PENNSYLVANIA: Payroll law update, July-Dec. 2011

Unemployment insurance. Through 2016, in lieu of laying off at least 10% of employees in one business unit, positive-account employers that have paid wages for 12 consecutive calendar quarters may institute work-sharing plans. Shared-work plans may last for up to 52 weeks. Employees who participate in a shared-work plan may have their hours of work reduced between 20% and 40%. Employees’ benefits must continue for the duration of the shared-work plan. Employees are eligible for shared-work unemployment benefits. Every two weeks, shared-work employers must file benefit claims on their behalf. Shared-work benefits are charged to em­­ployers’ accounts. (Act 6, L. 2011)