Committed To Putting Georgia Workers First
As Georgia Labor Commissioner, Representative William Boddie will be committed to putting Georgia Workers First through the implementation of services, policy recommendations to the Georgia General Assembly, and robust training/(re)training opportunities. When faced with critical decisions as Georgia Labor Commissioner, Representative Boddie will focus on Georgia Workers as a top priority. Representative Boddie will always be committed to doing what is in the best interest of all Georgia Workers.
Timely Processing and Payment of Eligible Unemployment Insurance Claims
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was evident that the Georgia Department of Labor did not have the adequate staff and technological infrastructure to keep up with the increased unemployment insurance claims. These unemployment insurance claims were filed in record numbers from March 2020 that continue through present day.
The Current Labor Commissioner caused a dire situation during the pandemic when the Labor Commissioner ordered that all the Career Centers be closed throughout the State for the duration of the pandemic. The Career Centers remained closed even after courts, school systems, and other public agencies reopened throughout Georgia with Center for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Safety Protocols implemented. These continued closures of the Career Centers led to recently unemployed Georgians’ phone calls and email messages not being returned timely if those inquiries were returned at all by the Georgia Department of Labor. Georgia General Assembly members, including Representative Boddie, and Community Organizations vigorously advocated getting answers for constituents regarding the timely processing and payment of eligible unemployment insurance claims with no real answers from the Current Labor Commissioner.
Unfortunately, some eligible Georgia Workers did not receive their actual unemployment benefits for several months after filing their initial claims. They also received no communication from representatives at the Georgia Department of Labor on the pending payment status of their claims. The negligence of these inactions caused some Georgia Workers many struggles due to layoffs and some workers lost their jobs to no fault of their own. With no access to assistance from the Georgia Department of Labor, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused many Georgians to lose access to basic needs. There was loss of shelter due to eviction and loss of transportation to work due to vehicle repossession. This crisis of inaction and unresponsiveness is unacceptable for any Georgia Labor Commissioner to allow under their watch.
As Georgia Labor Commissioner, Representative Boddie will install modernized technology, hire additional staff, and implement new policies & procedures to be prepared for future natural disasters, public health emergencies, or an economic recession that can affect the State of Georgia. The Georgia Department of Labor will be adequately prepared and ready to respond to Georgia Workers in need.
Providing Quality Customer Service and Accessibility to Georgia Workers
Georgia Workers deserve quality customer service from their Georgia Department of Labor. As Labor Commissioner, Representative Boddie will immediately process all unemployment insurance claims for eligibility and ensure a consistent pay schedule for unemployment benefits.
As Labor Commissioner, Representative Boddie will reopen all Career Centers to the general public, create jobs through a call center dedicated to efficiently handling phone calls across the state while updating the current Georgia Department of Labor website to be user-friendly for Georgia Workers. Representative Boddie will create a division within the Georgia Department of Labor to service U.S. Veterans, Disabled Workers, and our senior citizen workers’ unique needs. All Georgia Workers deserve attention and be treated with dignity to ensure their questions and inquiries quickly.
Dedicated to opening more Career Centers throughout the State of Georgia
As your Georgia Labor Commissioner, Representative Boddie will be dedicated to opening more Career Centers throughout the State of Georgia. Currently, there are 159 counties with only 42 Careers Centers in Georgia. With the population growth, it is simply not enough Career Centers throughout the state to adequately address the needs of Georgia Workers. Georgians who reside in some rural areas may not have access to broadband internet, which is a significant disadvantage when filing unemployment insurance claims and trying to access online services of the Georgia Department of Labor website. Unfortunately, with a low number of Career Centers serving multiple counties, many Rural Georgia Workers have to drive long distances to these facilities. Without access to broadband internet, these Georgia Workers have no access to online services from the Georgia Department of Labor without long commutes to their nearest Career Center.
Georgia Workers residing in the Urban, Suburban, and Coastal areas are also faced with long commutes to access Career Centers for in-person services and inquiries. All Georgia residents deserve to have adequate access to Career Centers operated by the Georgia Department of Labor.
Education & Workforce Development
As Georgia Labor Commissioner, Representative Boddie will be a driving force to help shape 21st century workforce that meets the needs of current needs of all industries and job sectors in Georgia. Representative Boddie believes that merging business training programs, union apprenticeship programs, technical colleges, labor/community organizations, and vocational schools will ensure that Georgia Workers and Students have the opportunity to gain the skills necessary for jobs of the future. Representative Boddie will create a departmental program that encourages Georgia Employers to recruit and hire Georgia Workers trained to meet these employers’ needs. This recruitment program will collaborate with the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Employers, and Georgia Employees giving all parties having a voice at the workforce development table. Increased Education & Workforce Development opportunities are necessary for the continued economic growth of Georgia.
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