Employment department closing offices in East Alton, Bloomington, Chicago Heights
From Illinois Business Journal news services
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Employment Security will close local offices in East Alton, Bloomington and Chicago Heights this spring to comply with the federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act and realign its regional offices to address a federal budget shortfall of approximately $6.2 million in Fiscal Year 2016.
Office consolidations are projected to save IDES approximately $2 million in lease and salary costs.
Under the Workforce Act, the department of Employment Security is required to offer employment services at comprehensive one-stop centers that are co-located with its partners in the local workforce innovation areas. Because the Workforce Act does not allow for the Department of Employment Security to administer these services without a required core partner on-site, the department will close three of its “stand-alone” offices in East Alton, Bloomington and Chicago Heights in mid-spring. IDES notified the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees of the planned changes and will be meeting with the union in the coming months to discuss the transition.
IDES will continue to offer assistance in claims-filing and employment services at its other local offices and partner offices throughout the state. The quickest way to file unemployment insurance claims is through IDES’ website www.ides.illinois.gov or by calling IDES’ Call Center 1 (800) 244-5631; TTY for hearing impaired 1 (866) 488-4016.
