* IDES last month on why its offices still aren’t open to the public…
Since March of 2020 more than two dozen significant incidents have been investigated at 12 offices in every region of the state. Investigations range from acts of arson, vandalism, and bomb threats, among other acts of violence. Individuals have also shown up at IDES employees’ private residences threatening physical violence. This is in addition to countless threats made over phone, via email, and mail throughout the pandemic. Due to the pending investigations IDES is not able to share specific information.
* Peoria’s ABC TV affiliate filed a FOIA request and here’s some of what they found…
About two months later a man was at the office and said upset he wasn’t getting any help or a call back.
An employee thought he overheard the man make a statement “regarding getting a gun.”
The man was gone when police got there, but possibly went back and left a note.
State Police reports show the note said in part…”I’m becoming desperate and don’t want to do something I will regret for the rest of my life.”
On June 29th an older female and middle aged man wanted to talk to someone about unemployment benefits.
A security guard told them they wouldn’t be able to and the lady started making threats.
She would come back to the building and “Blow the place up.”
The property was damaged 2 days later.
The internet box appeared to be kicked over and a different electrical box was kicked.
- stronman - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 9:58 am:
and there it is, JBs achilles heel.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:06 am:
=== JBs achilles heel.===
You’ll need $100 million to make that so.
I dunno if siding so closely with those promoting violence or worse to state workers is a winner… but…
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:07 am:
Maybe if they were open just so people could have some human contact tensions might go down. Just being put on hold over and over again with no contact is really frustrating for most things let alone money
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:12 am:
Why do I get the impression that if they were open and accessible to the general public that requires their services, or made a better effort to return their calls, these issues would be minimized. This has been going on for 18 months now with no end in sight. Last week I had a client call me in tears after multiple calls without a response from this agency.
Do. Something. About. It. Like. Now.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:17 am:
I wonder how the threats compare to what other state offices deal with. I’ve definitely heard similar stories from JRTC folks…but they have ISP an elevator ride away if something gets serious.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:19 am:
===Why do I get the impression===
Of course you do.
- Sangamo Girl - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:19 am:
We are public servants–not punching bags. I expect pushback when I tell someone no, it’s part of the job. But unlike a CSR at the cable company you hate or the banker who denied you a loan, our names, agencies, and job titles are public record in a database for anyone to search. And with a few keystrokes in Google you have my address, a picture of my house, and the names of my family. This is terrifying.
- Don Davis - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:20 am:
I worked for IDES over a decade ago and we experienced serious threats on occasion. Here are a few examples. A person called up a local office, said Timothy McVeigh was a great hero. The next morning an ammo box (empty) was found by the front door. The suspect was likely white supremist recently released from prison. A second case was a person turned down for unemployment due to cause called up the person who made the denial and said I want you to hear something. He then shot off a gun over the phone. The suspect was fired for bad behavior and his wife had just been arrested as a meth dealer. Another time a person pulled a gun and asked to speak to the person who denied his claim. These took place in the same year and there were other cases.
I would imagine the politics and desperation during COVID makes the current situation worse.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:29 am:
Your concern is noted @Louis. No comments about the threats to the employees. How nice of you.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:30 am:
I see some of the “law and order” types are rationalizng threats of violence/vandalism because offices aren’t open.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:32 am:
Also a state employee, but luckily one who is now in a position I don’t have to deal with the public as much. That being said, my old job definitely was one that periodically involved threats from the people we regularly dealt with. Just giving that by way of background.
== Why do I get the impression that if they were open and accessible to the general public that requires their services, or made a better effort to return their calls, these issues would be minimized. ==
AND
== We are public servants–not punching bags. ==
Both of these can be true. IDES can be a mess, and other state agencies have their own problems. But the state unfortunately often gives minimal assistance to employees being put in untenable positions, especially those that have to deal with members of the public who are themselves in dire straits or dealing with crises.
I don’t have a good solution, but it is important to remember that one doesn’t preclude the other.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:33 am:
===No comments about the threats to the employees. How nice of you.===
When you go full Trumpkin, threats of violence are mere distractions… or worse
- Club J - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:50 am:
I received a letter in the mail that my claim for unemployment had been denied. I’ve been retired for ten years. The letter had a lot of my information on it. So I called the number left a message to be called back. Went ahead and contacted the federal government and did what I needed to do there. Same with my bank. Illinois unemployment called me back in four days she went right then flagged it as fraud. I got a follow up letter stating such in the mail seven days later and never heard anything since. For me the system worked well. The people I spoke with were polite and respectful.
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:12 am:
“No comments about the threats to the employees.”
Am I the only one here who feels that those employees are to serve those who are in need of their services? And when they ignore them, they later express their fear of the anger they created by their own behavior towards them?
I guess I am. And I refuse to be apologetic here.
Now. Fix. The. Problem. And. Stop. Complaining.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:21 am:
=== Am I the only one here who feels that those employees are to serve those who are in need of their services? And when they ignore them, they later express their fear of the anger they created by their own behavior towards them?
I guess I am. And I refuse to be apologetic here.===
So these employees deserved to be threatened… and you aren’t apologetic
My goodness, - Louis G Atsaves -… what happened to you?
I remember your “10th District” days… now you’re “here”
That person I once knew of would not be this person now.
First Rauner… now Trumpian… “unapologetically”
That said, thank you for confirming your transformation, no mistake will be made.
To the whole thought;
Wether it was Rauner not funding state agencies or this fiasco at IDES… if you can’t find sympathy for state workers facing threats, or are angered that this is happening… maybe some reflection of things is needed.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:28 am:
If anyone read my earlier post as being harsh or unconcerned about workers I certainly did not mean it that way. I just meant some human contact might actually humanize so to speak the process and calm things down. Certainly with security. And those making threats should be dealt with. I don’t even know if this is possible but man more phones so people can talk with people. But workers need a safe and secure place to do their jobs
- White Dynamite - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:31 am:
Someone threatened to kill me and my children because they did not receive a competitive state grant. He shared pictures of him holding two handguns. The state police found him and had a chat. That was about 10 years ago and I have not been on Facebook since.
- Club J - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:40 am:
WOW…. Louis G Atsaves That’s some speech you typed out there. Now had that been a letter sent to the IDES before an incident or a threatening call. You would’ve been visited by the local police if your name was on it. You realize these people working for the IDES are no different than you or me. Just ordinary people trying to do their jobs from home during a pandemic. Here you are acting like some King on a Throne cursing them for not being perfect. You know what’s on the News here in Florida besides COVID? How messed up the Florida unemployment office is. Same problems just a different State.
Is there room for improvement? Yes Do these employees need to be talked to like they are dogs? No.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 11:49 am:
The people who make these threats need to spend some uncomfortable time behind bars.
That said, I’m sure there are always threats. How do the numbers compare to a “normal” year?
- Mason born - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 12:01 pm:
This is part of the insidious nature of Covid and our lock downs. The impact on business’s created an increase demand for the social safety net at the same time we had to close in person help to protect staff. This left people feeling desperate and neglected, it doesn’t excuse their horrid response in any way. Even worse when the scammers went whole hog on defrauding ides.
Should probably add Ides to the vaccine mandate, if delta starts more lockdowns we really should keep staff available.
- Threats - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 12:11 pm:
To the question they are significantly worse at this point. The amount added 300 and 600 benefits are great when you are getting them. But when you have to tell people they werent reporting their income for the last few months and they suddenly have to pay back thousands of dollars that they don’t have the anger is different. In the past the overpayments were much more manageable for a low income claimant when wages were under reported or an employer protested the benefits and they were told they have to pay it back. Now they are fearing figures that leave them paniced and upset.
- Sangamo Girl - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 12:48 pm:
The IDES rank and file are doing the best they can for desperate people with a system that is slightly better than chiseling cuneiform on clay tablets.
Today the US DOL announced a plan to begin to modernize the nationwide Unemployment Insurance system using ARPA funds. And part of the plan is “developing IT solutions to modernize antiquated state technology.” https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/FactSheet_UImodernization.pdf
- Meh - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 1:14 pm:
@Don Davis, did any of those incidents lead to the closure of IDES offices for months?
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 2:52 pm:
If violence and intimidation are being used against staff (especially showing up at people’s homes) then I completely agree with keeping the offices closed and having all contact be over the phone or zoom.
And anyone who tries to use threats and/or intimidation against a state worker (or for that matter municipal) ought to get a visit from an officer and a stern reminder that such behavior is not tolerated.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 2:53 pm:
As for IDES, I had 2 separate cases of someone trying to fraudulently file on my account (and my husband once) and in all cases it was quickly taken care of with prompt callbacks. I was very pleased after hearing the horror stories.
- RobertH - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
I was briefly employed at the unemployment office in Evanston Illinois back in the 1980s. I had several close calls and was threatened by one creep, Since there was no injury I declined to prosecute him.
- Name Withheld - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 3:43 pm:
Sangamo Girl - Thank you for all you are doing. No one should have to endure the threats and abuse you did.
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 3:49 pm:
So two angry people made threats and now IDES won’t open back up for in person? At least blame it on the rising COVID cases. That actually is a good reason.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
===So two angry people…===
(Sigh)
It’s in the first line…
=== Since March of 2020 more than two dozen significant incidents have been investigated at 12 offices in every region of the state.===
Then this…
===Individuals have also shown up at IDES employees’ private residences threatening physical violence. This is in addition to countless threats made over phone, via email, and mail throughout the pandemic.===
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 4:10 pm:
@OW - Do you honestly believe IDES hasn’t opened in person offices yet because of these threats?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
===because of these threats? ===
What’s your theory, genius?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 4:13 pm:
- Chicagonk -
Are you willing to bet someone’s life on it?
- Chicagonk - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 4:20 pm:
So everytime someone threatens a state agency they close their public offices? Illinois State Police should be taking every threat very seriously and taking appropriate action and enforce the law against anyone making threats and if there is a real rise in threats, have ISP station someone at each office. There is a way to open safely and the longer they remain closed when the rest of the state is open, the more distrust people will have that they are closed for legitimate reasons.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 4:22 pm:
=== So everytime someone threatens…===
=== Are you willing to bet someone’s life on it?===
Your answer seems to be yes.
- Mama - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 5:17 pm:
How do those angry people get the state worker’s private phone number and address?
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 5:34 pm:
I’m happy for those of you who had quick responses when reporting fraud. My wife’s id was used for fraud, she reported it two weeks ago and she is still waiting for a call back.
- Joe - Wednesday, Aug 11, 21 @ 10:12 pm:
Can somebody please help me to understand how SoS Drivers’ Facilities can be almost fully opened and functional; but IDES offices almost fully closed?