November 23, 2020 10:45 a.m.

The Oregon Employment Department is reminding residents of resources available to help them during the Statewide Freeze.

A release said Oregonians whose employment is impacted by the freeze, will need to either restart a stopped claim or file a new claim. The department is making resources available for employers who may need to cut hours or lay employees off as a result of the freeze.

To avoid laying off their workforce, employers are encouraged to use Work Share: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Businesses/WorkShare/Pages/Work%20Share%20Home%20Page.aspx. The program allows employers to keep skilled employees by reducing hours and supplements employee wages with regular unemployment insurance benefits. Eligible staff whose hours are reduced get a portion of their regular unemployment insurance benefits to make up for the lost wages.

The release said the Work Share program has been in high demand since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Department staffing levels have increased to help people quickly receive benefits.

Employers who lay employees off because of the freeze are encouraged to use the Employer Layoff Reporting Form: https://unemployment.oregon.gov/employers. This form allows businesses to provide information about their employees in bulk, and will allow the Employment Division to process those employees claims more quickly.

Claimants needing assistance or more information, can go to: https://unemployment.oregon.gov/