Furlough and

Furloughs and Unemployment Claims • UMass employees furloughed for one week in June may opt to file a claim with the Department of Assistance for one week of . • To submit an unemployment claim, go to www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-unemployment-benefits Apply during your furlough week, not before. Employees are allowed to apply for unemployment after their period of unemployment; it’s just more complicated, delayed, and is not advised. • For employees needing special assistance, see supplementary information below.

Information Sessions on How to File COVID-related, Furlough-related Claim • There are six information sessions next week. Each session is up to two hours. The first 30 minutes is a PowerPoint presentation by Western Mass Rapid Response team, assisted by a statewide AFL-CIO Rapid response person. The sessions, designated by units, are: o Tuesday, May 26, 10-12 noon, PSU o Tuesday, May 26, 2-4 p.m., USA + non-unit o Wednesday (in Spanish), May 27, 2-4 p.m., AFSCME o Thursday 10-12 noon, May 28, USA, non-unit, + AFSCME o Thursday, May 28, 2-4 p.m., PSU o Friday, May 29, 9-11 a.m., AFSCME

➢ Participants can register for sessions here: https://www.umass.edu/worker-ed/covid-19/furlough When you click to register, you will be asked for your name and your email.

• The sessions next week are expressly to provide information to employees around applying for one- week of unemployment compensation during the COVID June furlough. The will not address other furlough-related questions (scheduling, benefits, any UMass-specific topics, or any contractual topics). Normally, it is the employee’s responsibility to navigate unemployment benefits. • Employees who are somewhat familiar with online unemployment applications may want this training nonetheless, if only for the COVID-related aspects… • Sessions will be recorded, so that if cannot make your designated session, you can go to The Partnership for Worker (PWE) website to see recordings

Supplementary Information • Next week, the following information will be available on the PWE website: o A step-by-step guide to applying online that includes: ▪ Answers to important questions. Like… If you accrue vacation, will your employer allow you to take vacation during this period? Is this COVID related? ▪ A checklist of what information you will need at your fingertips before your log onto the online application. ▪ A phone number for employees who do not speak English, to receive assistance in another language. ▪ The Center website and phone number for employees who need the Career Center staff to take information over the phone, in English; staff there will then log that information online.

This effort to assist campus employees during furlough involves Western Mass Rapid Response, Franklin/Hampshire MassHire, the Office of Human Resources, Administration and Finance, AFSCME Local 1776, the University Staff Association, and the Professional Staff Union.