Shared-Work Program Begins in PA.

In March Pennsylvania began a Shared-Work Program allowing an employer to temporarily reduce the work hours of a group of employees as an alternative to lay-offs.
Employees covered by the plan receive a percentage of the unemployment compensation weekly benefit amount while they work the reduced schedule, if they are otherwise eligible for UC.
The percentage by which each employee’s work hours are reduced is determined by the employer and the reduction percentage must be the same for all employees participating in the shared-work plan.
For each week included in the plan, an employee receives his UC WBA equal to the reduction percentage.
The employer will be charged 100 percent of the UC paid to the participating employees within the effective period of the plan.