Overview
The Shared Work Program helps you avoid some of the problems caused by a layoff. If you keep your employees during a temporary slowdown, you can gear up quickly when business conditions improve. You do not have the expense of recruiting, hiring, and training new employees. Also, you spare your employees the hardships of full unemployment.
| Under Total Unemployment | Under Shared Work | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| An employee who earns $400/week may receive | $200 unemployment benefit rate | $320 per week in wages from his employer (20% of $400 equals an $80 reduction), plus $40 in Shared Work Benefits (20% of $200) |
This totals $360.00 in wages and Shared Work benefits for each week of the plan.
Employer Benefit Eligibility
Before you apply, you must have:
- Employed at least two full-time employees working in New York State
and - For four consecutive calendar quarters, you or your predecessor must have:
- Paid UI contributions
or - In lieu of contributions, elected reimbursement of benefits paid to your former employees
- Paid UI contributions
Your Shared Work plan must:
- Reduce work hours and corresponding wages 20 - 60%
- Apply to employees who normally work no more than 40 hours per week
- Not reduce or eliminate fringe benefits unless fringe benefits are also being reduced or eliminated for the entire workforce
- Not extend beyond 53 weeks (when nearing the end of the plan, you may submit a request for a new plan)
- Replace a layoff of an equal percentage of employees
You cannot hire additional employees for the workgroup covered by the plan. If there is a collective bargaining agreement in effect, the collective bargaining agent must agree to take part in the Shared Work plan.
Fact Sheets for Employers
Employer Application
Apply Online
To take part in the Shared Work Program, you must first design a Shared Work plan. Complete an application online through secure UI Online Services on your Employer Information page. Applying online will provide more accurate information and quicker response by email. If you are unable to file online, call (518) 457-2635.
The plan can cover your total workforce, a particular shift or shifts, or a work unit or units. Submit your application at least one week, but not more than four weeks, before the proposed effective date.
Once you submit the Plan Application online, you will receive an email which must be saved so that you have the information needed to open the second email you will receive once the plan is approved. The second email contains an information letter and links to all forms needed for your employees. When submitting the plan application, you may upload the employee data from a properly formatted Microsoft Excel spreadsheet into the Shared Work Application on the Employee Information Page. At this time we only accept Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Watch a Video: Benefits of the Shared Work Program
Hear from a Department of Labor representative about the benefits of Shared Work (approximately 4.5 minutes).