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Meet the
Shared Work
Program

Employers of all sizes have an alternative to
layoffs: the Shared Work Program from the
Kansas Department of Labor.






four hand drawn people with various ethnicities pictured in white shirts with gears over their heads

The Shared Work Program is designed to help both employers and employees.
Shared Work can help employers:
  • avoid layoffs.
  • keep valued employees.
  • recover fast when business improves.
  • adjust as business changes.

Shared Work can help employees:
  • keep their current job.
  • avoid a financial crisis.
  • keep benefits such as health insurance.

Under the program, employers reduce the total number of hours that employees work. Employees can then receive partial unemployment benefits for the number of hours their workweek was reduced.



Questions?

Read the FAQs for employers, employees and program administrators, or start with Amelia, our always-on chatbot.

You can also email us at KDOL.SharedWork@ks.gov
or contact us by phone at (785) 291-6132 or by fax at (785) 296-1858.

or by mail at:
Kansas Department of Labor - Shared Work Program
401 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66603-3182

hand drawn man stands in front of building, blue background

Business eligibility requirements

To participate in the Shared Work Program, an employer must:
  • have reduced the normal weekly work hours and corresponding wages by at least 20% but no more than 40%.
  • have a reduction that affects a business unit of two or more employees.
  • apply the plan for reduced hours to at least 10% of the employees in the affected unit.
  • have established an experience rating.
  • not have a negative balance in their unemployment tax account or be delinquent on the unemployment tax reports or payments.



five hand drawn people of different ethnic backgrounds in separate blue circles

Employees have to meet a few conditions, as well, to qualify for Shared Work benefits. They must:
  • be able to work and available for full-time work with the participating employer.
  • be eligible for regular unemployment benefits in the state of Kansas.
  • accept all work offered by the participating employer for the claim period filed.
  • not work more than the reduced hours specified in the plan.
  • have valid authorization to work in the United States, if not a U.S. citizen.
  • report to their employer any hours worked with other employment.
  • work at least 8 hours in a week.

The Shared Work Program does not cover seasonal employers. An employee will be considered seasonal if they typically work for a period of six months or less and the period of employment begins in approximately the same part of the year (e.g, summer, winter, or holiday season) - regardless of how many hours the employee is expected to work each week.



How to apply
 
1


Download the one-page form

2


Complete it digitally

3


Attach the completed digital form to an email that also contains the requested details about affected employees

4


Send the completed digital form and employee list to KDOL.SharedWork@ks.gov



Employers may also print and mail the form and employee list to:

Kansas Department of Labor - Shared Work Program
401 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66603-3182

After the application is received, a decision will be made within 10 business days.

Putting Shared Work into action

The employer manages the Shared Work Program, which means they will need to submit weekly certifications and meet the terms of the program each week, in addition to other responsibilities. For more details, read the FAQs for employers, employees and program administrators.

Once approved, an employer's Shared Work plan is valid for one year from the date the application was received.

Employees who are participating in the Shared Work Program may receive benefits for up to 26 weeks.



How it works: an example

blue hand drawn building with yellow trees


A firm facing a 20% reduction in production may consider laying off one-fifth of its workforce. Instead, when faced with this situation, the company can retain its total workforce on a four-day-a-week basis. This reduction from 40 hours to 32 hours cuts production - and payroll - by the required 20 percent without reducing the number of employees.



All affected employees receive their wages based on four days of work. In addition, those employees can receive a portion of unemployment compensation benefits equal to 20% of the unemployment compensation weekly benefit amount payable had the employee been unemployed a full week.

work week calendar, monday through thursday in yellow, friday in blue; showing 4 days of work and 20% UI benefits



three hand drawn people with diverse ethnicity; 20% decrease in hours worked shows 32 hours in a standard work week


Based on a 40-hour week, the employer reduces the work schedule by 20%. The employer submits a plan for this reduction to the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and is approved under the Shared Work  Program.



In this example, the employee qualifies for regular unemployment compensation with a weekly benefit amount (WBA) of $488 (actual WBA will vary based on employee).

          20% of 40-hour work week = 8 hours
          Employee works and earns wages for 32 hours
          20% x $488 WBA = $97

This employee would receive $97 in unemployment benefits in addition to the 32 hours of wages earned during the week.

Each week, the employer makes sure that they are meeting the Shared Work program requirements and submits a certification form to KDOL verifying who is affected.




hands holding check from KDOL, blue background,





Additional program details
Read the FAQs for employers, employees and program administrators, or start with Amelia, our always-on chatbot.

You can also email us at KDOL.SharedWork@ks.gov
or contact us by phone at (785) 291-6132
by fax at (785) 296-1858

or by mail at:
Kansas Department of Labor - Shared Work Program
401 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66603-3182

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