HB 1118 Summary

• Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program allowing employers to reduce employee hours instead of implementing layoffs during economic downturns.

• Requires employers to submit written work sharing plans to the commissioner of the department of workforce development for approval, with decisions made within 15 days.

• Work sharing benefits equal the employee's standard unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage matching the percentage reduction in normal weekly work hours.

• Affected employees must have been continuously employed for at least 3 months and normally work at least 30 hours per week, with work hour reductions between 10-50% spread equally among participants.

• Work sharing benefits are limited to 52 weeks per benefit year, and participating employees cannot receive extended benefits or supplemental federal unemployment compensation while in the program.