By
Jay BassettBusiness retention is a major component of community development. States generally have economic development agencies often tasked with recruiting new employers to locations with larger populations.
However, there may be limited resources available to assist smaller, established employers in rural areas. State workforce development agencies may offer options to avert or delay business layoffs or closures, including subsidies for incumbent worker training. Eligible business owners may not be aware of the resources which may be available to them via their state workforce development agencies.
The Shared Work Unemployment Compensation, Workshare or Job Sharing Program provides an alternative for employers faced with a reduction in workforce. It allows an employer to temporarily reduce employees’ hours and divide available work, or hours of work, among specific groups of employees in lieu of layoffs. It allows the employees to receive a portion of their unemployment benefits while working reduced hours to partially replace their lost wages.
To qualify for benefits under the Shared Work (SW) Program, employees must be regularly employed by an employer whose plan to stabilize the workforce has been approved in advance by the state administrator of the program or an authorized representative.
Workshare programs benefit businesses, workers and states. Businesses retain their trained workforce for easy recall to full-time work when economic conditions improve. Workers keep their jobs instead of being laid off.
While not fully replacing the lost wages, the unemployment benefit supplements a worker’s income until they are recalled to full-time work. States save money by paying only partial unemployment claims, instead of paying full benefits to laid-off workers.
WOTC is a federal tax credit that encourages employers to hire workers from targeted groups. The tax credit is designed to help job seekers gain on-the-job experience and move towards economic self-sufficiency, as well as help employers reduce their federal income tax liability. Currently, the maximum tax credit ranges from $1,200 to $9,600, depending on the employee hired.
The employer must hire from among the following groups of job seekers to qualify for the WOTC (subject to verification and compliance with additional eligibility criteria).
State workforce development agencies may administer Trust Fund or Incumbent Worker Training Programs providing innovative training support opportunities for qualified employers. The funds may be used to support employers in their efforts to provide training for prospective, new and incumbent workers. These monies may be used to help fill certain gaps in skills development training that may be otherwise unavailable.
State workforce development agencies may assist with coordinating job fairs on behalf of specific employers and may also assist with recruiting, interviewing and vetting potential job candidates.
State workforce development agencies may be able to assist with liquidation of surplus equipment or supplies to generate needed cash. There may also be the possibility of renegotiating rents at municipally-owned facilities or negotiating reduced utility rates or deferred payment schedules.
For additional information on any of these programs, your state’s workforce development agency should be able to serve as a resource.