OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced the official launch of the first phase of a new Employer Portal, which will “dramatically change the way employers interact with the agency,” said Trae Rahill, OESC’s chief executive officer.
“This new portal improves the state’s ability to interact with employers in a safe and much more efficient manner,” he said. “This type of advancement is critical to digitizing outdated agency processes.”
The first phase of the Employer Portal will include the ability to receive email and text notifications for Benefit Wage Charge Notices (OES-502) and Notices of Application for Unemployment Compensation (OES-617). Employers will be able to view each of these notices online at their leisure and respond electronically to the Benefit Wage Charge Notices.
The portal will allow employers to conveniently keep and track notices in one place, saving the time and expense of printing and mailing.
“We recognize that employer needs are not static, so we will continue development of this portal to provide increased functionality in support of changing needs,” Rahill said. “There is still much work to do in our legacy modernization project.”
OESC began engaging Oklahomans using email and electronic notices after recent passage of legislation authorizing distribution of correspondence via electronic means.
“This change has opened numerous possibilities for OESC to modernize many of the ways we interact with those we serve,” said Rahill.
“OESC is now seeking legislative support to invest in further development of other technology capabilities to continue this modernization journey. We need to create a platform that is employer-focused and will enable seamless data exchanges and analytics. That will help us drive maximum value to Oklahoma business consumers.”
As legacy modernization efforts push forward, employers can anticipate additional updates that will offer new capabilities and enhancements, Rahill said. OESC will keep employers and stakeholders informed on when these changes occur and how they can use them.
A video showcasing the new Employer Portal is available at https://youtu.be/aAVPL8JQPSA.
The launch of the Employer Portal occurred within four months of the VerifyOK launch, Rahill noted.
The updated VerifyOK platform is a revamped online ID verification system that has “made the claims process more efficient while also assisting in prevention of fraudulent activity,” Rahill said.
OESC launched the first version of an identity verification tool in 2020, which was instituted by former OESC executive director Shelley Zumwalt during the coronavirus pandemic to help the agency fight a tsunami of fraudulent claims. Since that time, OESC’s IT teams have worked to create a completely customized tool “built from the ground up to better support the agency’s needs,” Rahill said.