State of New Mexico
New Mexico Senate
Beleaguered Workforce Solutions Computer System
Releases Personal Information
Santa Fe—The Department of Workforce Solutions’ new unemployment insurance automated computer system is being lauded by Governor Martinez, but it is causing numerous problems for businesses and individuals. Workforce Solutions Secretary Celina Bussey’s administration acknowledges that the helpline was flooded with 180,000 calls from 17,000 people since Wednesday. Although it was also difficult for businesses to get through to the department, poor communication from the department actually ranks low on the list of concerns for some
businesses.
Brett Newberry, president of Newberry and Associates LTE in Gallup, says that the state system erroneously sent his company the social security number and last name of an individual who never worked there. Newberry, who is also a CPA, says the new $45 million system, which just recently went online and was paid for with federal money, also has database issues; it is using maiden names for workers who’ve been married for up to 10 years.
Additionally, Newberry says the system isn’t user-friendly; it took his experienced Information Technology person more than four hours to configure. He also said the system was incompatible with QuickBooks software, a popular accounting system used by many businesses. And while his Creative Solutions accounting software is touted to be compatible with the new state system, he is still unable to upload the company’s data after many attempts.
“As a businessman and elected official, I am trying to adhere to the law,” comments State Senator George Munoz, (D) Cibola, McKinley and San Juan-4, adding that he is very concerned
by the problems Newberry and others are experiencing. “But the difficulties at Workforce Solutions are preventing me and others from doing that.”
Obviously, there are privacy and identity-theft issues if the new system is also releasing sensitive information, Munoz says. The individual whose personal information was given away has no idea it is occurring.
While these are the problems of just one business; it is unclear how widespread such problems are throughout the state. The issues of the new unemployment insurance system are catching the attention of other members of the Legislature.
beleagueredworkforcesolutionscomputersystemreleasespersonalinfomation
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