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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:black"><img width="185" height="60" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.gif@01D1A077.D7572520"></span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">April 27, 2016</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">BOLI directs $60,000 to 25 former employees of GR Roguewood of Grants Pass</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="color:black">“Our agency can help workers make ends meet when a business closes its doors,” says Avakian
</span></i><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The Grants Pass furniture maker ceased operations in September.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Investigators determine and verify how much, if any, is owed each worker. BOLI may direct a maximum of $4,000 to an individual worker.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">“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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black">Oregon is one of only two states in the county to have a Wage Security Fund.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For more information about BOLI’s efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit
</span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI">http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a><span style="color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Charlie Burr<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, Oregon 97232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tel: 971-673-0788<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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