Information for Workers in Louisiana

Information for Employers in Louisiana

You MAY be eligible for unemployment insurance. You can file a claim at www.louisianaworks.net/hire or by calling our Claim Center at 866-783-5567.
For faster self-service options, please visit our website at www.louisianaworks.net/hire.

American Job Centers (AJC)
In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all members of the public, some AJCs may close due to COVID-19. Please contact your local office for hours of operation and/or closure details. A list can be located at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/WFD/AJC_Contacts.pdf.

Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA)
All RESEA Service Point letters will be suspended beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 through Monday, April 13, 2020. Claimants who received RESEA letters on Thursday, March 12, 2020 will need to report to their American Job Center for RESEA compliance by Friday, March 27, 2020. Before reporting, claimants should contact their Job Center for hours and availability.
           Important RESEA Information:
           • If your job center is closed and you cannot comply with RESEA requirements, compliance will be
              waived for the current service point letter.
           • If you cannot comply due to your inability to report to the American Job Center as a result of being sick,
             isolated or quarantined, or caring for a sick family member, please do not report to the American Job
             Center. Contact your job center to notify staff of your situation. If you are caring for your child/children
             due to school closure, please notify staff as well. Your claim will be notated and compliance will be
             waived for the current service point letter.
           • If you have questions regarding your UI Claim, please contact 866-783-5567.

Strategies to Empower People (STEP) and Louisiana Job Employment Training (LaJET)
Participants of the STEP and LaJET programs who are in receipt of a letter or who have an established appointment at an American Job Center/LWC office, are excused from attending their meeting/appointment. For information regarding the status of your benefits, please contact your Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) case worker by phone or email. It is LWC’s intent that no one loses benefits due to this emergency situation; however, benefits decisions are determined by DCFS.

If you have questions concerning services provided by your LWC case manager, please contact your local office. A list is available at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/WFD/AJC_Contacts.pdf

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)
LRS Offices are open. Please contact your counselor regarding any upcoming appointments. Contact information for each regional office is available at http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/LRS/LRS_RegionalOffices.asp.

Please note the Baton Rouge Regional Office has moved. The new address is 950 N. 22nd Street, Baton Rouge, LA. 70802.

Job Fairs
All Louisiana Workforce Commission sponsored job fairs are postponed until further notice.

Veterans
Veteran services will continue as normal, please contact the local office in your area to find hours of operations due to COVID-19. A list of offices is available at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/WFD/Vet_StaffLocations.pdf.

Community Action Agencies (CAA) /Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all members of the public, some CAAs may close due to COVID-19 or have limited available services. Please contact your local office for hours of operation and/or closure details. A list can be located at http://www.laworks.net/ServiceLocator.asp and selecting Community Services Block Grant in the drop-down menu under Choose by Office Type section.

Rapid Response
Rapid Response is a pre-layoff program designed to help companies and their employees experiencing a layoff or closing. The LWC Rapid Response Unit is available for assistance concerning temporary or permanent layoffs due to Covid-19. Email André France at afrance@lwc.la.gov.

Labor programs
For the Special COVID-19 Blanket Employment Certificates for Minors to work in Louisiana memo, click here.

BULLETIN: Settlements and Attorney Fee Petitions.

LWC’s Office of Workers’ Compensation issues emergency rule

LWC’s Office of Workers’ Compensation issues 2nd emergency rule.

BULLETIN: Telephone Office Visits

The notice issued below is extended to March 5, 2021 pursuant to Governor John Bel Edwards’ latest Stay at Home Order. See also the BULLETIN above regarding Settlement Petitions and Attorney Fee Petitions.

The Office of Workers’ Compensation is currently preparing each office for re-opening in a manner that will allow for social distancing and slowing the spread of Covid-19. As such, this office will remain closed to the public through March 5, 2021. During this time, the staff is working remotely and in the office responding to e-mails and performing critical tasks.

OWC matters conducted via Zoom
   * All motion hearings may be set by Zoom, including those which require live testimony. If a party objects to
      proceeding via Zoom, the matter will be set for a contradictory hearing before the OWC Judge.
   * Trials may be conducted via Zoom, including those which require live testimony. If a party objects to
      proceeding to trial via Zoom, the matter will be set for a contradictory hearing before the OWC Judge.
   * For all Zoom Trials, the attorneys must provide documentation to the Court showing that they completed the
      LSBA Zoom webinar or the OWC Zoom tutorial. Confirmation of completion must be submitted to the Court
      prior to trial.
   * All parties must confirm their telephone number and e-mail address with the Court, in order to receive
      Zoom Notices.
   * Unrepresented/pro se settlements will continue to be set via Zoom.
   * OWC mediators will schedule mediations via Zoom and telephone.

With the exception of unrepresented/pro se settlements, all in-person court appearances and in-person mediations are cancelled until further notice. In-person trials, hearings, and mediations will be rescheduled on an expedited basis.

Telephone mediations are permitted and encouraged. You may contact your OWC mediator for scheduling. See District Court Listing.

No pleadings will be accepted by e-mail, except for Settlement Petitions and Attorney Fee Petitions. The original and filing fee must be mailed to the respective district office.

Pursuant to Title 40, §5824, §5831, and §5835, contradictory hearings may be:
   * Submitted on briefs.
   * Conducted by video via Zoom (a court reporter will record the matter).
   * If a matter cannot be handled on briefs or by Zoom, it will be set for an in-person hearing beginning in August.

FRAUD
The Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration (OWCA), Fraud and Compliance Division, continues to ensure compliance with the mandatory workers’ compensation insurance requirements of the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act; however, OWCA is aware of the hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on Louisiana employers. In an effort to lessen those hardships and assist our business community in regaining its strength, the Fraud and Compliance Division shall grant a waiver of the mandatory penalty associated with a failure to maintain workers’ compensation insurance pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1168-1171. This waiver shall apply to any notice received between March 1, 2020, and July 1, 2020. Please note that this waiver does not absolve Louisiana employers of the responsibility of maintaining an effective policy of workers’ compensation insurance coverage in accordance with the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act.

If you have been laid off from work or faced a reduction in hours, you may be eligible for Medicaid.
Apply online at MyMedicaid.la.gov or by phone at 888-342-6207.