Is the laboratory trying to make it difficult for employees to collect unemployment insurance?
Cindy Conger: No. We are frustrated too at the difficulty in getting definitive answers from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Determination of a person’s entitlement to unemployment payments is solely the decision of the IDES. The laboratory will not contest any unemployment claim filed due to the furlough. FT: What has Fermilab learned about unemployment compensation? Where can employees find this information? CC: The IDES has an extensive Web site where you can file a claim online and find information on claim certification, benefit amounts, partial benefits and other relevant topics. FT: There seems to be a lot of specific information you don’t have. Why not? CC: Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to get answers on our specific situation from IDES representatives. We HAVE learned that IDES cannot provide specifics until a claim has been filed, and that each claim is evaluated individually. (See this message from IDES supervisor Kitty Johnson) If you do file
