Employment Security asks for more … security
In an attempt to head off any confrontations before they materialize, state officials have asked police around New Hampshire to increase their presence at unemployment offices. Colleen O’Neill, an assistant to the commissioner of the state Department of Employment Security, said she made the request Thursday in response to increased stress, phone calls and foot traffic at the offices because of the uncertainty around the federal benefits program and the holiday season. “This is always a stressful time of year for our agency,” O’Neill said. “This was just a precautionary move on my part in response to no specific threat.” O’Neill said police in all of the communities with NH Works offices already patrol the areas near the offices and agreed to visit the areas more often during the holidays. Nashua’s NH Works office is on Townsend West. O’Neill said office staff have been fielding a larger number of questions and concerns from out-of-work residents whose state-funded 26 weeks of unemployment benefits were about to expire. Members of Congress have been debating whether to renew the federal program that supplemented those benefits and restarted the program this week. “Customers are frustrated and worried,” O’Neill said.
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