Adjudication still a problem for the Oregon Employment Department. “We want to work with business groups, worker groups, to make sure we’re striking the right balance here,” acting director David Gerstenfeld said in his Thursday testimony to the Senate Committee on Labor and Business. He said the oldest ones date back to Nov. 18. Even now, coming off the highest jobless rates in state history, Oregon has adequate funds to continue paying benefits at 2020′s unprecedented levels for at least three more years. However, the employment department says it will allow businesses to defer a third of this year’s payments until June 2022 without interest or penalties. And unless lawmakers act, their costs will continue rising through 2023 because the formula allocates the tax burden over a three-year period. August 24, 2020 (Salem, OR)- The Oregon Employment Department is applying for the federal Lost Wages Assistance program. His time there coincided with the Oregon's long recovery from the Great Recession, and what at the time were "historic high workloads" and a series of new federal programs and changes, he said. He made three proposals: Oregon’s tax formula for unemployment insurance is established in state law, so any changes require action by the Legislature. © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Oregon employers, facing three years of sharp increases in unemployment taxes, could get a break under proposals laid out at a Senate committee hearing Thursday. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). Under state law, a formal objection can still be filed to the agency’s new Dec. 3 notice. Gerstenfeld said last week there are tens of thousands of self-employed workers waiting for benefits, but he said he doesn’t know whether that number is closer to 20,000 or 100,000. On Sunday, David Gerstenfeld accepted an unenviable job: director of the state's beleaguered employment agency. Gerstenfeld said out of 52,000 people who required adjudication at the end of September, 41,700 of them remain in the queue. Please support high-quality local journalism. Twitter Share . In a call with reporters Wednesday, Gerstenfeld apologized for the department's missteps and committed to being more transparent with Oregonians. On Sunday, David Gerstenfeld accepted an unenviable job: director of the state's beleaguered employment agency. As of last week, about 245,000 Oregonians had been paid benefits, but there are still thousands of claims that haven't been processed and people still waiting for money. "I am very sorry. David A Gerstenfeld, age 52, Staten Island, NY 10312 View Full Report. The Oregon Employment Department … Roll back prospective payroll tax increases in 2022, recognizing the trust fund has enough money to remain solvent without the added funds. Most people who were sent the payments by accident, according to Gerstenfeld, may still be able to keep the money if they formally apply for benefits. Others have received confusing or vague letters from the agency. By Mike Rogoway ... to make sure we’re striking the right balance here,” acting director David Gerstenfeld said in his Thursday testimony to … In December alone, full-service restaurants cut 17,600 jobs, the single largest round of job cuts for any single industry that month. By Carol Ann Benanti ... David Gerstenfeld would join his father in the practice of ophthalmology in 1992 and the father and son … That sounds like a simple fix but it wouldn’t help everyone – Gerstenfeld said federal law requires that some employers pay a top tax rate. The Legislature’s upcoming session is packed with pandemic, wildfire and racial justice proposals. © 2021 www.registerguard.com. Contact her at cwithycombe@statesmanjournal.com, 503-910-3821 or follow on Twitter @kcwithycombe. Kate Brown asked Director Kay Erickson to resign, appointing Gerstenfeld as interim director. Acting Director David Gerstenfeld has said that because of the delay in congressional renewal of the programs, the Oregon Employment Department would likely face an interruption in payments. All rights reserved. At Thursday’s hearing, committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Riley, D-Hillsboro, said COVID-19 has created an unusual situation for employers that needs to be addressed. In April, some people were erroneously told to restart their claims. The state’s tax formula allocates increases to employers who cut the most jobs, reasoning that businesses who lay off their workers should pay the costs of replenishing the trust fund. “I’ve never heard from so many of our members on a single subject,” said Paloma Sparks, vice president of government relations for Oregon Business & Industry, the state’s largest business organization. And from 2011 to 2019, Gerstenfeld ran the division of the agency overseeing unemployment insurance. But the governor’s office and legislative Democrats said last month they want to take up the issue with unemployment taxes, too. Many Oregonians calling the agency with questions about their claims have been met with busy signals; those who can get through often face long hold times. Interim Director David Gerstenfeld took over the department Sunday after Gov. Erickson oversaw the department as the pandemic hit. That would leave the unemployment tax increases in place but reduce the burden on hardest-hit employers by sharing the costs. I know you're frustrated and anxious and that many of you have been unable to reach us or to get the answers and assistance that you need. At a briefing on Wednesday, Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld said the department had processed 85% of the … Acting Director David Gerstenfeld says the Oregon Employment Department foresees a gap in their payments, even if Congress does extend federal benefits to … Kate Brown fired his predecessor, Kay Erickson. “These layoffs were caused by government action, not because businesses were making decisions about market forces,” Sparks said. david gerstenfeld Oregon unemployment backlog may be larger than previously reported. Make fundamental changes to the tax formula. While none of us caused the pandemic, it is my responsibility to ensure we get people the benefits they are entitled to.". Acting director David Gerstenfeld’s testimony kicked off several days of hearings on the state’s unemployment crisis. The Oregon Employment Department had previously resisted curbs on the payroll taxes that fund jobless benefits. Known Locations: Staten Island NY, 10312, Scotch Plains NJ 07076, Staten Island NY 10312 Possible Relatives: Debra A Gerstenfeld, Harriet Gerstenfeld, Jacob S Gerstenfeld He also said the extra $300 per week … “Businesses go out of businesses all the time,” Riley said, “but this is an entirely different animal.”, -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |. The agency has hired more people to handle the onslaught of claims and is focusing on processing the oldest claims for benefits. Still, many complex claims require adjudication, which Gerstenfeld said is … He also said he anticipates supplemental benefit payments of $300 per week for six weeks — from July 26 through Sept. 5 — will start at the end of September as previously announced. These benefits amount to $300 per week for an estimated three to five weeks. Oregon Employment Department acting director David Gerstenfeld said the department will begin sending out the 1099-G forms, which show how … Claire Withycombe is a reporter at the Statesman Journal. We talk with David Gerstenfeld, ... please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org, or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983. And it doesn’t appear new legislation would affect the tax increases that took effect in 2021. The deferments are available to businesses whose unemployment tax rate increased by at least 0.5% in 2021, provided they continue making their regular payroll reports to the state. Gerstenfeld has served as the Paid Family and Medical Leave Division director since September 2019. the formula has heaped nearly all the tax increases on the businesses that can least afford to pay them, The Legislature’s upcoming session is packed. 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