Economic Recession Planning Employment Security Advisory Committee Presentation October 24, 2018

Overview Why do we need economic recession planning? What are the key components of an economic recession plan? The Oregon model Discussion

Why ESD Needs a Plan More proactive approach to better serve customers. Better integration of the economic cycle into business plans. Enhanced agility to respond to massive job loss. Improved cross-divisional leadership and staff collaboration.

Components to a Plan USDOL Key Components: Monitoring economic trend lines. Ensuring trust fund solvency. Training staff (including cross-training for temporary assignment). Preparing SharedWork, Rapid Response and other programs. Developing communications to claimants on requirements/filing a claim.

Oregon Economic Task Force Oregon Employment Department created an internal Economic Task Force with all relevant divisions represented. Task Force included a Recession Single Point of Contact as project manager and liaison for all recession-related activities. Task Force developed a living Economic Cycle plan.

Oregon Plan-Five Key Areas Funding: How much money is needed and when? Supplemental Budget Request and Grant opportunities to bridge gaps. Pooling resources from UI and Workforce operations, as well as OAH. Communicating with state-wide finance entities on any resources that can be made available quickly.

Oregon Plan-Five Key Areas Communication Plan: What information needs to be communicated and to whom? Do we need additional lines of communication? Have we calculated and prepared for increased print load? Are we collaborating on communications with other state agencies that feel the impacts of a recession?

Oregon Plan-Five Key Areas Processes: Preparing for potential regional variation. Planning for increased UI and WorkSource traffic, including extended hours. Tracking and managing extensions of UI benefits. Prioritizing projects that may be impacted by an economic downturn.

Oregon Plan-Five Key Areas Technology: Phone system routing and common questions. Self service options. Is our technology ready for increased traffic? Inventory of equipment and licensing duration.

Oregon Plan-Five Key Areas Staffing: Can current staff be redeployed to temporarily handle UI claims? Are staff being adequately cross trained? Determine when we would need to hire staff, how quickly they can be trained and a checklist for such training, as well as available trainers. Is IT ready and agile enough to equip new staff with a plan for available worksites? (i.e.: claims centers, WorkSource centers and telecommuting) Plan to return to baseline staff levels.

Discussion What were your lessons learned from the last recession? What recommendations do you have for us? What are key partners for ESD to effectively plan for a recession?