Skip to main content
MENU
Labor and Economic Opportunity

Workshare Program

Work Share Program

  • Michigan’s Work Share program allows employers to restart their business and bring employees back from unemployment. Employers can bring employees back with reduced hours - while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. Employers can also retain their current workforce and are given the flexibility to choose which of their employees are part of a Work Share plan.

    Work Share Program Information

    Work Share Brochure

    Work Share Employee Guide

Work Share Video

COVID-19 Work Share Program Requirements

  • Michigan's Work Share program eligibility requirements have been expanded through December 26, 2020.

    • All liable employers can participate in the program.
    • If business demand is down, employers participating in workshare can preserve their workforce while reducing hours and wages by 10 - 60%.
    • Waived the length of time requirement that employers must be in business.
    • Waived the requirement that employers have a current or positive balance with UIA.
    • There is no minimum length of time that an individual must have worked for an employer to be included as part of a Work Share plan.

    Work Share Requirements:​

    • Employers are given flexibility to organize which employees are in a Work Share plan.
    • A plan must include a minimum of two employees and an employer can have multiple plans.
    • Plans may be approved for a period of up to 52 consecutive weeks.
    • Employee hours/wages may be reduced by a minimum of 10% up to a maximum 60%.
    • Part-time employees are eligible, but Work Share does not apply to seasonal, temporary, or intermittent employment.
    • Employer must obtain approval of any applicable collective bargaining unit representative.
    • Employers participating in Work Share cannot modify employees fringe benefits.

     

How It Works

  • How It Works

    With the Work Share program, a worker receives a reduced salary from an employer, but is given a percentage of their state unemployment benefits The reduction in work hours must result in an equivalent reduction in wages.

    Example: If a worker’s weekly wages are $1,000, yet the employer needs to reduce their salary/hours by 30%. Under Work Share, their weekly salary would be $700 ($1,000 – 30% = $700). Plus 30% of their state unemployment benefits ($362 maximum x .30 = $108).

    As businesses are reopened, Work Share can help employers bring back their employees from unemployment faster and allows employers to retain their workforce and avoid layoffs.

  • Retaining Employees Example
  • Restarting Business Example

Employer Webinars

  • Employers – Learn More About the Work Share program

    These informative webinars are for employers interested in the Work Share program, a program that allows businesses to restart their business and bring employees back from unemployment. Employers can bring employees back with reduced hours, while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. The presentation is about 35 minutes. If you have questions after viewing the recorded webinar, please join an employer Q & A session to have your questions answered by a Work Share team member.

    Work Share Webinar

    Full Employer Webinar Presentation (Power Point presentation)

    Work Share Toolkit

    Employer Q & A Sessions​​​​

Application Process

Things to Know for Employers Experiencing a Temporary Shutdown

  • Things to know for Work Share employers experiencing a temporary shutdown

    • A Work Share employer must terminate a Work Share plan if one or more employees are laid-off on a plan. 
    • A Work Share employer under a temporary shutdown must terminate the Work Share Plan.
    • A Work Share employer must terminate the claimant(s) Work Share Plan during the weeks the claimant(s) are laid-off.
    • Once the employer’s operations resume, the employer can create a new Work Share Plan.

Work Share FAQ