The state labor department on Wednesday announced that it will reopen offices statewide beginning Dec. 1.
The state labor department on Wednesday announced that it will reopen offices statewide beginning Dec. 1.
In-person services from all programs in the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations will be available Wednesdays through Fridays.
Telephone appointments for general unemployment insurance and claims adjudication services will continue Mondays and Tuesdays.
“We are expanding our services to include in-person services in light of decreased COVID-19 case counts and increased vaccination rates in Hawaii,” said DLIR Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio. “We will continue to assess departmental operations as we move towards the new year with an eye on completely reopening for services during all regular state business days.”
People seeking in-person services will be required to show proof of full vaccination or testing prior to entering all offices, pursuant to Gov. David Ige’s Executive Order 21-07. They also must adhere to social distancing guidelines and mask wearing while inside.
DLIR will continue to offer telephone appointments for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and employer services Mondays through Fridays, and for claims adjudication and general unemployment insurance inquiries on Mondays and Tuesdays. The latter is the only change because those with general unemployment insurance inquiries may visit the offices Wednesdays through Fridays beginning Dec. 1.
Access to all appointments is available via the web at: labor.hawaii.gov/ui/appointments/.
The department also emphasized Wednesday that none of the benefits described above, nor unemployment benefits of any kind, are available to employees who are terminated for cause, quit their job without good cause, or refuse to return to work.
“Attempts to collect benefit payments in these situations could be viewed as fraudulent,” the department said in the announcement. “Investigation of job separation is part of the eligibility determination process.”
For more information please visit: https://www.hawaiiunemploymentinfo.com/.
