
NASWA awards five states for outstanding performance in handling unemployment insurance claims through electronic systems
Washington, D.C. — NASWA's State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) division held their annual training conference in Kansas City, Missouri, this week and recognized five states for their Outstanding Performance in implementing SIDES Web Services, which provides a direct link between employers and state workforce agencies for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit claims processing.
The Outstanding Performance Awards go to five state agencies this year: Nebraska Department of Labor, Utah Department of Workforce Services, Arizona Department of Economic Security, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. These awards are presented to states who have excelled in implementing their UI claims electronic response through SIDES. More...

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released their April-June
2016 quarterly report on the status of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program.
Congress designed the program as a federal-state
partnership. The federal government provides over-arching support to help
ensure conformity and compliance within the framework of federal law. Because
of Utah employer’s compliance with federal law, they experience a 90 percent
credit towards their federal unemployment tax — the difference between paying
$420 per employee to $42 per employee each year.
States are provided with the latitude to adopt their own
laws towards accomplishing the goals of the program, tailored towards their
unique economic and geographic landscapes. This ensures that the voice of local
employers — who fundamentally support the UI program structure — is heard. This
also provides states with the agility to address changes in the dynamics of
local labor markets. More...

State Honored with “Triple Crown” Award for an Unprecedented
Fifth Time
Utahns continue to benefit from one of the best unemployment
insurance programs in the nation the U.S. Department of Labor affirmed today.
Utah was awarded the “Triple Crown” for being the top performing unemployment
insurance division, which operates faster and more effectively than in any
other medium sized state in the nation.
“We serve Utahns in need with a remarkably efficient system,
which is what this award is all about,” said Jon Pierpont, executive director
of the Department of Workforce Services. “This honor highlights our commitment
to exceptional customer service and wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars.” More...