OESC urges claimants to set up meetings at local office

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  • OESC urges claimants to set up meetings at local office
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The interim executive director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC), Shelley Zumwalt, advises claimants for jobless benefits to make an appointment at a local office.

In a related matter, the state Labor Department opened to the public, by appointment, effective June 15.

“To ensure claimants are being served as effectively and efficiently as possible, we are asking individuals to schedule appointments at their local office to meet with an OESC representative,” Zumwalt said Monday. “All statewide locations are open and ready to serve claimants as quickly and safely as possible.”

Claimants should call their local office to make an appointment. More information, including locations, can be found at https:// oklahomaworks.gov/about/ oklahoma-works-centers/.

“We ask claimants for patience since the centers are receiving a record number of calls,” Zumwalt said. “The phone may ring, but rest assured, people are there. They are likely on the phone or helping someone else. Please continue to call until you are able to connect with someone.”

Southwest Oklahoma locations include:

• Lawton American Job Center: 1711 SW 11th St., Law- ton 73501; 580-357-3500

• Altus American Job Center: 1115 N Spurgeon, Altus 73521; 580-482-3262

• Duncan American Job Center: 1927 W Elk Ave., Dun- can 73533; 580-255-8950

• Chickasha American Job Center: 301 S. Second St., Chickasha 73018; 405- 224-3310

To ensure the safety of everyone involved, claimants are asked to wait in their cars ahead of their in-person appointment at all OESC locations. Virtual appointments continue to be available.

LABOR DEPT. OPEN BY APPOINTMENT

Appointments at the state Department of Labor (DOL) are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and should be scheduled through the ODOL website. The appointment request forms can be found under “Related Topics” via the website at https://www. ok.gov/odol.

While at the DOL, members of the public are encouraged to wear face coverings, avoid physical contact with others, practice social distancing of at least 6 feet unless impractical, follow all health recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and follow all applicable requirements of Governor Stitt’s “Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) Plan.”

Anyone who is under medical quarantine; ill; exhibiting health factors consistent with exposure to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, a fever of 100.4°F/38°C or greater; or who shares a home with any person exhibiting such health factors, should NOT appear at the DOL in person. Any person who later discovers, after appearing in person at the DOL, that he/ she was COVID-19 positive at the time of the visit, should immediately contact the agency to report the exposure at labor.commissioner@ labor.ok.gov or 405-521-6100.

Many DOL employees continue to work remotely on a rotating schedule to ensure adequate social distancing and to limit opportunities for potential exposure to the coronavirus. Because the DOL’s office is not fully staffed, the public should be aware that some services may be delayed slightly. “Your understanding and patience are appreciated,” said Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn.

To protect against any additional spread of the coronavirus, the public is encouraged to continue to submit license applications and renewals through the DOL’s website at www.ok.gov/odol, with payments and accompanying documentation being mailed to the respective agency program at: Oklahoma Department of Labor, 3017 N Stiles, Ste. 100, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

The Labor Department continues to answer public questions and concerns via email. Questions about licensing should be emailed to odol. licensing@labor.ok.gov. Questions about outstanding wage claims and/or general wage/ benefits concerns should be emailed to wageclaims@labor. ok.gov. All other concerns, involving matters over which the DOL has jurisdiction, should be emailed to labor. commissioner@labor.ok.gov.