Pennsylvania’s Shared-Work Program Keeps You Working

The Shared-Work program allows your employer to temporarily reduce the work hours of a group of employees as an alternative to a layoff.  If you are an employee that participates in a Shared-Work plan you will work reduced hours and collect a portion of Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits. Through this program, you’ll maintain a higher income than UC alone and keep your health insurance and supplemental benefits.

Benefits of participating in a Shared-Work plan:

• Retain your job
• Maintain a higher income than with partial UC benefits alone
• Retain your health insurance and retirement benefits
• Maintain your employment skills
• Continue building job tenure and be available for advancement opportunities

 

Eligibility to participate in Shared-Work:

• You have been employed in the affected unit for at least three (3) months; and
• You work less than 40 hours a week under the approved percentage reduction.

 

Benefit Payments through Shared-Work

For each week you work in the Shared-Work plan, you’ll receive a percentage of your Weekly Benefit Rate based on the percentage of your work hours are reduced between 20 to 40 percent. For example, if your weekly benefit rate is $400 and your hours are reduced by 20 percent under the plan, you would receive 20 percent of $400 or $80 in Shared-Work UC. Other deductions may apply.
 
If the Shared-Work plan ends, but your hours remain reduced, you may apply for regular unemployment benefits.