There are alternatives to a layoff available under state unemployment insurance programs that employers may want to consider to preserve their workforce and help workers keep their jobs during this economic downturn.

Employers in Berks County, PA are offering reduced work weeks with great success. In fact, all states offer partial benefits for reduced hours, although the extent of benefits will vary by state. This option provides continued employment to the employee who can supplement their income through partial benefits.

Another alternative relates to worksharing programs. A recent New York Times article talks about this program highlighting that "many executives and economists hail it for keeping workers employed and companies staffed with skilled labor" while stating that "only a fraction of the businesses and workers that are actually eligible are benefiting."

Worksharing is only available in 18 states; Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington.

Requirements for both programs vary by state, so be sure to review requirements on your state’s website before opting for either option.

What I find interesting is that we hear a lot of talk about costly job creation programs (the White House just issued their Roadmap to Recovery which outlines specific job creation measures and state governors including Missouri’s Gov. Nixon are talking about job creation in each of their individual states), but very little about what can be done to save jobs using programs that already exist, are less costly to taxpayers and are underutilized.

Tammy Mullin