Lexmark receives top military support award; UI benefits going out

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Executives with office equipment and solutions giant Lexmark International and members of the military were honored Wednesday during the governor’s daily briefing..

“Today, we have an exciting recognition to announce. It is my great honor as the Governor of Kentucky to congratulate Lexmark International as one of this year’s recipients of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their sustained support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.”

Among those present were Kentucky Adjutant Gen. Hal Lamberton, retired Col. Phil Miller and Harry Wiley from the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as President and CEO of Lexmark Allen Waugerman, Brig. Gen. David Jenkins, Carl Sullivan and Patrick Brewer from Lexmark International.

“The Kentucky National Guard and Reserves are indispensable assets, and its soldiers are proud members of communities throughout Kentucky. They are our neighbors. They are the people that – outside of COVID – we sit in the bleachers with on Friday and in the pews with on Sunday,” said Beshear. “Lexmark has a long history of success and innovation in the Bluegrass, and that clearly extends to the company’s enlightened leadership, which supports its workers and all of our people with a strong military.”

Lexmark has also been named a Military Friendly Employer for the fifth consecutive year, receiving the esteemed Gold designation for 2021. Lexmark’s scores exceeded the Military Friendly standard in all measured categories.

“The active, personal engagement of Lexmark President and CEO Allen Waugerman communicates a philosophy of support at every level, creating a culture that values, respects and considers itself accountable for the readiness and well-being of its Reservist employees,” said Col. Miller, Kentucky state chairman of the Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “I’d like to point out, that in addition to offering National Guard and Reserve members supplemental pay for their time away for military service, the Lexmark leadership team stays in contact and provides mentorship to employees who deploy overseas and they even go the extra mile to check on service member families to make sure they being taken care of.”

“We are honored to receive the Freedom Award from the Secretary of Defense,” said Waugerman. “Lexmark takes great pride in the communities where we live and work and we recognize the sacrifice that our veterans, guardsmen and their families make to support us.”

As for unemployment claims, Beshear presented an update on the Lost Wages Assistance program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides an additional $400 per week for those who qualify.

“Our first three weeks of payments are already out, already to those individuals. The fourth payment went out last night. The fifth should go out on Oct. 1 and the sixth is going out, if everything goes as planned, on Oct. 5,” the governor said.

The first three weeks of benefits for the week of Aug. 1 went to 114,000 people, for the week of Aug. 8th 108,759 people, for the week of Aug. 15 108,446 people and for the week of Aug. 22 108,028 people.

Beshear also said Ernst & Young is continuing to help the state with letters of determination, a final step that has held up some payments. But he admitted people still are frustrated, even though the umber of cases from March and April are down to “the most serious cases” where people probably “aren’t eligible” for benefits.

From May ad June, “we still have a bunch” of cases pending, he said.

“We’ve exceeded expectations on a umber of areas like Medicaid and food assistance…and we are doing our best, we are working hard, but I know that’s not enough,” he conceded.

As for Tuesday night’s Presidential debate, Beshear hesitated to respond. But finally noted, “That wasn’t a debate…that’s unfortunate…we have to give the moderator the authority to turn off the mics when necessary,” Beshear said, criticizing comments that suggested people should go into polling places ad watch how others vote or to vote more than once, both of which are illegal.

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