Survive the next downturn with the SharedWork Program

Washington’s SharedWork Program provides businesses flexibility to retain employees at reduced hours rather than completely laying them off. An employer can temporarily reduce employees’ hours 10 to 50 percent and qualified workers receive partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of their lost wages. Survive the next downturn and retain employees with this back-pocket insurance policy. 
 
 
Why bother?

• No cost to inquire or pre-register.
• Advanced preparation eliminates potential delays in the administrative start up process.
• Business friendly program for retention or layoff aversion.
• Partial reduction of hours provides a minimal impact versus full layoff impact. The business can reduce the work hours of the permanent employees, and they collect partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of their lost wages. There is a minimal impact to the business unemployment insurance tax rate (experience rating).
• Translates into immediate payroll savings and prevents the loss of your skilled employees. 

 
Businesses must: 

• Be legally registered in Washington for at least six months prior to applying for the program
• Be current on unemployment taxes or a payment contract
• Enroll a minimum of two permanent employees in the SharedWork plan
• Continue to provide affected employees with health and fringe benefits during reduction of hours

 
Employees must be:

• Hired permanently and paid hourly (corporate officers are not eligible)
• Eligible for regular unemployment benefits
• Able to and available for work all hours offered by SharedWork employer

 
 
You can find out if you’re eligible and pre-register for the program in 60-seconds or less by calling 1-800-752-2500. You can learn more online at SharedWorkWA.com.  You can also contact a local representative, Susan Milke, at WorkSource Vancouver to learn more. You can also watch an overview in video format.