Shared Work: The Little-Known Program That Could Prevent Layoffs, Relieve State Budgets, and Boost the Economy
Type
Policy Brief or Report
Year
2021
Level
State
State(s)
All States
Policy Areas
Economic Justice
Shared work programs permit employers to temporarily reduce hours for all workers in order to avoid layoffs for some, with states partially replacing the lost wages from reduced hours with unemployment insurance benefits. This brief explains the benefits of shared work during the COVID-19 pandemic; analyzes unemployment data from the pandemic to demonstrate the scale of potential savings to states and of additional payments to workers when states activate shared work; and offers policy recommendations.