Employment Appeals Board

Vision

Firm, Fast, Fair

Mission

The Employment Appeals Board’s mission is to ensure correct and consistent interpretation and application of Employment Department policy and state and federal laws at all three levels of the claims determination process.

Organization

The Oregon Legislative Assembly created the Employment Appeals Board (EAB) in the Employment Department in 1959 (ORS 657.685) to review contested unemployment insurance claims orders issued by what is now the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).  Prior to 1959, Oregon’s unemployment and workers compensation programs were administered by a three-member commission acting in dual roles as the State Unemployment Compensation Commission (SUCC) and the State Industrial Accident Commission (SIAC).  The SUCC was responsible for reviewing contested orders on unemployment insurance claims.  EAB was created to assume that responsibility, simplify the appeal process, and speed resolution of contested cases.

EAB is a quasi-judicial agency of the Employment Department.  It consists of three board members, appointed by the Governor to four-year terms, three legal staff, and two office staff.  EAB issues between 1500 and 2000 decisions per year. Appeal from an EAB decision is to the Court of Appeals.

If the Oregon Employment Department issues notice of a decision denying or allowing benefits, either party - claimant or the employer - may request a hearing on that decision. The hearing is referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), who assigns an administrative law judge (ALJ) to conduct a telephone hearing, if the hearing request is timely.

After the ALJ issues an order, any party (including the Oregon Employment Department, who becomes a party to the case when a hearing request is filed), may file an application for review of the ALJ's order. The review is referred to the Employment Appeals Board, who reviews the evidence submitted in the proceeding before the assigned ALJ, and renders a decision.

The Employment Appeals Board does not conduct hearings. After the Employment Appeals Board issues its decision, any party who disagrees with the decision, including the Oregon Employment Department, may file a petition for judicial review with the Oregon Court of Appeals. A filing fee or fee waiver is required to file a petition for judicial review.

• ORS Chapter 183 (Administrative Procedures Act)
• OAR 137-003-0501 ("OAH Rules")
• ORS Chapter 657 (Unemployment Insurance)
• OAR 471 (Employment Department Rules)

English

• Application for Review
• Rights of Review of a Hearing Decision
• Written Argument Template

Spanish

• Application for Review​
• Rights of Review of a Hearing Decision

Customer Service Survey

• Employment Appeals Board Customer Service Survey
  

• Frequently Asked Questions​