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

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 St. Paul, Minnesota l Mi t Serves 8 Library Systems Serves 8 Library Systems Anoka County Library Ramsey County Library Carver County Library Carver County Library St. Paul Public Library St. Paul Public Library Dakota County Library Scott County Library Hennepin County Library p y y Washington County Library g y y

Jobs & Small Business Task Force Jobs & Small Business Task Force Committee Charge Committee Charge  Survey MELSA member library programs S MELSA b lib  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 Collaborate with community partners i h i Establish a seamless entry system E t bli h l t t 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 and library system priority MELSA d lib i i  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 of their own. f h  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 National Overview l O i 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 of 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  Subject to a maximum weekly benefit amount t t i kl b fit t

N ti National Overview l O i 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 one quarter one quarter

N ti National Overview l O i 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: Click on: Unemployment Benefits 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 to apply for UI. l f

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  paid benefits of $2.8 billion id b fit f $2 8 billi  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 or online system (www.uimn.org )  80% of workers apply online  All employers register online ll l l  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: - change address, bank, payment method, h dd b k h d or 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  view decisions and file appeals i d i i d fil l

Minnesota Minnesota  Call center open normal business hours  1,250,000 staff-assisted phone calls per year 1 250 000 t ff i t d h ll  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  Customized UI seminars t i d UI i  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:  answer questions about UI program ti b t UI  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