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Libraries, Jobs and Small Business Webinar Series 2011

WebJunction and MELSA, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, Minnesota

Today’s Producers

Jennifer Peterson WebJunction C it M Kendra Morgan WebJunction P M Community Manager Program Manager

Today’s Panelists

Ed Seel

Minnesota UI Minnesota UI Program Supervisor

Melinda Ludwiczak

MELSA Project Manager

Alice R. Neve

Public Service Manager Manager Saint Paul Public Library

Metropolitan Library Service Agency St P l Mi t

• St. Paul, Minnesota

Serves 8 Library Systems Serves 8 Library Systems

Anoka County Library Ramsey County Library Carver County Library

• St. Paul Public Library

Carver County Library

• St. Paul Public Library

Dakota County Library Scott County Library Hennepin County Library Washington County Library p y y g y y

Jobs & Small Business Task Force Jobs & Small Business Task Force Committee Charge Committee Charge

S MELSA b lib

 Survey MELSA member library programs  Examine best practice  Examine best practice  Share resources & experience  Share resources & experience  Core services, resources and partnerships

Core services, resources and partnerships

 Recommendations to library directors

y

Service Philosophy Service Philosophy Service Philosophy Service Philosophy

C ll b i h i Collaborate with community partners E t bli h l t t Establish a seamless entry system Where every door is the right door Where every door is the right door

Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations

• Establish Jobs and Small Business service as a

MELSA d lib i i MELSA and library system priority

• Dedicated MELSA staff position
• Increased Public Training
• Increased Public Training
• Robust Web Resources
• Staff Training
• Staff Training
• Community Partner Relations & Training
• Promotion
• Promotion
• Advocacy

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

National Overview

Unemployment Insurance aka “UI”

• UI created by federal government in 1936
• Purpose: provide temporary benefits to

qualified workers unemployed through no fault f h

• f their own.
• UI is a federal program, run by each state

National Overview National Overview

Unemployment Insurance: p y

• provides partial wage replacement
• provides partial wage replacement
• “pays the bills” until worker finds new job
• stabilizes local economies
• stabilizes local economies

N ti l O i National Overview

Employers and UI

• UI Benefits funded by taxes on employers
• UI Benefits funded by taxes on employers
• An employer’s UI tax rate is based on the cost
• f unemployment benefits paid to its workers

National Overview National Overview

Eligibility for unemployment benefits: Eligibility for unemployment benefits:

• Unemployed through no fault of one’s own

p y g

• Quitting, refusing, or being fired raises a

question of eligibility

• Only the UI program can decide
• State laws and policies can change over time
• State laws and policies can change over time

National Overview

State Determines Eligibility g y

• Expert staff decides eligibility based on law
• Workers should apply and let state decide
• Don’t let employer prevent you from applying

National Overview

Weekly Requirements y q

• unemployed, or hours substantially reduced

p y , y

• available for work
• looking for work
• report other income

National Overview National Overview

Weekly Benefit Amount y

• Amount not based on need
• Based on total earnings in recent “base” period
• Common base period: last four calendar quarters
• Benefit is commonly about half a worker’s
• Benefit is commonly about half a worker s

weekly wage

• S bj

t t i kl b fit t

• Subject to a maximum weekly benefit amount

N ti l O i National Overview

Weekly Benefit Amount (cont ) Weekly Benefit Amount (cont.)

• Part time temporary or seasonal workers
• Part-time, temporary, or seasonal workers

may qualify

• Each state has its own minimum earnings

requirement

• Common requirement: wages in more than
• ne quarter
• ne quarter

N ti l O i National Overview

Duration of Benefits Duration of Benefits

• Six months maximum
• Six months maximum
• May be less for those with employment gaps in
• May be less for those with employment gaps in

their base period

• Possible extensions of benefits when

unemployment rate is high

National Overview National Overview

Extensions of Benefits Extensions of Benefits

• Two types: State and federal
• Two types: State and federal
• Extensions are temporary, can change

p y, g

• Complex, so contact UI program

National Overview

Accessing UI Benefits

• Apply from anywhere
• Apply to the state where you worked
• Most states have both internet and phone

application processes

• Find any state’s UI Program at:

servicelocator.org

UI PORTALS FOR EVERY STATE Go to: servicelocator.org

Click on: Unemployment Benefits Click on: Unemployment Benefits

National Overview

W arning - never pay a fee g p y

• Be careful if searching internet for UI

g

• Private web sites offering UI assistance
• They add no value, may be harmful.
• All legitimate state sites do NOT charge a fee

l f to apply for UI.

National Overview

Assisting Library Patrons with UI g y

• Spread no folklore (do no harm)

p ( )

• Direct them to the state’s UI program
• Losing a job is traumatic
• Be patient and kind

In 2010, Minnesota:

• paid UI benefits to 346,000 workers

id b fit f $2 8 billi

• paid benefits of $2.8 billion
• paid benefits on time
• paid benefits on time
• had 130,000 registered, active employers

Minnesota

• Employers and workers use self-service phone
• Employers and workers use self service phone
• r online system (www.uimn.org )
• 80% of workers apply online

ll l l

• All employers register online
• Phone has four languages
• Phone has four languages
• Call Center for workers and employers
• Call Center for workers and employers

Minnesota Workers can use self-service to do all UI business:

• Workers request benefits weekly, online or by

phone p

• Other self-service functions:

h dd b k h d

• change address, bank, payment method,
• r tax withholding
• view or hear payments and balance

view or hear payments and balance

• respond to issue questionnaires
• view decisions and file appeals

Minnesota Employers use self-service system to :

• pay UI taxes
• submit wage information
• respond to notices or questionnaires

i d i i d fil l

• view decisions and file appeals

Minnesota Minnesota

• Call center open normal business hours

1 250 000 t ff i t d h ll

• 1,250,000 staff-assisted phone calls per year
• Callers use login ID and password
• Callers use login ID and password

• Seminars for employers by UI program staff
• Collaboration with IRS and other agencies
• C

t i d UI i

• Customized UI seminars
• Library participation in this outreach is in
• Library participation in this outreach is in

development stage

UI and Libraries collaboration UI and Libraries collaboration

• Most Minnesota UI customers use the internet
• Most libraries have internet access
• Workers do job hunting or research at libraries
• Employers do business research at libraries
• Libraries are “information central”

Minnesota “train the trainer presentation” will p equip library resources staff to: ti b t UI

• answer questions about UI program
• help customers connect with UI program
• provide feedback from UI customers

Understanding Unemployment Insurance and its Impact on your and its Impact on your Library Customers

Serving the needs of the unemployed is:

• Essential service

Essential service

• Transformational service

Lif h i i

• Life changing service

Lib i li i d d Library services, policies and procedures for access to technology can be a mystery to new users.

“H d I t th I t t? I’ d it b f ”

• “How do I get on the Internet? I’ve never done it before.”
• “How do I get a library card? I haven’t been here for years.”

“I h fi f h I i thi d d C I till t th I t t?”

• “I have fines from when I was in third grade. Can I still get on the Internet?”
• “How do I get into the right website?”

“Wh d I h t it til it’ t t t t h it l k lik

• “Why do I have to wait until it’s my turn to get on a computer, when it looks like

two kids are just looking at gaming sites? My request is more important.”

• “Why do I get a defined time on the computer when I’m not done?”
• Are your Library’s hours of service compatible with the needs of the public to

file for unemployment?

Assess your library’s existing services y y g and make recommendations for implementations that support the p pp immediate needs of job seekers and the unemployed. p y

• Develop a library system plan that includes

service to the unemployed based on recommendations, best practices and resources available.

• Work with your regional library system to

d l l t t th l d bli develop a plan to support the unemployed public seeking help from library staff throughout the region region.

S i h ll Service challenges

• Serving the public at a time of great financial and social

Serving the public at a time of great financial and social stress.

• Ensuring that interactions are confidential and preserve
• Ensuring that interactions are confidential and preserve

the dignity of the unemployed. Reference interviewing that guides staff to give the most

• Reference interviewing that guides staff to give the most

pertinent information to meet the customer’s need. Finding a job is often the immediate need, not a new career career.

• Rotating staff on and off reference duty to manage

stress stress.

More in the MELSA Series: More in the MELSA Series:

• Working With Your Workforce Center

April 20 p

• Small Business Support Toolbox

F l d B d C dit d N

• Foreclosure, and Bad Credit and No

Job, Oh My!

Competencies for what you’ve learned: p y

• Has direct knowledge of current and relevant

state and federal information resources to meet the needs of Unemployment Insurance the needs of Unemployment Insurance recipients and employers.

• Through reference or information interview is
• Through reference or information interview is

able to accurately assess patron needs and provide accurate answers and appropriate p pp p referrals to state and federal information resources regarding Unemployment Insurance.

Stay Involved

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