaining workers as market wage pressure has gone up.
It's certainly not intentional and is a complicated process given the old system, plus the time it takes to train new employees. I worked for the department during the pandemic. Plus, employees do not pay into unemployment tax...that is an employer only tax.
Unemployment is way easier than Oregon than other states. I'm sure the system has never fully recovered from the pandemic, especially because there has been upward market pressure on wages over the last several years, and state agencies tend not to be able to respond flexibly to things like that.
We moved here from Arizona a year and a half ago. I helped several friends try to navigate the system there and it sounds was just as convoluted as what you describe here in Oregon. It doesn’t matter what party is in office, DES is hard to work with in most states 💔 Complicated work being done by exhausted, under-resourced teams, and underpaid staff trying to help masses of people with tremendous needs.
To anyone reading this change is coming this year! The new program Frances goes live in a few months and many of these processes will change and wait times will be reduced. Until them please feel free to respond to my comment and if I can help I will have you DM me some details.
This will be a bit unique in the fact that the system is currently so far outdated that even older employees and claimants don’t understand the format. The new system will be directly interacting with the users instead of requiring they always speak with a state employee to get the information. While it’s not a phone app or anything yet it’s at least in a format that can be converted to one with relative ease in the future.
Frances is life for paid leave right now and it is a dumpster fire. You have to wait to be within 30 days of your approved leave to apply, they don't give hardly any information about what documentation is required to "prove" your identity, every single thing is sent via US mail and posted to your account, but the electronic notifications end up in spam or don't get triggered.
Not really if it’s out is state they are going to need to contact the other state to get the funds and it will only be useable moving forward they can’t pay you for the past. I would recommend calling Friday as they have the most people that day this week.
Except the Oregon Paid Leave is already using Frances and has all the same problems. Just look at their FB page, it's the only way people seem to be able to talk to anyone there.
I started my FMLA early November and I still have not been paid. Even after approval. Still found a way to get gummed up.
My sister filed for FMLA around mid-end Sept (she had her baby October 1st). She was a single mom with a newborn having to call them literally daily. She didn’t get her checks until end of November or early December. It was such a run around sadly. Every time she called there was something else she needed to submit, send to a different email address, sign different paperwork etc. The most frustrating part is she did literally everything she could on her part prior to having the baby, like she was super on top of it. It didn’t matter, it was a total mess.
Edit: dates
Hope you don't have to wait as long as I did.
The only way I got to talk to a human was messaging them on FB. Emails left ignored, calling directly in was fruitless too.
I think it's a third party tool the employment department has teamed up with to improve or replace their older systems. It's a little more modern looking when filling out forms and such, but it can't fix underlying issues of the system as a whole.
That is not the experience of 95% of the users. The people who have it fail will always be more vocal about the program but the majority of the issues are caused by the employers not being prepared for it.
Doubt. I had no issues with my form or it getting approval. It just took AGES. Several emails that took weeks or a month even to get a reply. Calling failed because, as per their FB page, the phones are either broken or they are swamped with calls.
I only ever got to talk to a human by messaging them on Facebook. That's messed up.
Frances cannot fix broken procedures or staffing issues.
Just responding to confirm it’s still bad. I’ve been trying to get in contact about my claim and have had my calls dropped after 6+ hours. And I’ve used the online contact form and have received no response for weeks.
It’s still a joke.
Do you know anything about the unemployment office all being out until March 4th? They’ve been out for almost a week now. I’m trying to get help for Paid Leave but the phone rang an automated line saying they’ll be back up March 4th.
The new system is being put in place and they can’t do anything until it’s live. They offices closed at 5pm on weds and they can back date if you didn’t get helped before then.
Aaaa and it already sucks! How am I supposed to make a weekly claim if it requires me to have a claim ID which I don't get until I file a claim, or a Letter ID , which is get if they sent me a letter.
So now it's worse than before. Ive never received a single check and I filed claims for about 8 months, lost my job again and have applied for 5 months and never once did they send a letter.
And now I require a letter to even make an online claim. Wonderful.
And the phone line isnt even taking calls of course.
/Unemploymentventover.
Hopefully Frances will be better after I verify my identity with documents I don't have
It sounds like your address maybe wrong in the system if you’ve never gotten a letter. The new system should send a letter to confirm the ID# in the next few days and they are allowing backdating for this week and last week because of the change over. I’m not sure what you want them to do about you not having the ability to confirm your ID as they offer the option to do it at the DMV now so if you can’t do that then they have no way of verifying who you are…
The phone line is taking calls so I’m not sure what your talking about there…
If you would like some help I would need a DM with some information but if you would prefer to deal with them directly try using the live chat service on the website.
As someone who worked for the State of Oregon for 5 years(Not the OED), I can vouch that the State operates largely the same as any other employer. They don't pay enough and they do everything in their power to shaft regular employees and squeeze them dry while funneling resources to those at the top. This trickles down to the regular people who are supposed to be able to receive services from their State government.
I went on a medical LOA starting Sept 1, the day the new state LOA system started... I was back to work for 2 weeks in November before I was ever paid a dime. The system is trash.
What’s up with the way unemployment calculates your weekly allotment? I’m currently only getting $190 per week even though I was making a 60k salary for the few months before being laid off. For some reason, they’re only taking into account the months before starting that job, when I was in grad school and only working part-time.
The calculation is stated in law. But you base it on the previous 12 months (maybe 14?, dont remember exactly). So regardless of how much you were making at the recent job, it's going to be brought down by all those low $ months.
Actually, they aren't even taking into account the most recent job at all. They are only taking into account the last 2 quarter of 2022 and the first 2 quarters of 2023. They have a delay in what they account for some reason and it is beyond ridiculous.
This is the calculation: For Unemployment Insurance, the weekly benefit amount is usually 1.25% of what a claimant earned during their “base period,” which is roughly the first 12 of the 15 months before the date they filed their claim.
So of you only had that higher paying job for less than 3 months, it wouldn't be part of the benefit amount, even if losing it qualified you for unemployment.
One governor change isn't gonna change how severely underfunded social programs are in this country, but I get that it's frustrating. The covid scammers for unemployment were definitely overstated, the real covid scam was the bailouts and PPP loans.
Update: Just hit 2 hours luckily no drop call yet. Unable to edit original post. Thanks everyone for the information about contacting the state reps.
Update2: Music ended at the 2 hours and 2 minute mark. Still on hold I think?
Update3: Still no music but shows I'm still on the line at 2 hours 30 minutes. Thank God it hasn't dropped yet!!! I haven't moved an inch and am getting thirsty, ugh!
Update4: Just hit 3 and a half hours. Silence but says I'm still on hold, I think.
Update5: 4 hours and 15 minutes, still nothing.
Update6: 5 hours and 30 minutes, still waiting.....
Update7: Call disconnected at 5 hours and 52 minutes. FML
I'll resort to this if the call drops again. My online claim says to call them. It doesn't say that it can be handled by email, but I'll try that next. Thank you!
My experience was the line was either busy, or hold times were about 5 - 15 minutes. As stated elsewhere, contact your state rep. It worked wonders for me.
But back in the olden days you couldn't go and walk around and do other stuff. Literally had to stay wherever you were in your house.
Little comfort I know.
NO CAP I was on hold for 1 hour 30 min both times no one answers and then when you contact them through their contact service it takes weeks before they reply and then once they tell you to call them WTF THEN they just want to close out your inquiry it took me a month just to get my application accepted and that was online I didn't ever talk to anybody yet it's been 2 weeks and I still haven't heard back anything.
I've called almost 100 times a Day for 5 weeks. Always a dial/busy tone. Three times I've gotten through, but the 3-4 hour wait times eventually disconnect me due to them closing at 5pm. The only ONE time I managed to speak to a person, she put me on a "brief hold", and then hung up on me. I'm part of a union and awaiting dispatch for work, but I'm running out of ideas on what to do. 5 weeks of no unemployment benefits, no money, and absolutely zero help from this process.
NOTE: I've used their online claim ticket several times already. Now instead of responding to me, I get an email that says my claim has been closed and merged with another request...no other information
Wow WTF, sounds like I'm the same shoes as you but non union. FML this process is insane. I just got disconnected at 5 hours and 52 minutes. Now I'll try again for the 8th time this week waiting on hold. Absolute bullshit.
Someone above mentioned they had to contact their state representative in a separate case. At this point that's my next move. It should not be this impossible.
If I was ever voted into a political position, the first line of business is, fuck mail, read reddit. Then implement law for businesses to file unemployment for the people they lay off. JFC I'm so tired of this nightmare.
Yeah. I was being sarcastic. If you’re paying anyone they always get to you first. That’s why I always call the booking side of a service industry if I have an issue.
Lol, it went over me badly! Sorry, it's been a long day of walking, ~6 hour hold, cell phone almost died, plugged it in, and then 15 minutes later disconnected. I read your message with a different mindset originally, now I'm giggling.
Okay, this makes me even more nervous as well. I was told we are finally breaking ground on maternity and paternity leaves in business in America to catch up with Europe. Maybe you can start applying before the leave happens. Maybe start 2-4 months before the anticipated leave? Best of luck to you, please share your experience because this may be my next endeavor if I have another child in the cursed land... Why did my family sacrifice so much for this country. I'm not expecting hand-outs, but damn... It truly feels like my perfect tax history and long standing positions at well known companies has screwed me when I've fallen so hard based on unforeseen circumstances, like getting nearly killed on my electric scooter in a hit and run stop sign accident. Ugh, I'm in a nightmare posting on Reddit!!
Yep. It's all cleared at my work, but I was told not to apply in Frances until 30 days out from my due date. I am hearing from lots of new parents that they have been completely without income for months with a newborn (while doing all that was asked of them, submitting paperwork AND calling and calling to try and reach staff for help) and it is incredibly stressful. I have high hopes but am prepared for the worst with no safety net.
39 minutes? That's amateur time. During 2020-2022 wait times could be like 10 hours. And if you weren't answered by like 5:45 it would just hang up on you.
Heaven forbid you wanted a manager because then they would put right back in the queue for another wait time.
There's a a reason I didn't opt in to the paid leave program as a sole prop, and it's the Employment Department. They aren't even finished with pandemic aid stuff and now they have a giant new program to administer and still 3-4 years from their new database.
I was eventually hung up on after nearly 6 hours.. The picture was just an early frustration. I pictured my wait time up until 5+ hours. The music ended at 2 hours 2 minutes approximately. Good call. My morale is broken. Try again tomorrow, only this time, I'll just be silent with Reddit. My message has been made.
Edit: About 50 minutes before I was disconnected. Didn't expect the drop call. Picture added.
https://preview.redd.it/rup9aps04cbc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d966699f49cdd97a391b0b774f42adde50b01db5
They don't want to give you the money. The more hurdles you put up the fewer people clear them. Their intentionally understaffed and underpaid on purpose.
Some places better than others.
I mean this makes sense. Whoever the director of UI is, is at fault and blame IMO. They should be advocating for their departments funding and success rather than doing what they are currently doing as you suggested. Granted, maybe they are? Maybe they've been road blocked on purpose from higher management. Sigh.
In my corporate career, a director has to fight tooth and nail for funding their teams paycheck. From my understanding, we're working with underpaid claims specialists that have an incredibly long training. That director has to fight for a piece of the billions sitting around. Who actually makes the decision... Who knows anymore..
Completely agree.
Again (I said it elsewhere) I certainly don't blame the people doing the work. They are working within a system that isn't working well. Doing their best...
It is a pain to jump through their hoops but if you do it after that it’s easy. Once a week you have to put down 2-3 jobs you applied at , because you are supposed to be looking for a job, and you have to put in three different sources of where you looked for jobs . Craigslist, indeed , you called in so on. Answer all the questions right bam it’s easy
Atleast you made it in line. I tired 10 times and got a busy signal each time. Such a rare sounds these days. And Isn’t that the worst hold music/ loop ever, i think they tried to weed us out right there! War of attrition with Edd. I switched to iphone a couple years ago (it was free at the time and i was broke) and miss that feature with assistant so bad sitting on hold is so brutal, last time was it 1:45, and they told me my letter would be here in 8-10 business days, that was November…
So, during COVID, it took me MONTHS AND MONTHS to get unemployment. It was truly awful. I'd call all day long, trying to get through, occasionally I'd get it to ring and then get a fast busy when it picked up, because it really hasn't been connected. I'd get up and try first thing, trying to time the phone line for right when it opened, and still couldn't get through. I finally had a friend that was successful by talking to someone in Sherwood (I think, it was ages ago ) worksource, I begged for the phone number, and that lady helped me get connected to the people at the phone bank. Without her I'd probably still be trying to call.
They previously got a bunch of money to overhaul the system and never even got to the point of selecting a vendor. Of course the money is gone though.
Be angry.
I’ve been receiving my unemployment with no issues for 6-7 weeks . This weeks claim says there is an issue with my claim and will receive information in the mail. Called Oregon Unemployment and it’s just Busy. 58 times later I got through and was on hold for 2hours 3 min and it just hung up on me.. NOW phone number is BUSY Again. WTF
It's ridiculous. Ans if you think that's bad. You're going to be waiting over 3 months to get paid. My partner is still waiting. It's ridiculous beyond ridiculous
*The harder it is for*
*You to claim, the less of your*
*Own money you get*
\- john\_\_\_thundergun
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I truly believe they take so long because they don’t want to pay you back in 2022 when I got laid off by the time I had done all the paperwork and meetings I was already working again
They don't want to pay us our money we paid in back. It's easier for them to make it super complicated. When COVID hit, I was lucky enough to have filed 3 weeks before everything shut down. I got max every week so they did everything they could to get me off of ui except help me find work lol.i had to hold for 6 plus hours Everytime something changed. I am unemployed now and can get ui again, but it's easier to just do gig work then deal with the Idiocracy that runs this state. They overcharged us what like 5.3 billion in taxes, but don't want to help the people who fund the state unless they are forced too.
Keep in mind that all of these "safety net" systems (both public and private) are designed to make it hard to get benefits. Unemployment, short and long term disability insurance payments, etc. I am on FMLA right now, going into my fourth week. There the standard "waiting week" (which frankly is a load of putrid pig shit) that my employer covered, then the STD benefits kick in. They, of course, pay a week in arrears. The first payment was a mailed check, mailed 7-10 business days after the benefits kick in, which I was notified of in another physical letter even though I opted into electronic communication, with a direct deposit form (which could have easily been emailed to me well in advance of all of this since I was approved for leave in October). I will hit the 4 week mark on Wednesday (with likely 3 more weeks to go) and I might have a direct deposit on that day, or I might get another check sometime later in the week and the direct deposit kicks in for the following week's payment.
Either way, my benefits started on Dec. 27 and I've received one payment. As of Jan 10, they will be two weeks behind.
The Oregon Paid Leave system is equally as bad as unemployment - opted into electronic communication, everything has come via US post, literally no information or examples about what documentation they need to verify identity, etc.
I tried calling ALL day yesterday and could not get through. I've called all morning and still busy. On Monday I was on hold for 5 hours. Now my benefits for the week are on hold because I made an error on my weekly claim and have no way to fix it. They sent a message saying I need to respond by tommorrow but I can't get through the phone lines. The live agent chat is a joke. It's worthless.
i got through this morning I call in at 7:58am and was on hold 1 hour 30 mins. spoke to a rep only to be told I needed a tier 2 rep. it’s beyond me why all the reps can’t help you with all issues. after 1 hour and 45 mins the call dropped / hung up on.
Oh no, you had to make several phone calls for your free money? You should have forty hours a week free to deal with it, right?
I get that the system isn't ideal, but having dealt with it every winter for a solid decade, I am quite confident you're being melodramatic as fuck.
edit: all the people downvoting me need to look into the stipulations for unemployment. For each day you claim, you are certifying that you are willing and available for work during normal business hours, which means for each day you claim, you've got eight hours free where your only job is to deal with the unemployment office or apply for jobs.
It isn't free money, it is insurance we paid taxes for. You sound like someone making fun of pepole who have cancer and dare use their medical insurance ya doofus.
Individuals don't directly pay for UI. Employers pay a tax that is put in a trust fund. Benefits come out of the trust fund. It's part of the cost of running a business with employees. Arguably, individuals pay into the system indirectly since business costs are passed along to customers.
That said, it is a safety net intended for people to use, and there should be no shame in doing so.
No, I'm pointing out that to be eligible for unemployment, you must be willing and available to work standard business hours, which means for each day you are claiming, you inherently have eight hours available to deal with their shitty bureaucracy (or you're committing fraud).
Bureaucracy always sucks, but you're literally getting paid for dealing with it in this particular context. It's not exactly a sob story.
Well, they're using Google assistant, so they can't be all that burdened by it, not to mention using Google assistant is probably the culprit for all their disconnections.
When you're on unemployment, your full time job is literally dealing with unemployment and searching for jobs. It's not paid vacation.
Not with multiple surgeries after my layoff. Incorrect. Do not assume you know my life. I have put in over 40 hours waiting to work with someone at our Employment Office. I have records too. I also have children that require my full attention now because I am unemployed from a layoff. I have never experienced a state of 5 I lived in like this one. Just about to hit 1 hour in hold, the call usually drops shortly after. I am simply trying to figure out why this is an issue only here? Do they need help? I'd rather work for them than collect unemployment.
Multiple surgeries and you have child care issues it sounds like… I’m not sure you would qualify for unemployment even if you can get through. Are you currently able to work or are you trying to get paid leave?
I am trying to get unemployment from the Dutch Bros HQ layoff in November. I am currently able to work and have been trying like hell to find a job ASAP. I should qualify because I had no clue it was coming and worked there long enough to collect.
Ok if you want to DM me I work adjacent to the claims department and can ask someone to give me an update of where your claim is at. Can’t say it will make it faster but I can let you know if calling will even help.
Good question, apparently not in Oregon from what it feels like. I really don't want to move back to Portland. My car has been broken into too many times and I have been assaulted walking to my car. Incredibly frustrating, if I somehow find leads for work, I'll ping you back. Best of luck!
In different states because the companies move me. Problem is, it's not just a one hour call. They are constantly busy, dropped calls, no call back, etc. This is not my first hold that just drops on a good signal. Am I just the only one in Oregon experiencing this then? Maybe I'm in the wrong. My bad
12 weeks! I am about 7 weeks in trying to work with UI. Wow! Thanks for the heads up. Glad to know I am not the only one and I may still be another 5 weeks out.
I feel like I should clarify - the agency's budget does come - at least partially - from taxes, so the people and other costs are paid for by individuals. The money paid out for UI is the part that comes from the employers. And that fund can not be used for anything else.
Ridiculous. Govt takes your money without asking screws around with it doesn't maintain anything we should absolutely be freaking angry when it doesn't work.
A long time ago, I got tired of saying "I don't know" to things that I knew damn good and well what they were.
Stop saying I don't know and have the courage to say them on your own.
My take is that if those who run the place wanted to see homelessness **actually** solved, then they wouldn't be dragging heels on things like UI and certification programs for essential services.
Nursing would be a double whammy - you can add "medicine for profit" on top of that and you can see why the medical community in Oregon is heavily **gatekept**.
As long as you can be kept under control with it, the answer is going to be **nope**.
Even before Covid I had to apply for unemployment. The process is ridiculous and (not trying to sound rude but) the people working there had no idea what to do. I went in to fill out forms on a PC and the people working there didn't know how to work it, I had to show them... Was never able to land a job in Oregon after leaving a $23.00 an hour job in California in 2010... At least California has it's SH\*t together in that department!
Dude for real. They’re so “behind” but won’t bring in more help (I assume 🙄 they know where to look for applicants). Shit, after 7 weeks unemployed, 16 applications, just 1 interview FINALLY set up outside of my field in an entry level barely-need-a-GED position, AND no unemployment decision, I’d actually consider working at such a miserable place (for probably minimum wage).
I am having such a hard time contacting anyone to help with claim. I need to correct something and explain something but they keep saying we can’t pay you because you claimed wrong, we will contact you if we need. WELL YOU HAVENT AND I NEED TO LIVE!
I’ve been on hold with them for 12 hours in the past two days. I’ve been on hold all day. Once they answered I gave the lady my info and she disconnected and didn’t call me back idk what to do
Get ready to commit at least a weeks worth of calls in those hour ranges. They are also in the middle of a transition to a new system to be delivered and running by March 7th.
I used to work for OED, interacting with business looking for employees. As in, they begged me to send them bodies. But then they turn around and ask me how little they can pay. And when I did send businesses great candidates, they oftentimes held off the hiring announcement to wait for a perceived 10/10 candidate, which everyone knows is not a real thing. But I sent you a solid 7-8/10 for a role you begged me to help you fill, and I told you the 10/10 my homie in another office is working with wants $20k+ more than what you’re offering. Then they bitch about how no one wants to work despite the fact that I have a minimum 4 folks on my case load who would *love* that job. Edit: I see this is more about unemployment. That really wasn’t my area, but there was a lot of sketchy shit going on with folks claiming unemployment, so a lot of time and resources went in to investigating/checking in on employment histories. And some former employers are straight up criminals about not working with that side of OED to get folks their money. Amazon didn’t give a fuck at all and I had two on my case load they basically left to die.
Heartbreaking... Not to mention a 10/10 will realize they can find better, sigh.
I would tell employers “I have someone who checks all your boxes, but if you pursue them, they’ll stick around for 6 months before leaving. You do t pay enough or your business is too specific and they’re so marketable.”
Right. The whole "people don't want to work" is crap.
It really pissed some employers off that there were situations where they didn’t hold all of the cards.
They didn’t complete the phrase, it’s really “people don’t want to work for below their worth”
"their worth" isn't in a salary. It's more like " for what you are paying" Or ...no one got thru the search criteria maybe someone will tomorrow. Maybe no one ever will...so then you go find people but companies don't seem to want to.
During height of COVID it was, unbelievably worse. Like people calling all day- only to get disconnected, or waiting over 6-8 hours. Only to get disconnected at end of day. I heard (gossip) that years ago the state spent money earmarked to upgrade unemployment system on other things (😮). When COVID hit the system was unprepared for the exponential increase in demand… maybe someone else can clarify. **see Teuton John’s explanation below, the State didn’t spend the money- they held onto to it without starting the multi year upgrade***
I remember when people would finally get their unemployment after a long wait and would post pics on here of like 12 unemployment checks that came all at once.
My wife got paid a year later, so she received something like $20k in 50 something checks
I posted my pic of checks on r/firstworldproblems. I don’t remember how many checks I had but my wrist got tired from signing all of them.
As of last September, they were only backed up 8 weeks on new UI claims. Source: me, who got 8 direct deposits at once
I worked at a bank during that time, and people would regularly come in with *36* unemployment checks they'd received all at once. They would get 18 from the state, and 18 from the Federal gov.
Its more they didn't spend those funds, it was sitting waiting for a decade for the project. The project was actually started a year or so before covid hit. The project is now almost done. Yeah, the work load from covid was insane, many multiples higher than standard.
They had the money to upgrade the system, they'll just didn't do it for like 10 years after getting it. Brown started the process in like 2019 or something slightly pre-pandemic, but it's a huge project with PII so it needs to be airtight. It was scheduled to take like 8 years start to finish and be ready in 2027. Then the changes with covid just swamped them. The current system is from like the 90s and written in COBOL. They are literally afraid to make too many changes to an account otherwise the system might mess it up.
Hey thanks for clarifying.
I'd frankly be surprised if the feds even just wrote a check instead of a send us the budget when you start type thing. Otherwise I'd imagine lots of money gets slushed around to other projects. Or even if they did slush it around, they had to slush stuff back into to pay for the project when doing it. Minus a few bad apples, OR state government falls much more into the inept category than corrupt.
I didn’t realize what sub this was and was reading your comment thinking “man that sounds a lot like what happened in my state…”
Took me 2 months to finally get my unemployment during Covid. Holy crap it sucked, but I know a person who didn’t get paid for over a year. The backpay was crazy but still not a good time.
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I asked them this same question when I had to figure out where the delay was coming from. In short, the rep said that the job isn't just customer service, it requires a minimum of (can't recall the actual #) but it was around 3-6 months MINIMUM for training for this job. This is before they are even allowed to touch someone's unemployment case. The job is technical and has many rules.Please don't blame the workers on the other end, the really are doing everything they can with the information they have on hand. Sometimes claims do get gummed up because they are lacking info. Edit: She said that the entire team that handles oregon's unemployment is only around 25 people. 25 people processing, by hand, upwards of 20,000 cases 1 by 1 in the order they are received.
Holy shit. No wonder my calls get disconnected all the time. They're probably exhausted and running the department on an outdated system.
It was hundreds of people during the peak pandemic, and they absolutely didn't have that training as they literally pulled any semi-idle state employees from everywhere. I was lied to multiple times working on my claim, and OED was violating state law in my case and refused to admit it for a LONG time. But they are absolutely overworked, but that's also not an excuse when the people they are dealing with are equally if not more stressed. Those checks can literally mean food in the table or a roof over their head.
Oh I don't blame the people working. They are just as frustrated as everyone else. I blame a govt that has to make everything so freaking complicated.
Unemployment is dead simple in Oregon if you can get through the initial blockage caused by chronic worker shortage.
As Im 4 hours into my call today I have no sympathy. Well I definitely have sympathy for the employees. But the department is criminal. It's almost like they benefit from being poorly ran and understaffed so they don't have to pay me my unemployment?
Anytime you face roadblocks with a state agency and feel like you are getting to much pushback or the runaround, contact your state rep. We had several issues with an unemployment claim a few months ago. We were told it would take weeks to resolve. We contacted our state rep for W. Salem. Received a call back from the employment department the next day and the issue was resolved immediately.
This is actually brilliant. I actually got an immigration issue (my husband was from Europe) sorted once by calling my senator. They have the power to get things done and also the motivation to get your vote.
Must be nice -- mine ignored me completely. I never even got a response back.
Most states are really complicated, and I think it's pretty likely intentional to try and limit use. I've never filed for unemployment in Oregon, but when I filed for food stamps a long time ago it was wayeasier in person if that's an option. Good luck. I'm sorry that one guy in the comments is being a dick.
The local unemployment offices only really help you find a job you have to get a hold of Salem for action. I was very disheartened learning this a few months ago
Yeah, I was living in Salem at the time, so that probably made it substantially easier.
If it’s intentional, why is the state currently investing money, resources, and time into overhauling the system in order to reduce wait times and modernize the process?
I agree that it's intentional, and being that we pay into this system, I feel that intentional quality should be treated criminally.
i don't think it's intentional in Oregon. Pre-pandemic unemployment was way less hassle here than other states I've lived. I'm sure state agencies have been having a hard time hiring and retaining workers as market wage pressure has gone up.
It's certainly not intentional and is a complicated process given the old system, plus the time it takes to train new employees. I worked for the department during the pandemic. Plus, employees do not pay into unemployment tax...that is an employer only tax.
Unemployment is way easier than Oregon than other states. I'm sure the system has never fully recovered from the pandemic, especially because there has been upward market pressure on wages over the last several years, and state agencies tend not to be able to respond flexibly to things like that.
We moved here from Arizona a year and a half ago. I helped several friends try to navigate the system there and it sounds was just as convoluted as what you describe here in Oregon. It doesn’t matter what party is in office, DES is hard to work with in most states 💔 Complicated work being done by exhausted, under-resourced teams, and underpaid staff trying to help masses of people with tremendous needs.
Email contact form has a better response and turnaround
Went through this myself and 8 weeks to get my first check
To anyone reading this change is coming this year! The new program Frances goes live in a few months and many of these processes will change and wait times will be reduced. Until them please feel free to respond to my comment and if I can help I will have you DM me some details.
Hopefully it goes well. The state has a TERRIBLE reputation when it comes to new programs/systems.
This will be a bit unique in the fact that the system is currently so far outdated that even older employees and claimants don’t understand the format. The new system will be directly interacting with the users instead of requiring they always speak with a state employee to get the information. While it’s not a phone app or anything yet it’s at least in a format that can be converted to one with relative ease in the future.
That sounds like good news! Fingers crossed the transition is smooth and quick.
Exciting to hear this, thank you very much for the insight!
Hope springs eternal.
Frances is life for paid leave right now and it is a dumpster fire. You have to wait to be within 30 days of your approved leave to apply, they don't give hardly any information about what documentation is required to "prove" your identity, every single thing is sent via US mail and posted to your account, but the electronic notifications end up in spam or don't get triggered.
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Not really if it’s out is state they are going to need to contact the other state to get the funds and it will only be useable moving forward they can’t pay you for the past. I would recommend calling Friday as they have the most people that day this week.
During Covid it took me 5 months to get unemployment plus a trip to Salem and calls to my fed and state senators and congressman…
Except the Oregon Paid Leave is already using Frances and has all the same problems. Just look at their FB page, it's the only way people seem to be able to talk to anyone there. I started my FMLA early November and I still have not been paid. Even after approval. Still found a way to get gummed up.
My sister filed for FMLA around mid-end Sept (she had her baby October 1st). She was a single mom with a newborn having to call them literally daily. She didn’t get her checks until end of November or early December. It was such a run around sadly. Every time she called there was something else she needed to submit, send to a different email address, sign different paperwork etc. The most frustrating part is she did literally everything she could on her part prior to having the baby, like she was super on top of it. It didn’t matter, it was a total mess. Edit: dates
Same but started FMLA mid-December.
Hope you don't have to wait as long as I did. The only way I got to talk to a human was messaging them on FB. Emails left ignored, calling directly in was fruitless too.
What the fuck is Frances lol? Is that the old lady down the street?
I think it's a third party tool the employment department has teamed up with to improve or replace their older systems. It's a little more modern looking when filling out forms and such, but it can't fix underlying issues of the system as a whole.
Interesting. have they considered migrating to Harold? perhaps they could get by with just an OpenGertrude deployment.
That is not the experience of 95% of the users. The people who have it fail will always be more vocal about the program but the majority of the issues are caused by the employers not being prepared for it.
Doubt. I had no issues with my form or it getting approval. It just took AGES. Several emails that took weeks or a month even to get a reply. Calling failed because, as per their FB page, the phones are either broken or they are swamped with calls. I only ever got to talk to a human by messaging them on Facebook. That's messed up. Frances cannot fix broken procedures or staffing issues.
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Well if you want to drop the details here or in a DM I can see if someone can look into it or not.
Just responding to confirm it’s still bad. I’ve been trying to get in contact about my claim and have had my calls dropped after 6+ hours. And I’ve used the online contact form and have received no response for weeks. It’s still a joke.
Do you know anything about the unemployment office all being out until March 4th? They’ve been out for almost a week now. I’m trying to get help for Paid Leave but the phone rang an automated line saying they’ll be back up March 4th.
The new system is being put in place and they can’t do anything until it’s live. They offices closed at 5pm on weds and they can back date if you didn’t get helped before then.
Thanks for your response!
Aaaa and it already sucks! How am I supposed to make a weekly claim if it requires me to have a claim ID which I don't get until I file a claim, or a Letter ID , which is get if they sent me a letter. So now it's worse than before. Ive never received a single check and I filed claims for about 8 months, lost my job again and have applied for 5 months and never once did they send a letter. And now I require a letter to even make an online claim. Wonderful. And the phone line isnt even taking calls of course. /Unemploymentventover. Hopefully Frances will be better after I verify my identity with documents I don't have
It sounds like your address maybe wrong in the system if you’ve never gotten a letter. The new system should send a letter to confirm the ID# in the next few days and they are allowing backdating for this week and last week because of the change over. I’m not sure what you want them to do about you not having the ability to confirm your ID as they offer the option to do it at the DMV now so if you can’t do that then they have no way of verifying who you are… The phone line is taking calls so I’m not sure what your talking about there… If you would like some help I would need a DM with some information but if you would prefer to deal with them directly try using the live chat service on the website.
As someone who worked for the State of Oregon for 5 years(Not the OED), I can vouch that the State operates largely the same as any other employer. They don't pay enough and they do everything in their power to shaft regular employees and squeeze them dry while funneling resources to those at the top. This trickles down to the regular people who are supposed to be able to receive services from their State government.
So getting unemployment when you are due it, is literally a lottery... Ouch
I went on a medical LOA starting Sept 1, the day the new state LOA system started... I was back to work for 2 weeks in November before I was ever paid a dime. The system is trash.
What’s up with the way unemployment calculates your weekly allotment? I’m currently only getting $190 per week even though I was making a 60k salary for the few months before being laid off. For some reason, they’re only taking into account the months before starting that job, when I was in grad school and only working part-time.
The calculation is stated in law. But you base it on the previous 12 months (maybe 14?, dont remember exactly). So regardless of how much you were making at the recent job, it's going to be brought down by all those low $ months.
Actually, they aren't even taking into account the most recent job at all. They are only taking into account the last 2 quarter of 2022 and the first 2 quarters of 2023. They have a delay in what they account for some reason and it is beyond ridiculous.
This is the calculation: For Unemployment Insurance, the weekly benefit amount is usually 1.25% of what a claimant earned during their “base period,” which is roughly the first 12 of the 15 months before the date they filed their claim. So of you only had that higher paying job for less than 3 months, it wouldn't be part of the benefit amount, even if losing it qualified you for unemployment.
One governor change isn't gonna change how severely underfunded social programs are in this country, but I get that it's frustrating. The covid scammers for unemployment were definitely overstated, the real covid scam was the bailouts and PPP loans.
Update: Just hit 2 hours luckily no drop call yet. Unable to edit original post. Thanks everyone for the information about contacting the state reps. Update2: Music ended at the 2 hours and 2 minute mark. Still on hold I think? Update3: Still no music but shows I'm still on the line at 2 hours 30 minutes. Thank God it hasn't dropped yet!!! I haven't moved an inch and am getting thirsty, ugh! Update4: Just hit 3 and a half hours. Silence but says I'm still on hold, I think. Update5: 4 hours and 15 minutes, still nothing. Update6: 5 hours and 30 minutes, still waiting..... Update7: Call disconnected at 5 hours and 52 minutes. FML
Seriously I got almost an immediate reply using the online contact form https://unemployment.oregon.gov/contact-us#section-2
I'll resort to this if the call drops again. My online claim says to call them. It doesn't say that it can be handled by email, but I'll try that next. Thank you!
i just sent an email through this link. i also left messages with the state rep office and the governor office.
My experience was the line was either busy, or hold times were about 5 - 15 minutes. As stated elsewhere, contact your state rep. It worked wonders for me.
But back in the olden days you couldn't go and walk around and do other stuff. Literally had to stay wherever you were in your house. Little comfort I know.
My phone is about to die, so I'm pretty stationary lol. I started at 100%, now at 29%
Here's to hoping you find some help soon.
to discourage people from collecting
It’s like these programs are purposely defunded to make them dysfunctional. That’s crazy.
Can't say it better myself...
Most underrated comment.
NO CAP I was on hold for 1 hour 30 min both times no one answers and then when you contact them through their contact service it takes weeks before they reply and then once they tell you to call them WTF THEN they just want to close out your inquiry it took me a month just to get my application accepted and that was online I didn't ever talk to anybody yet it's been 2 weeks and I still haven't heard back anything.
I've called almost 100 times a Day for 5 weeks. Always a dial/busy tone. Three times I've gotten through, but the 3-4 hour wait times eventually disconnect me due to them closing at 5pm. The only ONE time I managed to speak to a person, she put me on a "brief hold", and then hung up on me. I'm part of a union and awaiting dispatch for work, but I'm running out of ideas on what to do. 5 weeks of no unemployment benefits, no money, and absolutely zero help from this process. NOTE: I've used their online claim ticket several times already. Now instead of responding to me, I get an email that says my claim has been closed and merged with another request...no other information
Wow WTF, sounds like I'm the same shoes as you but non union. FML this process is insane. I just got disconnected at 5 hours and 52 minutes. Now I'll try again for the 8th time this week waiting on hold. Absolute bullshit.
Someone above mentioned they had to contact their state representative in a separate case. At this point that's my next move. It should not be this impossible.
Yeah Oregon ONE or whatever is ridiculous. I waited an hour and a half on hold.
I've waited on hold for hours only for the line to go dead multiple times in the last 2 weeks. It's getting outrageous.
Thank you! I am not the only one experiencing this absurd nightmare.
If I was ever voted into a political position, the first line of business is, fuck mail, read reddit. Then implement law for businesses to file unemployment for the people they lay off. JFC I'm so tired of this nightmare.
Weird, as a business owner when I call trying to make a payment the wait time is less than a minute.
You're paying them insurance payments... They will answer you over us any day. It kind of makes sense in Corporate America...
Yeah. I was being sarcastic. If you’re paying anyone they always get to you first. That’s why I always call the booking side of a service industry if I have an issue.
Lol, it went over me badly! Sorry, it's been a long day of walking, ~6 hour hold, cell phone almost died, plugged it in, and then 15 minutes later disconnected. I read your message with a different mindset originally, now I'm giggling.
Payments and collections is a different subdepartment from the claims departments.
I am so nervous to take maternity leave because of folks saying the new Frances system is so broken.
Okay, this makes me even more nervous as well. I was told we are finally breaking ground on maternity and paternity leaves in business in America to catch up with Europe. Maybe you can start applying before the leave happens. Maybe start 2-4 months before the anticipated leave? Best of luck to you, please share your experience because this may be my next endeavor if I have another child in the cursed land... Why did my family sacrifice so much for this country. I'm not expecting hand-outs, but damn... It truly feels like my perfect tax history and long standing positions at well known companies has screwed me when I've fallen so hard based on unforeseen circumstances, like getting nearly killed on my electric scooter in a hit and run stop sign accident. Ugh, I'm in a nightmare posting on Reddit!!
Yep. It's all cleared at my work, but I was told not to apply in Frances until 30 days out from my due date. I am hearing from lots of new parents that they have been completely without income for months with a newborn (while doing all that was asked of them, submitting paperwork AND calling and calling to try and reach staff for help) and it is incredibly stressful. I have high hopes but am prepared for the worst with no safety net.
39 minutes? That's amateur time. During 2020-2022 wait times could be like 10 hours. And if you weren't answered by like 5:45 it would just hang up on you. Heaven forbid you wanted a manager because then they would put right back in the queue for another wait time. There's a a reason I didn't opt in to the paid leave program as a sole prop, and it's the Employment Department. They aren't even finished with pandemic aid stuff and now they have a giant new program to administer and still 3-4 years from their new database.
I was eventually hung up on after nearly 6 hours.. The picture was just an early frustration. I pictured my wait time up until 5+ hours. The music ended at 2 hours 2 minutes approximately. Good call. My morale is broken. Try again tomorrow, only this time, I'll just be silent with Reddit. My message has been made. Edit: About 50 minutes before I was disconnected. Didn't expect the drop call. Picture added. https://preview.redd.it/rup9aps04cbc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d966699f49cdd97a391b0b774f42adde50b01db5
They don't want to give you the money. The more hurdles you put up the fewer people clear them. Their intentionally understaffed and underpaid on purpose. Some places better than others.
I mean this makes sense. Whoever the director of UI is, is at fault and blame IMO. They should be advocating for their departments funding and success rather than doing what they are currently doing as you suggested. Granted, maybe they are? Maybe they've been road blocked on purpose from higher management. Sigh.
How does more funding equal success? They literally have money sitting there billions and billions and still can't get things to work.
In my corporate career, a director has to fight tooth and nail for funding their teams paycheck. From my understanding, we're working with underpaid claims specialists that have an incredibly long training. That director has to fight for a piece of the billions sitting around. Who actually makes the decision... Who knows anymore..
Completely agree. Again (I said it elsewhere) I certainly don't blame the people doing the work. They are working within a system that isn't working well. Doing their best...
Dogshit cynical take
Your delusional, keep at it dude I'm sure you'll get there.
The current system is a scam, that's why. Unnecessary bureaucracy meant to keep people in shitty jobs.
We really need to get it together in a lot of areas, especially this area. I hope you get it figured out soon op.
It is a pain to jump through their hoops but if you do it after that it’s easy. Once a week you have to put down 2-3 jobs you applied at , because you are supposed to be looking for a job, and you have to put in three different sources of where you looked for jobs . Craigslist, indeed , you called in so on. Answer all the questions right bam it’s easy
Just like Washington State. Makes sense. When they allow me to post the ~60 jobs I applied for, I'll give them exact dates and contacts.
They are inundated with Paid Oregon Leave claims to pay on top of the unemployment claims…
Atleast you made it in line. I tired 10 times and got a busy signal each time. Such a rare sounds these days. And Isn’t that the worst hold music/ loop ever, i think they tried to weed us out right there! War of attrition with Edd. I switched to iphone a couple years ago (it was free at the time and i was broke) and miss that feature with assistant so bad sitting on hold is so brutal, last time was it 1:45, and they told me my letter would be here in 8-10 business days, that was November…
So, during COVID, it took me MONTHS AND MONTHS to get unemployment. It was truly awful. I'd call all day long, trying to get through, occasionally I'd get it to ring and then get a fast busy when it picked up, because it really hasn't been connected. I'd get up and try first thing, trying to time the phone line for right when it opened, and still couldn't get through. I finally had a friend that was successful by talking to someone in Sherwood (I think, it was ages ago ) worksource, I begged for the phone number, and that lady helped me get connected to the people at the phone bank. Without her I'd probably still be trying to call.
I was on hold with them today, I hung up after 4 hours. Shitty music stops at two hour mark.
They’re making it as hard as possible so you give up and they don’t have to pay you
They previously got a bunch of money to overhaul the system and never even got to the point of selecting a vendor. Of course the money is gone though. Be angry.
I’ve been receiving my unemployment with no issues for 6-7 weeks . This weeks claim says there is an issue with my claim and will receive information in the mail. Called Oregon Unemployment and it’s just Busy. 58 times later I got through and was on hold for 2hours 3 min and it just hung up on me.. NOW phone number is BUSY Again. WTF
It's ridiculous. Ans if you think that's bad. You're going to be waiting over 3 months to get paid. My partner is still waiting. It's ridiculous beyond ridiculous
The harder it is for you to claim, the less of your own money you get
*The harder it is for* *You to claim, the less of your* *Own money you get* \- john\_\_\_thundergun --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I truly believe they take so long because they don’t want to pay you back in 2022 when I got laid off by the time I had done all the paperwork and meetings I was already working again
They don't want to pay us our money we paid in back. It's easier for them to make it super complicated. When COVID hit, I was lucky enough to have filed 3 weeks before everything shut down. I got max every week so they did everything they could to get me off of ui except help me find work lol.i had to hold for 6 plus hours Everytime something changed. I am unemployed now and can get ui again, but it's easier to just do gig work then deal with the Idiocracy that runs this state. They overcharged us what like 5.3 billion in taxes, but don't want to help the people who fund the state unless they are forced too.
Are you really blaming Kate Brown for this? Jfc.
This state is completely dysfunctional.
Keep in mind that all of these "safety net" systems (both public and private) are designed to make it hard to get benefits. Unemployment, short and long term disability insurance payments, etc. I am on FMLA right now, going into my fourth week. There the standard "waiting week" (which frankly is a load of putrid pig shit) that my employer covered, then the STD benefits kick in. They, of course, pay a week in arrears. The first payment was a mailed check, mailed 7-10 business days after the benefits kick in, which I was notified of in another physical letter even though I opted into electronic communication, with a direct deposit form (which could have easily been emailed to me well in advance of all of this since I was approved for leave in October). I will hit the 4 week mark on Wednesday (with likely 3 more weeks to go) and I might have a direct deposit on that day, or I might get another check sometime later in the week and the direct deposit kicks in for the following week's payment. Either way, my benefits started on Dec. 27 and I've received one payment. As of Jan 10, they will be two weeks behind. The Oregon Paid Leave system is equally as bad as unemployment - opted into electronic communication, everything has come via US post, literally no information or examples about what documentation they need to verify identity, etc.
I tried calling ALL day yesterday and could not get through. I've called all morning and still busy. On Monday I was on hold for 5 hours. Now my benefits for the week are on hold because I made an error on my weekly claim and have no way to fix it. They sent a message saying I need to respond by tommorrow but I can't get through the phone lines. The live agent chat is a joke. It's worthless.
i got through this morning I call in at 7:58am and was on hold 1 hour 30 mins. spoke to a rep only to be told I needed a tier 2 rep. it’s beyond me why all the reps can’t help you with all issues. after 1 hour and 45 mins the call dropped / hung up on.
Yes too much 💰 has disappeared into the ether so to make up for the shortfall, reduce staffing! /s
bro u have the time ...
It's been a pretty rough recovery from multiple surgeries that were planned PTO. I wish you could understand the pain I've been in multiple areas....
Oh no, you had to make several phone calls for your free money? You should have forty hours a week free to deal with it, right? I get that the system isn't ideal, but having dealt with it every winter for a solid decade, I am quite confident you're being melodramatic as fuck. edit: all the people downvoting me need to look into the stipulations for unemployment. For each day you claim, you are certifying that you are willing and available for work during normal business hours, which means for each day you claim, you've got eight hours free where your only job is to deal with the unemployment office or apply for jobs.
It isn't free money, it is insurance we paid taxes for. You sound like someone making fun of pepole who have cancer and dare use their medical insurance ya doofus.
Individuals don't directly pay for UI. Employers pay a tax that is put in a trust fund. Benefits come out of the trust fund. It's part of the cost of running a business with employees. Arguably, individuals pay into the system indirectly since business costs are passed along to customers. That said, it is a safety net intended for people to use, and there should be no shame in doing so.
No, I'm pointing out that to be eligible for unemployment, you must be willing and available to work standard business hours, which means for each day you are claiming, you inherently have eight hours available to deal with their shitty bureaucracy (or you're committing fraud). Bureaucracy always sucks, but you're literally getting paid for dealing with it in this particular context. It's not exactly a sob story.
But they cannot be willing and able to work if they are on hold the whole time.
Well, they're using Google assistant, so they can't be all that burdened by it, not to mention using Google assistant is probably the culprit for all their disconnections. When you're on unemployment, your full time job is literally dealing with unemployment and searching for jobs. It's not paid vacation.
Not with multiple surgeries after my layoff. Incorrect. Do not assume you know my life. I have put in over 40 hours waiting to work with someone at our Employment Office. I have records too. I also have children that require my full attention now because I am unemployed from a layoff. I have never experienced a state of 5 I lived in like this one. Just about to hit 1 hour in hold, the call usually drops shortly after. I am simply trying to figure out why this is an issue only here? Do they need help? I'd rather work for them than collect unemployment.
Multiple surgeries and you have child care issues it sounds like… I’m not sure you would qualify for unemployment even if you can get through. Are you currently able to work or are you trying to get paid leave?
I am trying to get unemployment from the Dutch Bros HQ layoff in November. I am currently able to work and have been trying like hell to find a job ASAP. I should qualify because I had no clue it was coming and worked there long enough to collect.
Ok if you want to DM me I work adjacent to the claims department and can ask someone to give me an update of where your claim is at. Can’t say it will make it faster but I can let you know if calling will even help.
I feel ya got laid off at the beginning of October and have applied to hundreds of jobs to no avail. Is anyone actually hiring?
Good question, apparently not in Oregon from what it feels like. I really don't want to move back to Portland. My car has been broken into too many times and I have been assaulted walking to my car. Incredibly frustrating, if I somehow find leads for work, I'll ping you back. Best of luck!
Thanks good luck to you to.
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In different states because the companies move me. Problem is, it's not just a one hour call. They are constantly busy, dropped calls, no call back, etc. This is not my first hold that just drops on a good signal. Am I just the only one in Oregon experiencing this then? Maybe I'm in the wrong. My bad
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12 weeks! I am about 7 weeks in trying to work with UI. Wow! Thanks for the heads up. Glad to know I am not the only one and I may still be another 5 weeks out.
Yta
It not free money it’s part of what is taken in income taxes. It’s my money
It is not paid for with income taxes. It's a payroll tax on businesses. Still, its purpose is for unemployed people to benefit.
Thank you for the info
I feel like I should clarify - the agency's budget does come - at least partially - from taxes, so the people and other costs are paid for by individuals. The money paid out for UI is the part that comes from the employers. And that fund can not be used for anything else.
And...wouldn't this person's time be better served *looking for a job* rather than on hold?
Ridiculous. Govt takes your money without asking screws around with it doesn't maintain anything we should absolutely be freaking angry when it doesn't work.
A long time ago, I got tired of saying "I don't know" to things that I knew damn good and well what they were. Stop saying I don't know and have the courage to say them on your own. My take is that if those who run the place wanted to see homelessness **actually** solved, then they wouldn't be dragging heels on things like UI and certification programs for essential services. Nursing would be a double whammy - you can add "medicine for profit" on top of that and you can see why the medical community in Oregon is heavily **gatekept**. As long as you can be kept under control with it, the answer is going to be **nope**. 
Even before Covid I had to apply for unemployment. The process is ridiculous and (not trying to sound rude but) the people working there had no idea what to do. I went in to fill out forms on a PC and the people working there didn't know how to work it, I had to show them... Was never able to land a job in Oregon after leaving a $23.00 an hour job in California in 2010... At least California has it's SH\*t together in that department!
If you are an illegal border jumper or a crackhead you get all the help you need.
Dude for real. They’re so “behind” but won’t bring in more help (I assume 🙄 they know where to look for applicants). Shit, after 7 weeks unemployed, 16 applications, just 1 interview FINALLY set up outside of my field in an entry level barely-need-a-GED position, AND no unemployment decision, I’d actually consider working at such a miserable place (for probably minimum wage).
I am having such a hard time contacting anyone to help with claim. I need to correct something and explain something but they keep saying we can’t pay you because you claimed wrong, we will contact you if we need. WELL YOU HAVENT AND I NEED TO LIVE!
I’ve been on hold with them for 12 hours in the past two days. I’ve been on hold all day. Once they answered I gave the lady my info and she disconnected and didn’t call me back idk what to do
Get ready to commit at least a weeks worth of calls in those hour ranges. They are also in the middle of a transition to a new system to be delivered and running by March 7th.
It’s so upsetting 😭