Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program
Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program
The Arizona Department of Economic Security’s (DES) Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program is an alternative for employers faced with the need to reduce the number of employees or hours. It allows an employer to divide the available work or hours among a specified group of affected employees in lieu of a layoff, and it allows the employees to receive a portion of their Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits while working reduced hours.
In response to the impacts of COVID-19, DES has revised the Shared Work program to provide maximum flexibility to support employers facing labor cuts and expedite economic recovery.
- Participating employers can reduce hours for their workers up to 60% as long as they continue to provide health and retirement benefits to participating employees.
- Participating employees are eligible for partial Unemployment Benefits while working reduced hours, including an additional $600 per week in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) for eligible weekly claims from March 29, 2020 to July 25, 2020.