Employment Services Questions

Q  How does the Office of Employment and Training recruitment process work?

A  When an employer lists a job vacancy with the Office of Employment and Training
      (OET), the minimum requirements for the job (regarding education, training,
      experience, etc.) as established by the employer are entered into the Office of
      Employment and Training computerized data base. The automated computer
      system compares the requirements of the job to the qualifications of the job
      seekers who are registered with our agency to create a list of qualified applicants.
      Those identified are contacted about the job opening and the job seekers who are
      interested in the job are referred to the employer for an interview. If the employer
      is not satisfied with those referred, there is no obligation to hire them. The job
      opening can remain open until the right individual is referred. Recruitment can be
      performed locally or regionally according to the employer’s wishes.

Q  How can I list a job opening (job order) with OET?
A  An employer can recruit applicants through the Office of Employment and Training
     (OET) by listing a job opening with one of our 23 field offices or numerous branch
     offices located across the Commonwealth. A job opening can be listed via
     e3.ky.gov or by calling the nearest OET office.

Q  Does OET charge a fee for services provided?
A  No. There is no fee to the job seeker or the employer for basic job 
      matching services provided by the Office of Employment and Training.
      These services are funded from a small portion of the
      taxes paid by employers pursuant to the Federal Unemployment Tax
      Act (FUTA).

Q  How does OET screen applicants for jobs?
A  The Office of Employment and Training (OET) screens applicants by
      comparing the minimum requirements of the job opening as established
      by the employer to the qualifications of job seekers who have registered
      for work. OET staff utilizes an automated system to assist in the
      screening process to identify qualified individuals to refer to the
      employer. 

Q  Where do job seekers registered with OET come from?

A   The Office of Employment and Training has the largest data base of job seekers in the
      Commonwealth, and through our relationship with other state employment service agencies
      nationwide, we are a part of one of the largest data base of job seekers in the nation.
      Anyone who is legally qualified to work in the United States may use the services of the
      Office of Employment and Training to seek employment. Job seekers registered for work with
      OET come from all walks oflife, from the highly-skilled professional to the unskilled laborer.
      Some are veterans who are transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce; others
      have been laid off due to plant closures after working many years at their previous jobs;
      others are working full-time but seeking better pay or benefits or are interested in a
      career change; and some may have never held a job before.

Q  Are all job seekers registered with OET drawing Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits?

A   No. Generally, only about a quarter of all job seekers registered for employment with the
      Office of Employment and Training (OET) are Unemployment Insurance recipients. The number of
      Unemployment Insurance recipients registered for employment with OET has grown in recent years
      as the American economy has changed. Unlike in the past, the majority of workers can no longer
      expect to work for the same company throughout their working lives. As a result, more are taking
      advantage of the Unemployment Insurance program to help them make the transition from one job to
      the next. Assisting UI recipients to obtain suitable employment as quickly as possible is one of
      its primary objectives of OET. Doing so is in the best interest of the job seeker, the employer,
      and the community.

Q  Are job seekers required to apply with jobs if they are drawing UI?

A   Unemployment Insurance (UI) recipients are required to be able and available for and
      to seek and accept offers of "suitable employment." They are not required to accept jobs
      that are significantly different in pay or job duties from that to which they are accustomed.
      However, the definition of "suitable employment" is tenuous and changes as the duration of one’s
      unemployment lengthens. Therefore, UI recipients may be required to lower their expectations
      as the length of their unemployment extends. Unemployment Insurance recipients who refuse a
      referral to employment from OET or refuse to report to an interview to which they were referred
      or refuse an offer of employment that results from a referral made by OET risk losing their
      eligibility for UI benefits.

Q  How do job seekers apply with OET?

A   Generally, a job seeker will visit one of our 23 field offices or numerous branch offices
      located across the state to register for work with the Office of Employment and Training.
      In addition, job seekers may self-register for employment via the Internet at https://selfreg.ky.gov/.
      Under certain circumstances, for example when a new business needs to take mass
      applications, OET will make its application-taking services available off-site.

Q  What is the going rate for the job I’m seeking to fill?

A  The prevailing wage rate for a job varies from one area of the state to another. For advice
      regarding the prevailing wage rate for the job you are trying to fill, contact the nearest
      Office of Employment and Training field office or utilize the Labor Market Information on
      our website.

Q  How quickly can I get referrals after I place a job opening with OET?

A  It depends on the number of job seekers registered with OET who are qualified for and
      interested in the job. Your job listing is entered into a computerized system and made
      available to all of our offices as soon as the information is entered. OET staff use an
      automated system to identify job seekers whose qualifications match the job opening and,
      if possible, contact them that day. Thus, the employer may see referrals the next day,
      and sometimes even on the same day. However, if the job is highly skilled and there are
      no qualified job seekers registered with OET, or those who are qualified are not interested
      in the job (for example, if it pays less than the prevailing wage rate for similar jobs in
      the local economy), it may take longer. Because OET makes your job opening available via
      e3.ky.gov you will also benefit from the newest trend in conducting job searches today, the
      internet. This allows OET to recruit for your job opening locally or regionally.

Q  How do I know which OET office to contact?

A  Generally, it is best to contact the OET office nearest you to place a job opening.
      To determine which office is nearest you, see the OET Field Office Directory.

Q  Is recruitment for my job opening performed locally, statewide or nationally?

A  OET staff assists employers in obtaining qualified applicants on a local or statewide basis.
      A computerized job matching system is one tool available to OET staff for this purpose. In
      addition, OET exchanges job openings and resumes with America’s Job Exchange.

Q  Can OET provide me with a place to interview applicants?

A  Yes. Most OET field offices have space that they can provide to employers on a temporary
      or occasional basis for interviewing job applicants. Availability may be limited in some
      offices.

Q  Does OET do drug screening for companies?

A  No. Due to liability issues connected with drug screening most employers
      prefer to handle this internally.

Q  Where can I get a foreign language interpreter and who pays for the service?

A  Local OET offices may also have the names of individuals in the local area who
      will interpret foreign languages for a fee. If the service is provided for the sole
      benefit of a particular employer, it is the employer’s responsibility to pay for the
      service.

Q  What are OET hiring practices concerning the disabled, minorities, females, etc.?

A  OET does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion,
      disability or age in the referral of job seekers to job openings listed by employers.

Q  If I have a disability is there assistance to help me find a job?

A  OET is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make
      reasonable accommodations to ensure that all of its services are made available to persons with
      disabilities on a fair and equitable basis. The local OET office can provide accommodations for
      disabilities if you contact the office in advance.

Q  As an employer, I need help in providing reasonable accommodations for a
      disabled employee. Do you provide this service?

A  OET is unable to provide accommodations but can provide assistance in referring
      employers to the State ADA Coordinator’s office (502- 564-3850) and other
      agencies such as the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) (502- 564-4440).
      OVR can also be contacted at their website at www.ovr.ky.gov or the Kentucky
      Assistive Technology Loan Corporation at www.katlc.ky.gov.

Q  Can I get information regarding equal employment opportunity (EEO) from OET?

A  OET local office staff can provide basic EEO information. An EEO Coordinator
      for OET can be reached at (502) 564-6510. For complaints outside of OET ‘s
      jurisdiction, individuals may contact either the Equal Employment Opportunity
      Commission (EEOC) at 1-800-669-4000 or the Kentucky Human Rights
      Commission at 1-800-292-5566.

Q  What notices/posters are Kentucky employers required by law to post in conspicuous places, and where do I get them?

A  For state poster compliance information, contact the Kentucky Department of
      Workplace Standards at (502) 564-3070.
     
      For federal poster and compliance information, contact the U.S. Department of
      Labor at 1-888-9-SBREFA or 1-888-972-7332.

      The information regarding the only mandatory state poster that OET provides is
      listed below:

      UI-5.1 - Unemployment Insurance Benefits poster in English and Spanish.
      If you do not have the capability to print the UI posters, please contact
      Michael.Gross@ky.gov or Kim.Hodge@ky.gov to provide your name, company name, shipping or
      mailing address, and quantity. Orders are not to exceed fifty (50).

Q  What tax credit programs does OET offer to employers?

A  The Office of Employment and Training administers the federal
      Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program and the state Unemployment Tax
      Credit (UTC) program. For additional information, contact the tax credit staff at
      (502) 564-7456.

Unemployment Insurance Questions

Q  What is the current UI benefit rate range?

Q  How is the UI tax rate figured for my company?

A  While there are many variables in tax rate computation, simply put it is
      the amount of taxes paid into a reserve account for each employer, minus the
      amount of benefits paid. However, tax rates are not based solely on the
      reserve account balance. Instead a reserve ratio is computed which compares
      the size of the balance to the size of the total amount of taxable wages
      reported by the employer during the twelve (12) calendar quarters preceding the
      computation date. The rate is determined from a rate schedule set forth in statute
      and available on our web site. Employers in the construction industry may have
      higher rates in spite of the reserve ratio and account balance.

Q  Can a person draw UI if they quit?

A  Assuming the claimant has sufficient wage credits to establish a claim, he or she
      may be qualified to receive benefits if they voluntarily left their employment with
      good cause attributable to the employment and there are no other eligibility
      issues present.

Q  Can a person draw UI if they are fired?

A  Assuming the claimant has sufficient wage credits to establish a claim, he or she
      may be qualified to receive benefits if they were discharged for reasons other
      than misconduct or dishonesty connected with the work and there are no other
      eligibility issues present.

Q  How can a person draw UI from me when they were fired from another employer?

A  If you are the most recent ten (10) week employer on the claim and the
      worker left your employment under non-disqualifying conditions or you failed to
      file a timely protest to the initial claim for benefits, then you may be charged for
      the benefits.

Q  How can this person file for UI when there are help wanted signs everywhere?

A  An otherwise eligible claimant is entitled to receive benefits, unless he or she is
      unable to perform suitable work; is unavailable for suitable work or has refused suitable work.
      In part, suitable work is determined by examining the degree of risk involved to the worker’s
      health, safety and morals; the worker’s experience and prior earnings; the length of the
      unemployment and prospects of securing local work in the customary occupation and the distance
      of the work from the worker’s residence. Simply because there are plenty of available jobs,
      does not mean that they are suitable for each claimant.

Q  How long and how much money can a person draw in UI benefits?

A  The maximum amount of benefits payable to any worker within any benefit year
      shall be the amount equal to whichever is the lesser of: (a) Twenty-six (26)
      times his weekly benefit rate; or (b) One-third (1/3) of his base-period wages,
      except that no worker's maximum amount shall be less than fifteen (15) times his
      weekly benefit rate.

Q  If I fire an employee for absenteeism is he or she eligible for UI benefits?

A  If an employee’s absences amount to misconduct connected with the work, they
      will be disqualified. Generally, good cause for missing work is not misconduct.
      Simple numbers of days or percentages of lost time cannot show a worker has
      committed misconduct.

Q  What do I do if I want to contest a claim?

A  You should file a written protest setting forth the reasons for separation, and do
      so within ten (10) days from the date the claim was filed.

Q  What do I do if I don’t want to contest a claim?

A  You do not have to do anything. A lack of response suggests that you do not wish to
      protest. However, if an employee is separated for reasons other than lack of work, the
      agency still has the responsibility to investigate and determine if the separation was
      for disqualifying or non disqualifying reasons.

Q  Where can I get the UI tax ID number?
A  Contact us by clicking here to apply online, by email at des.uit@ky.gov
     or by postal mail at the Division of Unemployment Insurance Status Branch. P. O. Box 
     948, Frankfort KY 40602

Q  Why do you need the tax ID number?
A  So that the Division of Unemployment Insurance can accurately credit tax
     payments to your account and keep track of payments charged to your
     account.

Q  How does the Automated Benefits Exchange System (ABE) work?
A  The ABE System, often referred to as the VRU, uses a touch-tone telephone
     to allow a claimant to claim their weeks or request the status of their last
     week claimed. Week Claiming is available on Sunday from 2:00 PM until 9:00
     PM Eastern time and Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM Eastern time.
     The Last Week Claimed Inquiry is available Tuesday through Friday from 7:00
     AM until 7:00 PM Eastern time. This system offers the claimant the availability of
     a faster payment. In about the same amount of time it takes a claimant to fill out
     their pay order card, address it, and take it to the mailbox, they can enter
     their weeks for payment over the telephone. It’s that simple and that
     fast! The system is easy to use. It will talk them through the step-by-
     step process. In most cases, a claimant will have three (3) attempts to
     enter the correct information.

Q  What is the difference in how UI works here and other states?
A  While each state’s laws may differ somewhat, they are usually very
     similar. All states must conform to basic principles set forth in federal
     regulation. Claimants in some states have to serve a waiting week before
     they can draw benefits, but Kentucky does not.

Q  May I participate in a hearing in person (not over phone)?
A  An in-person hearing can be scheduled upon request. However, a hearing shall
     be scheduled via teleconference if an in-person hearing would create undue
     expense for any party; require any party to travel more than fifty (50) miles; put
     either party or the referee at personal risk; or, create a security risk for the public
     or division staff.

Q How do I report new hires? 
A  You may mail your new hire report to:
     The Kentucky New Hire Reporting Center
      P.O. Box 1130
      Richmond, VA 23218-1130      
       
      Fax reports to: 1-800-817-0099 or 1-804-771-1908

     You may call the Kentucky New Hire Reporting Center at 1-800-817-2262
     or 1-804-771-9602 for any questions regarding the new hire law.  Help
     Desk staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm.