Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 10:55 a.m.
The situation wouldn't be so bad if a claim could be filed in person, but all new unemployment claims now must be completed by phone. And when the phone system is overwhelmed, the individual calling in hears a recorded message asking him to call back later, which can be an exercise in futility.
The agency contends that once the phone system's bugs are worked out, it actually will be more convenient, ending the employment office's long lines. Let's hope other bureaucracies learn an important lesson from this snafu: Before trying some newfangled technology, have a trial run first with real people standing by to assist clients during the transition.
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