The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries is seeking a substantial budget increase after facing challenges in processing wage claims during the pandemic. The bureau reportedly deferred some claims in order to prioritize other urgent cases, resulting in a backlog that needs to be addressed.
As businesses struggled and workers were laid off or faced reduced hours during the pandemic, the bureau saw a significant increase in wage claims. This surge in cases, combined with staffing shortages and limited resources, led to delays in processing these claims. As a result, some claims were deferred in order to focus on cases involving immediate threats to workers’ health and safety.
Now, the bureau is requesting a significant increase in its budget to address the backlog of deferred wage claims and ensure that all workers receive the compensation they are owed. The proposed budget increase would allow the bureau to hire more staff, upgrade its technology, and improve its processes to better handle the growing number of cases.
Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle emphasized the importance of investing in the bureau to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and that they receive the wages they are entitled to. She acknowledged the challenges faced by the bureau during the pandemic but emphasized the need for additional resources to address the backlog of deferred claims.
The proposed budget increase will need to be approved by the Oregon legislature, but the bureau is hopeful that lawmakers will recognize the importance of providing adequate funding to support workers and enforce labor laws effectively.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.