Are all work groups and departments affected by the furlough?

• At this time both LEA (La Grande Education Association) and OSEA (Oregon School Employees Association) are considering the furlough. Employees who are ineligible for the Work Share program will not be furloughed.
• Participation by bargaining unit members is subject to agreement with the respective unions.
• There are individual employees, however, who are excluded from the furlough because they are a new employee. Staff retiring at the end of 2019-20 school year will have the option to be excluded from furlough.

Is the Superintendent participating?

• Yes. No one is excluded simply by the rank or position they hold. We are all in this together.

What if I get email or questions on a day or time that I am furloughed (i.e., Friday)?

• Staff members will not be expected to perform any duties or be available for any purpose during their furloughed work days.

What if I don’t want to participate in the Work Share program?

Who is eligible to receive unemployment compensation through the Oregon Work Share program?

• Work Share is an unemployment insurance program in Oregon that allows workers to receive partial unemployment benefits while avoiding full layoffs. You must be eligible for Oregon’s Work Share program to participate.
• Generally speaking, to be eligible for unemployment benefits under Work Share, you:
  • Must be employed continuously (and not temporarily) by LGSD full-time for the past 6 months or part-time for the past 12 months.
  • Must not have recently exhausted employment benefits.
• Eligibility is determined solely by the Oregon Employment Department based on state law. LGSD has no authority to decide if an employee is eligible for unemployment benefits.
• If you are eligible for Oregon Work Share unemployment benefits in any week for any amount, you will automatically be eligible for an additional $600/week of federal CARES Act payments as available.

What happens if I’m not eligible? Or what if I’m eligible for unemployment, but my benefits are $0?

• If you are not eligible for unemployment benefits or your benefit amount is $0, then you will not have a reduction in your LGSD hours and your LGSD wages will remain the same.

Will I still be on a reduced schedule if I’m not eligible?

• No, if you are not eligible you will not be placed on a reduced schedule nor have reduced pay.

How will I know if I am ineligible?

• LGSD will reach out to you if, based on the information we have, we know that you are ineligible or if we become aware from the Oregon Employment Department that you are ineligible.

Should I be worried that the State gets overwhelmed and my checks from them are delayed as a result?

• The Oregon Employment Department is currently reporting a 3 - 6 week processing time for unemployment insurance payments. We cannot guarantee a time that the state payments will begin.
• LGSD is partnering with the Oregon Employment Department to streamline this process as much as possible. We are hopeful that the impact of any delay will be minimized by receiving weekly payments for unemployment benefits in addition to your LGSD paycheck.

I have a second job. Will this affect my payment amount through Work Share?

• Maybe. You will report income for other employment and from retirement during the past two years on the initial claim form. It is possible to earn too much income from other sources to receive unemployment benefit payments, even if you are otherwise eligible for unemployment.
• If you receive additional income from other employment that makes you ineligible for at least $1 under the Work Share program, LGSD will exclude you as a participant going forward. You will be returned to your regular hours and pay.

I/my spouse make too much to get the $1,200 federal stimulus payment. Will I still be eligible for the $600 CARES Act money?

• Yes, if you are otherwise eligible for unemployment compensation. The federal $1,200 payment is different from and unrelated to state unemployment compensation or the CARES Act $600 weekly payment.

How much will I earn through Work Share and the CARES Act?

What do I need to do right now?

• Nothing other than check your e-mail frequently for more information. Nothing can be done until the LGSD receives approval from the Oregon Employment Department. Once approval is received LGSD and the Oregon Employment Department will work together on the submission process.

How many forms do I have to fill out?

• You only need to complete a two-page initial claim application. LGSD and the Oregon Employment Department are working together on the submission process. More information will be available soon. Assistance will be available to employees in completing the forms, if needed.
• If you choose not to submit the initial claim application, you will not receive payments, although your hours and LGSD pay will still be reduced.

What if I need help filling out the initial claim application?

• LGSD and the Oregon Employment Department are working together on the submission process. The District will assist employees as needed to complete the application.

Do I have to look for other work or turn in additional forms on an ongoing basis?

• No. The only thing you need to do is fill out the initial claim application, and we encourage you to fill out the optional forms for direct deposit and withholding. LGSD and the Oregon Employment Department are working together on the submission process.
• LGSD will turn in a weekly certification after that. If information you provided on your initial application changes, such as a change in income from a second job or retirement income, you must notify LGSD immediately at kailin.wells@lagrandesd.org.

When is my initial claim application due?

• We are still finalizing guidance on this question. Additional information will be available soon, and we will email all employees with specific instructions, so please check your e-mail frequently.

Do I have to apply separately for the federal CARES amount of $600?

How will I receive payments through the Work Share Program and CARES Act?

• You will receive payments from the Oregon Employment Department. You can elect to receive these payments via direct deposit. More information will be available soon.

Are the payments taxed?

• Yes, payments under the Work Share program and CARES Act are taxable income. You may elect to have taxes withheld from your unemployment compensation payments. More information will be provided with the application process soon on how to elect tax withholding.
• At the end of January next year, you will receive a mailed Form 1099-G from the Oregon Employment Department, which is a Statement for Recipients of Unemployment Compensation, to use in filing your 2020 tax returns.

Can the state hold these payments if I am behind on state income tax payments or other payments (e.g., child support or alimony)?

• Yes, garnishments will be deducted from Work Share and CARES Act payments in the same manner and to the same extent as these obligations are deducted from regular unemployment compensation.
• Some debts are exempt from collection for a period of time under the CARES Act (such as certain federally guaranteed student loans). You and the District should both receive a notice from the debt processor if your debt is exempt from collection during this period.

Will the payments come with my LGSD wage payments or will it be a separate payment?

• The payments will come from the Oregon Employment Department. They will come as separate payments.

If I am an employee that works 10 months and gets paid over 12 months, will my paychecks be lower?

• How the pay will be deducted from individual pay checks is being discussed with the bargaining associations and varies by group.

Is there a one-week waiting period before receiving unemployment benefits?

• Although there is usually a one-week waiting period, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced that the state will be waiving this requirement and that the waiver will be retroactive. This means that if you are eligible for benefits, these benefits will include your first week of furlough.

Can you post an example of the impacts of the one day hours reduction and resulting unemployment and CARES Act payments?

Will this have any impact on my health benefits?

• No. Under a Work Share program, health benefits are not reduced.

Will my vacation and sick leave accrual rates change?

• Accrual rates for leaves remain the same.

What if I am currently receiving retirement pay?

Do I get to choose when my hours will be reduced?

• No, employees who are eligible to receive compensation through the CARES Act and Work Share program will be instructed on how their weekly schedule will be reduced by their building principals or supervisors. If you have questions about how your schedule will be reduced, please contact your supervisor.

What are the work expectations while I am working a reduced schedule?

• A reduced schedule means you are not expected to work during the time you have reduced hours. All eligible employees will have their schedules reduced by one day per week.

I am a part-time employee. What will my FTE be and what are my expectations?

• Your FTE will remain the same, and your weekly hours will be reduced by one day of your regular schedule. Please work with your supervisor to determine what your weekly schedule will be while you are working a reduced schedule.

What if I was on a leave of absence in the past 12 months?

• This will not affect your eligibility for compensation through the Work Share program.

What if I go on a leave of absence?

• You are not eligible to participate in the Work Share program for any week in which you did not perform work and are not actively working to provide services. If you go on a leave of absence during the Work Share program, you will be excluded during your leave.

What if I’m on a leave for a COVID-related situation?

If you are on a COVID-related leave, then you are still eligible for the Work Share program.

COVID-related situations are defined as the following:

• They are quarantined as advised by a public health official or healthcare provider, but not sick.
• They are home sick with COVID-19 or a condition causing similar symptoms, without turning down an offer of work.
• They are hospitalized due to COVID-19 for less than half a week, without turning down an offer to work during that week.

The COVID-related eligibility issues are complex and were simplified for these FAQs. If you think they apply to you, please contact the District Office.

Can I put in vacation time for the day/time I am scheduled to have reduced hours?

Is there assistance to help fill out the initial claim application?

If you need assistance or if you have any questions about how to fill out the form, please contact Laurie Batten in the District Office.

Will having reduced hours mean there will be no staff cuts next school year?

• We do not know the full extent of the 2020-21 budget shortfall at this time, but we know that the money saved using this partial furlough will help. All resources from the furlough days will be used for wages and benefits for 2020-2021.

Will these unemployment payments for reduced hours make the state budget situation worse?

• Through the CARES Act, the federal government reimburses the state for 100% of Work Share unemployment benefits. Participating in the Work Share program and taking advantage of the additional compensation through the CARES Act will help LGSD to minimize budget-reduction impacts for next school year without a drain on state resources.

If we are closed, what about food service and daycare for First Responders?