labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The whole purpose of the Alaska unemployment system, as it is in all the states of this grand Union, is to make sure that unemployed workers get temporary salary or wage replacement payments while they are looking for their next job. They work to provide a safety net to individual workers, and the systems also work to make sure that local economies don’t get sunk when the town plant or factory gets closed down.

Employers make up a major part of this unemployment insurance system in the state of Alaska. They not only are the parties that are laying off the employees or closing down the plants and leading to the unemployment. More importantly—and on a positive note for employers—Alaska employers like you are responsible for making sure that the state authorities have all of the proper information when an employee is dropped from your payroll.

Proper information can lead to the system working efficiently on all counts, and can lead to you getting quicker service and response from the state, as well as your former employee getting their unemployment benefits in a far more timely manner.

One of the best ways, according to the Alaska state unemployment insurance authorities, for you to give the best information to the state is to collect a lot of this info at the time of the Employee Separation. Proper focus on issues like exit interviews, COBRA and unemployment forms can help any employer or human resource department prepare a statement of facts as a permanent record of that employee’s departure. Part of this process, say Alaska state officials, is also making sure that your employees are always clear about why they are being discharged or laid off.

You can also at this time provide your employees with an exit interview form that makes them sign and acknowledge that they understand why they are being let go.