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Michigan

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on June 22, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Michigan, we recommend that you visit the state’s COVID-19 Resources website or the Michigan Economic Development Corporation

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Description of Program and Relief

Work Share Program for Employers

Work Share permits employers to maintain operational productivity during declines in regular business activity. Instead of laying off workers, eligible employers can keep employees working with reduced hours, while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. A Work Share plan can last up to 52 consecutive weeks.

Pursuant to Executive Order 2020-76, strict compliance with several requirements under the Employment Security Act are temporarily suspended to allow:

    • a shared-work plan to be approved whether or not it includes as a participating employee an employee who has been employed in the affected unit for less than three months before the date the employer applies for approval of the shared-work plan

      • an application for a shared-work plan to be approved without the employer’s certification that implementation is in lieu of layoffs that would affect at least 15% of the employees in the affected unit and would result in an equivalent reduction in workers, provided that the application must contain a certification that it is in lieu of layoffs that would affect at least 10% of the employees and result in an equivalent reduction in work hours

        • the reduction percentage of a shared-work plan 4 to be less than 15% and more than 45%, provided that it shall be no less than 10% and no more than 60%

        Government or Lead Agency

        Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

        Dates Available

        Ongoing during the declared states of emergency and disaster

        Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

        To participate in Work Share, (i) all employees in the affected unit must participate in the plan and (ii) a plan must include a minimum of two employees.

        Part-time employees are eligible but Work Share does not apply to seasonal, temporary, or intermittent employees. Employers participating in Work Share cannot modify employees fringe benefits.

        Additional eligibility requirements and restrictions can be found here.

        Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

        N/A

        Applications can be accessed here.

        Contact for More Information

        Phone Number: 844-967-5747

        Office of Employer Ombudsman: 855-484-2636

        List of Additional Information

        For additional information, please visit here.


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