Local Federal Employees consider unemployment to fill gaps in pay

Matt Jordan January 10, 2019

Last Updated: January 10, 2019

Medford, Ore — As the federal government shutdown continues some federal employees are turning to unemployment to replace their paycheck.

481 federal workers in Jackson County and 113 in Josephine County are currently working without pay.

This doesn’t include federally contracted employees.

Economists at the Oregon Employment Department say some of those employees are seeking unemployment benefits to fill the gaps.

“If they’re affected by the shutdown through no fault of their own, they are eligible in most cases to collect temporary unemployment insurance but they still have to come through our welcome process and actively look for work,” said Regional Economist Guy Tauer.

Employees working without pay who choose to go through unemployment have to repay any unemployment benefits when the government shutdown ends and they receive back-pay.

Matt Jordan January 10, 2019

Matt Jordan

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Matt Jordan is the Chief Meteorologist for KOBI-TV NBC5. Matt joined the NBC5 weather team in 2014 after a year as a reporter and anchor in Alexandria, Louisiana. His experience with the severe weather of the Deep South and a love of the Pacific Northwest led him to pursue a certification with Mississippi State University as a Broadcast Meteorologist. You can find Matt working in the evenings of NBC5 News at 5, 6 and 11 as well as online. Matt also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. In addition to being passionate about news and weather, Matt is a BIG Oregon Ducks fan. When not rooting for the Ducks or tracking down the next storm over the Pacific, Matt can be found outdoors in the Oregon wilderness with his wife, his daughter and their dogs Stanley and Gordi.