NEWS RELEASE: BOLI directs $60,000 to 25 former employees of GR Roguewood of Grants Pass

[Burr, Charlie]

[cid:image001.gif at 01D1A077.D7572520]


For Immediate Release
April 27, 2016
CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788

BOLI directs $60,000 to 25 former employees of GR Roguewood of Grants Pass
"Our agency can help workers make ends meet when a business closes its doors," says Avakian

PORTLAND, OR-The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has directed $60,680.49 to 25 unpaid workers of GR Roguewood in southern Oregon, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian announced today.

The Grants Pass furniture maker ceased operations in September.

The agency directed payments to the former employees through the state's Wage Security Fund, a tool that helps employees receive wages earned during the 60 days preceding a business closure if the employer is financially unable to pay.

Investigators determine and verify how much, if any, is owed each worker. BOLI may direct a maximum of $4,000 to an individual worker.

"Oregon's Wage Security Fund can help workers make ends meet when a company closes its doors before sending final paychecks to its workforce," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "Even if a company files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, workers should still contact us if they're not receiving the wages they've earned."

The fund is financed through a diversion of three cents per $100 of the state's employment tax paid for one quarter (three months) every odd-numbered year. After BOLI distributes payments from the Wage Security Fund, the agency seeks to recover the wages owed from the business or its successor.

Oregon is one of only two states in the county to have a Wage Security Fund.

For more information about BOLI's efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI.

###


Charlie Burr
Communications Director
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045
Portland, Oregon  97232
Tel:  971-673-0788

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20160427/303bfbc0/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 5043 bytes
Desc: image001.gif
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20160427/303bfbc0/attachment.gif>