Insights and Perspectives

Your Personalized To-Do List: How Work Items Find You (Instead of You Finding Them)

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:55:08 GMT

What if you had a personalized and intelligent to-do list for every unemployment claim and appeal? One that automatically updated, prioritized your work for you, and showed you exactly what to do next?

Geographic Solutions Unemployment System’s (GUS) comprehensive and integrated Workflow Management module, or work items, offers exactly that. Think of it as the central command center for your workday, and no longer worry about digging through emails and spreadsheets to figure out your next steps. Instead, work items will automate and guide you through the process of providing unemployment insurance claims, benefits, and appeal services.

Laura Ragain, Monetary/ICON/SIDES - Team Lead I, or as she is known at Geographic Solutions, as the Work Items guru, explains: "One should think of work items as post-it notes. They are simply a notification to you that something happened in the system that you need to know about and react to. They do not prevent anything from happening, though the work item may be tied to a non-mon (or issue that is considered non-monetary) which may prevent payment on a claim."

A Dashboard Built for You

The dashboard is your home base. It’s the tab you have at the top of your bookmarks and the place you always return to. It displays all work items related to your area of responsibility and updates as new activity is added or when it is completed.

Sort by what matters: It is YOUR dashboard! You can organize it however you want. Need to tackle the most urgent claims first? Sort your dashboard by priority. Is meeting your deadlines most important? Sort your dashboard by due date.

Search like a pro: Need to be even more specific? You can also use the Advanced Search feature to enter specific criteria, such as a claimant name or claim ID, to display only work items tied to a particular claim.

A top priority: One of the most critical parts of the system is the Adjudication Queue, where the highest-priority work items reside. These items are directly tied to issues that could prevent a claimant from receiving payment. This queue ensures that these time-sensitive cases are addressed front and center, so you can quickly resolve any potential payment delays.

Take initiative: If you’ve completed all your assigned tasks, you’re always free to visit the workgroups queue and pull a new item or view unassigned work items and choose to work on them or reassign them. Take those steps to keep your team on track and show initiative!

No More Piled-Up Work Items After Vacation

The system ensures your workload doesn't overload while you're away. Supervisors can use the blocked availability feature to temporarily prevent work items from being assigned to you.

Your queue stays clear, and you can breathe fresh air: On vacation, relax a little and stop worrying about the work you are behind on. The system won't assign you any new work items for the duration of your vacation and instead those new work items will automatically be routed to your available teammates, keeping the workload moving along without any disruption.

Realistic workday due dates: To ensure deadlines are realistic and achievable, the module automatically adjusts due dates that fall on a weekend or holiday to the next business day. However, you maintain full control over all work item configurations. All configurations, including due dates and priority, are set by you in the admin area. Do you want a work item due in 10 days? No problem. Do you want it to generate with a high priority? You've got it.

Now enjoy your time off knowing that everything is under control!

Screenshot of Staff Schedule

Build the Process Your Way

Creating new workflows is easy and intuitive. The system already has predefined workflows that align with your state’s specific needs and regulations, but you have the power to create, edit, and manage work item workflows by defining the steps and setting the rules. The system will handle the rest!

Specify business rules: As shown in the image below, you can determine exactly what needs to happen. The Client Identifier field is completely customizable for your organization to use as a way to organize or refer to certain work items internally, and it has no bearing on the work item itself or how it is routed. Beyond that, you can set rules to assign work items based on staff attributes, such as Staff Workgroup, Areas of Responsibility, availability, and experience level. These are the three core attributes that a work item needs to be assigned automatically. Without a role in the associated workgroup, an area of responsibility, availability in said role, and an experience level, work items will not be auto assigned to a staff member. Pro tip: If you are the manager or supervisor of an area of responsibility and do not want to be assigned any work items but have the ability to work them if you choose, you just need to leave your availability in that role blank.

Use experience and position to assign work: Are you a newbie or are you seasoned employee? It’s no secret that new employees and employees who have more experience can handle different amounts of work. The system can use a staff member's work item experience level to gauge how much they can take on. For example, a rule can be created to manage how many work items are assigned to a specific user based on their experience level.

Identify required documents: Make sure every piece of information is collected at the right time. No more getting to end of task and realizing that you missed a step, five steps ago. The module won't let the work item move forward until all required documents are attached, which helps you meet your state's documentation standards every time.

Smart automation and scheduling: The module is proactive, not just reactive. Your workflows can be triggered by specific events, such as an exact date. For example, you set up a workflow that automatically begins the review process for seasonal workers on a specific date each year.

Screenshot of Work Item Configuration Details

The Ultimate Toolkit for Your Tasks

Work items gives you more than just a list of tasks, it also gives you the tools to manage them effectively.

View and change status: You can easily see a work item's status and where it is in the workflow. Once you complete an action, the status will update in real time. You can also manually change the status and priority of a work item if needed.

All the info, all in one place: When editing a work item, you can access all the important information, including the claimant's name and claim ID. You can also add notes and attachments directly to the work item and have them automatically linked to the claim, ensuring a complete and accurate history.

Flexible reassignment: Need to reassign a work item? You can easily change the assignment to another staff member or an entire workgroup. Assign a work item to a different workflow, all with a simple drop-down selection.

Screenshot of Work Item Tools

Insight and Analytics

Understanding performance and spotting trends within your workflows is just as important as managing individual tasks. The report component of work items gives you the data you need to see exactly what is happening. You can find reports on key metrics such as work item status, assignments, and time reporting.

For supervisors, the My Staff Workgroups link provides valuable information on staff productivity. Supervisors can see each staff member's workload, how many items are overdue, experience level, and availability. The system even generates an error report to quickly identify and work items with data issues and keep your workflows running smoothly.

What About VOS?

Work items can also be used as an integrates component in our Virtual OneStop (VOS) solution. This module offers the same intelligent workflow management capabilities, but it is designed specifically for the workforce process. It automates and guides the business of connecting job seekers with opportunities, managing training programs, and supporting employers.

Within both our GUS and VOS solutions, work items are a must have to get work done efficiently, with a complete audit trail, and in compliance with your organization's business rules.

Interested in learning more about the Workflow Management Module and how it can revolutionize your workflow? Request a demo today to learn more and see our solutions in action!

Job Creation Maintains Healthy Expansion in March

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:11:00 GMT

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its monthly Current Employment Statistics (CES) report and Current Population Survey (CPS) for March 2022 on Friday, April 1^st. The monthly change in employment given by the CES and the unemployment rate from the CPS are seen as the standard gauges for assessing the health of the U.S. labor market.

Employment in the U.S. rose by 431,000 jobs. The jobs report exceeded the Geographic Solutions, Inc. forecast of 382,000, but the forecast outperformed the Wall Street Journal estimate of 490,000 new jobs. Geographic Solutions, Inc. derives its employment forecast from internal data on the number of job searchers, job applications, job severances, and applications for unemployment benefits filed on Geographic Solutions state client sites. The forecast uses unemployment claims data from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).

The unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, below the Geographic Solutions forecast of 3.8% and the WSJ forecast of 3.7%. The unemployment rate forecast used internal data on the number of job openings, job searchers, job applications, job severances, and the number of applications for unemployment benefits filed on Geographic Solutions state client sites. The forecast uses unemployment claims data from the USDOL.

Job creation was strongest in Leisure & Hospitality (112,000) and Professional & Business services (102,000). Job growth was widespread with all major industries seeing job increases in March.

In March the Construction industry joined Professional & Business Services; Trade, Transportation, & Utilities; and Financial Activities as one of the sectors that has recovered all jobs lost since the beginning of the pandemic. Leisure & Hospitality employment continues to surge but is the only sector to remain more than 5% below its pre-pandemic employment level.

The labor force participation rate increased to 62.4% from the previous month. The more expansive U-6 unemployment rate counts discouraged workers who are no longer actively seeking work (and therefore no longer in the labor force) and those that have settled for part-time employment but desire a full-time job. This measure of unemployment fell to 6.9%. A growing labor force participation rate along with strong job growth indicate that the labor market is on a healthy path.

March employment continued its record streak of growing by more than 400,000 jobs per month since May 2021. At this pace jobs should return to their February 2020 total in four months. Many of the detrimental effects of inflation, interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine drawing concern were not noticeable in the results. Their impact may have been counteracted by the decline in Covid-19 cases during the period, and higher inflation may have unexpectedly spurred some retirees to re-enter the workforce. However, these monetary and geopolitical threats to the economy certainly remain in the months to come.

Top 10 Reasons To Attend The 2019 Workforce Technology Conference

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:20:00 GMT

While parts of the country are still locked in the throes of winter, we’re already dreaming of warmer temperatures in the seasonable summer climate of coastal California. This can only mean one thing – it’s almost time for Geographic Solutions’ 2019 Workforce Technology Conference!

Held annually for the last 16 years, our client summit doubles as a big reveal where our staff members can demonstrate their hard work and dedication to our product development.

In 2019, we’re eager to present our newest developments for Virtual OneStop®, our flagship software suite. The all-in-one modular system features a component library that is customizable to meet the needs of several industries, including case management, vocational rehabilitation, unemployment insurance, higher education, human services, and corrections.

It was extremely difficult to pinpoint one singular reason you should join us this year, and it was even more challenging to stop at 10. With that said, here are 10 of our favorite reasons to say, “See You in Monterey!”

Sneak Peek of Virtual OneStop Version 20!

The cornerstone of our conference is your chance to hear from our president, Paul Toomey, about what we’re cooking up for Virtual OneStop Version 20.

Pre-Conference Training and Countless Breakout Sessions on Reports

We know that reporting is a critical part of your role. That’s why we’re dedicating half of our pre-conference training to ensuring you return to your agency or board with the latest Virtual OneStop reporting tips and tricks. To sweeten the deal, we’ll have multiple sessions throughout the week that focus solely on reports.

Keynote Speaker Maria Smith

We’re excited to welcome Bounce Australia’s Maria Smith to the main stage at the 2019 Workforce Technology Conference! With over 15 years of experience in business management, client engagement, training the highly disengaged, and creating tailored programs, Smith’s vision and attitude is contagious. Her mantra is “Everything is Possible,” and you’ll find out why this summer.

Ways to Make Your Job Easier with the Latest Efficiency Tools

If you love learning ways to work smarter, not harder, we have the tools for you. Hear from our experts how Staff Efficiency tools will make your life easier.

Networking With Agency Staff from All Over the Country

Reading about best practices or participating in an online webinar are invaluable resources. However. the 2019 Workforce Technology Conference gives you the opportunity to meet face-to-face with hundreds of industry professionals and pick their brains about what’s working and not working back at their agency or board.

Voting for Future Product Enhancements and Roundtable Discussions

We want to know how we can help you do your jobs better, and we’re inviting you to tell us at our yearly enhancements voting session. Submit your enhancements requests before the conference, and we’ll conduct live voting with a group of your peers.

One-On-One Meetings with Geographic Solutions Staff Members

Nothing beats collaborating in person with a subject matter expert. At the 2019 Workforce Technology Conference, we’ve carved out a three-hour block after the summit’s closing remarks to meet with Geographic Solutions’ staff members.

The Client Awards Luncheon

Perhaps more significant (and more important) than the Oscars, our client awards ceremony is a chance for you and your agency to earn bragging rights in multiple categories. Plus, enjoy a free lunch on us!

WID Geeks Unite Chat With our LMI Data Experts

Come together, right now…WID geeks! New to the conference in 2019, labor market information specialists will be able to meet with our data experts to discuss all things related to the Workforce Information Database.

Monterey Otters!!!

With up to a million hairs per square inch of fur, Monterey’s Sea otters are often seen floating near the shore, searching for clams, mussels, urchins, and crabs. Ubiquitous along the Central Coast, the largest members of the weasel family are numerous in places such as Moss Landing, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Cannery Row.

What are your favorite reasons to attend the Workforce Technology Conference? Want to share a fun story describing your experiences? Tell us in the comments below!

Haven't registered yet? Visit the conference registration page to join us this summer!