Unemployed people urged to apply for jobless claims
‘Anyone who has lost work because of coronavirus should apply.’ Marvene Mitchell-Cook
More than half the state’s first-time jobless claims this year poured in at a blistering pace during the first four days this week. And numbers are expected to surge higher as the economy is further dampened by the coronavirus crisis.
“This pandemic is having a massive impact on our county’s workers and business owners,” said Marvene Mitchell-Cook, Montgomery County’s workforce director. “We are in unprecedented times.”
By Thursday, more than 111,000 Ohioans had filed for jobless benefits this week. By the third Wednesday in March, initial jobless claims reached near half the previous five-year annual aver- age, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Montgomery County lead- ers on Thursday urged idle workers to seek emergency unemployment benefits and other public assistance — but do it only online or by phone.
Nearly all face-to-face contact is halted at county offices, inc l uding those that deal with benefits. The county also shut down the ability for people seeking employment to walk in and use computers at the Job Center, a change from Wednesday when 200 job seekers showed up, said Montgom- ery County Administrator Michael Colbert. Comput- ers can still be used by first making an appointment.
The decision to close down much county’s in-person business is related to Gov. Mike DeWine’s urging of employers to check whether workers are running a fever, Colbert said.
“We had to abide by the thermometer scan that came out ... and that forced us to change our operation,” he said.
Montgomery County’s workforce director
ment
Mitchell-Cook said DeW- ine’s expan d ed eligibil- ity order made two major c hanges: it waived the standard one week waiting period to receive benefits and people receiving bene- fits are no longer required to seek work.
“Anyone who has lost work because of coronavirus should apply,” she said.
Other rules, however, have caught some off guard. Work- ers seeking benefits must still have worked at least 20 weeks in covered employ- ment and earned at least $269 in the base period, constituting four out of the last five completed calendar quarters.
Hard-hit industries include retail and leisure hospitality, which employ more than 76,000 people in the Dayton metro area, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employment remains available as supermarkets and companies that rely on deliveries are desperately seeking workers, Mitchell-Cook said.
Job seekers can still email or call to make in-person appointments or leave paper- work in a drop box in the lobby at the Job Center, 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd. in Dayton. The Workforce Develop- ment office will still be taking calls at 937-225-5627 from people looking for work.
Contact this reporter at 937225-2442 or Chris.Stewart@ coxinc.com.
Jan. 4
Jan. 11
Jan. 18
Jan. 25
Feb. 1
Feb. 8
Feb. 15
Feb. 22
Feb. 29
March 7
March 14
21-Mar
Total
* Number through Wednesday
SOURCE: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES
Ohio initial unemployment claims, 2015-2020
Before the end of the first quarter, state has already received nearly half the annual five-year average of first-time jobless claims.
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
* Number through Wednesday
SOURCE: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES
the news, particularly social media. If you’d like to stay updated on the virus, do so once a day. Repeated references to the virus can be overwhelming.
■ Take care of your body. In addition to prac- ticing social distancing and handwashing, try to exer- cise, stretch or meditate. Get plenty of sleep and continue to eat healthy.
■ If your anxiety becomes overwhelming and is interfering in everyday activities, or if the stress is causing an increase in substance use, reach out for help.
When Gov. Mike DeW- ine recently ordered bars to shutdown to combat the coronavirus, Jessica Boyd, a bartender with two bartending jobs, was suddenly out-of-work.
“I lost both jobs due to shutdown so I have all the time to home-school and I don’t mind one bit,” Boyd explained, noting that she’s using the at-home time to do some teaching for her children, but also mixing in some, “go noodle and cosmic yoga, then art.”
Jenny and Brent Schumacher, along with their children, Josiah, 12, Cady, 8, and Lucus, 3, have been going to church from the safety of their home. The couple says they are just trying to make the best of a tough situation.
Wittenberg University professor Sarah Fortner said her husband Trey has been using some ingenuity with their kids to make them feel that they are still in school.
“Right now, during his lunch break, Trey has gotten out the chalkboard and is trying to convince the kids he is now their teacher,” Sarah said. “We alternate. I also clean way more than I ever have.”
George Nelson Parker III and his wife Wendy work from home, so for them the routine is more about grabbing groceries before they get hoarded.
“The wife and I work from home, so no changes there. Started buying extra items here and there weeks ago before all the grocery store hysteria started. We plan on holding up at the house as long as needed,” he said.
Daria Schaffnit is a pastor in Yellow Springs and she’s taking a creative approach with her young child.
“Extra crafts with my son and cooking with him,” Schaffnit said. “He helped me mix up some taco seasoning yesterday. Today, soda bread.”
Kate Hamilton made an Irish feast with her kids to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and is also helping them stay up on their grades.
“Kids are doing school,” she said. “There are a lot of resources for entertainment and exercise and studying popping up online everyday.”
Experts say getting outside for a walk is a healthy idea and exercise as long as they are social distancing.
Holly Hammersmith and her husband Neal are adjusting to the changes ordered by the governor, but she says it’s important to keep moving, “so we don’t become sloths, exercise daily, get outside daily even if just 15 minutes, call someone everyday, family or friends.”
Contact this reporter at 937-225-0586 or email Wayne.Baker@coxinc.com.
Other ideas while social distancing include getting exercise and library cards:
■ If you have a library card and are using Lynda.com to learn new skills, there’s some national virtual museum tours, etc., to experience.
■ Five Rivers Metro Parks is a great way to get out and get some fresh air as walking alone or in pairs is a safe way to get out of the house. So are walks in general.