What's happening
This bill requires the New York Department of Labor to annually inform employers about shared work program eligibility and benefits, and to report outreach efforts.
Why it matters
Increases employer awareness of alternatives to layoffs. By requiring the Department of Labor to inform employers about shared work programs, the bill aims to help businesses consider options that allow them to reduce employee hours instead of resorting to layoffs during downturns.
Supports job retention and workforce stability. More accessible information and outreach about shared work programs could enable employers to keep more employees on the payroll, preserving jobs and potentially reducing unemployment claims.
Promotes accountability and program improvement. The bill’s annual reporting requirement ensures that outreach efforts are tracked and assessed, making it easier for lawmakers and the public to evaluate whether the shared work program is reaching its intended audience and having a positive impact.
Encourages proactive engagement with employers. By mandating both digital and in-person outreach, as well as application assistance, the bill seeks to remove barriers and make it easier for employers—especially small businesses—to participate in shared work programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Inform Employers of Shared Work
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9056
IN SENATE
October 19, 2020
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring the department of labor to provide information to employers about shared work program eligibility and benefits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 602-a to read as follows:
§ 602-a. Outreach. 1. The commissioner shall have the obligation and duty of providing informational materials regarding shared work program eligibility. Such materials shall be made available on the department's website and provided to each employer within the state annually through such means as the commissioner deems appropriate.
2. The department shall conduct outreach to employers within the state for purposes of providing information regarding the benefits of shared work programs, including by remote and in-person information sessions, correspondence, assistance in completing an application for approval of a shared work program, and such other means as the commissioner may deem appropriate.
3. The department shall report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on any and all outreach efforts made pursuant to this section on an annual basis beginning one year after the effective date of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD17441-03-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring the department of labor to provide information to employers about shared work program eligibility and benefits
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require the department of labor to (1) make informational materials regarding the shared work program available on its website, (2) provide such materials annually to all employers in the state, (3) conduct outreach to employers throughout the state regarding shared work programs, and (4) report annually to the legislature on such efforts.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 requires that the department of labor provide information on its website regarding eligibility for the shared work program, annually disseminate such information to all employers in the state, and conduct continual outreach to employers through information sessions, corre- spondence, and other means regarding the benefits of shared work. This section also requires that the department of labor provide annual updates to the governor and the legislature on such outreach efforts.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
When faced with financial troubles, businesses must make difficult deci- sions about how to remain afloat, and often struggle with whether to lay off workers. However, New York State's shared work unemployment assist- ance provides a way to mitigate the myriad difficulties of layoffs for both businesses and their workers. If, instead of laying off workers, a business chooses to make a broad hour reduction among a number of work- ers, New York State provides partial unemployment insurance assistance for those workers.This option allows employers who are facing difficult circumstances to avoid layoffs and maintain their human capital while still reducing expenses and, through state assistance, reducing the financial impact on workers' reduced hours.
Shared work programs are especially valuable during significant economic downturns, such as the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, because they provide a defense against large-scale layoffs that further exacer- bate financial difficulties. However, shared work has seen relatively little uptake despite historic layoffs in the wake of COVID-19, due in part to lack of awareness that the option exists. This bill will help ensure broader knowledge of the program, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the Department of Labor already publicly provides some information regarding shared work, this bill will ensure the Department institution- alizes concrete, affirmative steps to advertise the availability of shared work programs, resulting in fewer layoffs and greater continuity of human capital for businesses throughout, and after, periods of fiscal instability.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.