- Connecticut Department of Labor says 1,340 companies and 24,300 workers have participated in the state’s Shared Work program since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, an enormous increase over pre-pandemic levels
- The program allows companies to temporarily reduce employees’ hours rather than implement layoffs
- Governor Ned Lamont recently announced the expansion of the program, beginning this week
The expansion of Connecticut’s Shared Work program goes into effect this week, giving qualified companies an opportunity to reduce their expenses. The expansion was announced last month by Governor Ned Lamont.
Participation in the program has ballooned since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, 290 companies were enrolled in the program in order to protect 2,900 employees from layoffs. Since March, 1,340 companies and 24,300 workers have participated.
The Shared Work program, which is managed by the Department of Labor, was launched in 1992 as a way for companies to weather temporary economic setbacks. Employers can reduce workers’ hours by 10 to 60 percent, trimming costs while also avoiding the effort and expense involved with hiring and training new workers down the road. Employees can recoup much of their lost wages through unemployment benefits.
Participating companies must have at least two employees, and shared work is available for up to six months for each employee. Companies can file for an extension at the end of this period, and unemployment benefits traditionally covered by the employer will be covered by the federal government through the end of the year.
Companies can apply for the program here.
