Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Labor Department Heeds Blunt’s Call for Efficiency; Saves $59,000
JEFFERSON CITY–As a result of Gov. Matt Blunt’s call to improve efficiency and end wasteful spending in state government, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reduced temporary personnel costs, saving $59,077.
“Missouri taxpayers deserve a government that works for them and is a good steward of their hard earned tax dollars,” Blunt said. “I commend management and employees at the Labor Department for heeding my call to improve efficiency and for continuing to find ways to save money while maintaining high quality customer service.”
The department typically receives an increase in the number of unemployment benefit claims filed from November through February each year. The increase is due to bad weather, coupled with usual industry layoffs in December and January. In the past, the Labor Department has hired temporary staff to assist with the increased workload, costing the department around $65,000. Following Blunt’s common sense philosophy on spending, the department began cross training employees to assist with processing unemployment claim information during periods of increased workload. While some temporary staff was still needed this winter, the department saved $59,077 by using existing staff.
“I appreciate the dedication of the staff that assisted with unemployment claims during our busy time,” said Rod Chapel, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “These employees should be praised for their willingness to do more with less.”
For more information contact Tammy Cavender at the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations at (573) 751-7500.
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