Did You Lose Hours At Work: NYS Will Help Out

I was reading the paper this morning and was reminded of a little used program that NYS has to help folks that were forced to work fewer hours due to tough times at their place of work. It is a pretty simple program to apply for, but does have its restrictions and rules. Basically, if you lose 20% of your hours you may be eligible to receive 20% of the Unemployment Benefit that NYS offers.

THE PLAN REQUIREMENTS (taken from NYS Site)

Any New York employer who has five or more full-time employees and who with any predecessor has been liable for unemployment insurance purposes for at least four completed calendar quarters may apply to participate in the Shared Work Program. The employer's plan must meet the following basic requirements:

-The employees’ hours and wages must be reduced at least 20% but not more than 60%.
Only full-time employees who normally work between 35 and 40 hours per week are eligible to participate.
-The employees' fringe benefits cannot be reduced or eliminated.
-The plan cannot exceed 53 weeks.
-The employer cannot hire additional full-time or part-time employees for the work group covered by the plan.
-If the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the collective bargaining agent must approve the Shared Work plan.
-The plan must be in lieu of a layoff of an equivalent percentage of employees.


This is an alternative to a complete layoff and some employers would rather do this than let an employee go completely and have to re-hire or retrain a new person if that individual is not available when businesses picks up. I have mixed feelings about the program, but think that it certainly will build good will between an employee and employer by making the employee understand that he/she is truly cared for and is offered some consolation for the reduced hours and reduced paycheck. No government plan will take the place of a full time job and this is not to be used in situations that are not warranted. Remember....we really don't ever get something for nothing.....the businesses of NYS pay for this program.

check out the full description of the plan at

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/ui/dande/sharedwork1.shtm