Many Metro employees have taken furlough or a reduced schedule to help mitigate financial impacts to Metro due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce work schedules to meet caregiver and other time off needs. Metro participates in the Oregon Work Share program that helps offset wage loss from reduced hours with unemployment benefits. Below is more information on furlough and Work Share.
About schedule reductions and Oregon Work Share
The Oregon Work Share program supports employers during difficult economic times by providing an alternative to layoffs. Under Work Share, employees can reduce their hours 20 to 40% from their normal work schedule and maintain regular schedule benefits such as health insurance, sick and vacation paid time-off. Each week, Metro will report each employee’s loss of wages to the Oregon Unemployment Division, which will process that report and distribute Work Share payments directly to employees.
Feb. 1, 2020 update on vacation time while on Work Share
Vacation time can only be used while participating in Work Share if the employee has no other accrued leave to cover for an illness or protected leave absence or if there are no work opportunities available for the employee during that work week.
Application instructions for employees
Previous Work Share applicants: You do not need to fill out an Initial Claim Form if you already participated in Work Share. You will need to complete the schedule preference form (provided as a Word document, located at the bottom of this page). See step 4, below.
New Work Share applicants: Your Metro annual salary information is needed to complete the Initial Claim Form. Contact your department coordinator (listed below) if you need that information. They can also assist you with filling out forms and can answer your questions.
View step-by-step instructions
- Complete an Oregon Employment Department Initial Claim Form, direct deposit authorization and tax withholding confirmation form.
- Print and sign form, or follow these instructions to create an electronic signature in Adobe Reader, Pro or DC. Use this naming format when saving the file: Last name_First name_Initial claim form
- Upload the signed authorization form to this secure, confidential file location: https://oregonmetro.sharefile.com/r-r875346f4c14746eba1e06e29fdc0b3ec
- Complete the schedule request form (provided as a Word document, located at the bottom of this page) and email to your supervisor. They will provide the approved form to Kronos Help Desk for entry into the timekeeping system.