The Oregon Employment Department has enacted temporary rules to provide unemployment benefits to COVID-19 affected workers.  Department communications director Gail Krumenauer says those who have experienced an employment disruption related to COVID-19 should go online to oregon.gov/employ to start their initial unemployment insurance claim, and there is also a resource guide available to help guide those with questions.  Claims can also be filed by phone to 877-FILE-4-UI.  Krumenauer noted employers looking to retain workers may want to take advantage of the state’s workshare program to reduce hours and give partial unemployment insurance benefits to affected employees.