Virginia Establishes Shared-Work Program

Virginia employers are to implement shared-work plans starting Jan. 1, 2021.

The Virginia Employment Commission is to establish a shared-work program, under a measure (SB 548) that was enacted by the state legislature April 22 after adopting recommendations from Gov. Ralph Northam (D). Employers that participate in the program are to be able to reduce employee hours while employees receive wage-replacement benefits.

Qualifying plans must reduce hours by at least 10% and up to 60%. An employee’s weekly benefit amount is to be the amount of unemployment compensation the employee would have received if fully unemployed multiplied by ...