OESC call backlog, vender issues leave Oklahomans waiting hours for unemployment assistance

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma Employment Safety Fee stated telephones have been ringing off the hook, inflicting claimants to attend for hours to get assist from representatives.

“It is like a carrot on a string,” stated Rita Goode, who has spent hours making an attempt to talk to a consultant on the cellphone. “Every time I attain for the carrot, they pull it again.”

Goode stated if she knew how lengthy it might take to get a solution,  she would have accomplished one thing else.

“In complete, about 7-and-a-half hours and a number of other cellphone calls,” she instructed Information 4. “Had I already been in a position to get my declare in, I might’ve spent all that point searching for work.”

The Govt Director of the OESC, Shelley Zumwalt, stated the decision middle is overloaded and is working to maintain it.

Zumwalt stated the fee sees a spike in calls when there are technical issues with their vendor, who fingers out the checks to claimants.

“Earlier within the week, we had a difficulty with Conduent cost processing, which causes name volumes to spike,” stated Zumwalt.  “[Conduent] is a state contract. It is not one with the OESC. That is mainly one thing that we make the most of on that state contract however we’re additionally required to.”

The OESC stated the cost points from Monday have been mounted, however the calls have not stopped.

“We’re seeing folks name again in if they cannot get ahold someday It is trailing on,” stated Zumwalt.  

Now, the OESC is bringing over employees with the decision middle it companions with to deal with the uptick in calls.

“They’re skilled employees it is simply, we need to make sure that we now have correct staffing stage so we will be good stewards of that taxpayer greenback,” the Govt Director stated. “We do not essentially scale up quick. We wait to make it possible for we want them and people numbers.”

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Though Goode was in a position to lastly attain a consultant, she’s nonetheless skeptical.

“I am holding my fingers crossed, however not holding my breath,” stated the claimant.

The OESC stated they’re hoping to place a dent within the name quantity on Wednesday however thus far, it is unsure when the calls will begin to stage off once more.

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