House Bill 1212 Summary

• Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program allowing employers to reduce employee work hours instead of laying off workers, with affected employees receiving partial unemployment benefits for reduced hours.

• Requires employers to submit written work sharing plans to the Commissioner of Workforce Development for approval, with approval required within 15 days and decisions being final and non-appealable.

• Eligible employees must have worked at least 3 months with normal weekly hours of at least 30 hours, and work sharing plans must reduce hours by 10-50% spread equally among affected employees, covering at least 10% of unit employees or a minimum of 2 employees.

• Work sharing benefits equal an employee's unemployment benefit multiplied by the percentage their normal weekly work hours are reduced, capped at 52 weeks per benefit year and not to exceed total benefits payable under standard unemployment insurance.

• Employers must maintain all fringe benefits including health insurance, retirement, vacation, and sick leave during work sharing; employees participating cannot receive extended benefits or supplemental federal unemployment compensation during participation.