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Work-Share Program for Employers

Benefits  |  Eligibility  |  Apply  |  Steps  |  Examples  |  Questions

 Benefits

The Work-Share program benefits employers and employees. Here are some ways employers benefit from the program:

icon of person with circular arrows
Retain Talent
Keep trained, knowledgeable staff during times of reduced business activity.

icon of money and chart
Reduce Overhead
Avoid the time and costs of recruiting and training new staff by retaining your workforce.

icon of hands clapping
Maintain Morale
Show your employees that they are valued and respected.

 Eligibility

Work-Share plans need to:

    Icon with Green Checkmark  be initiated by employers;

    Icon with Green Checkmark  reduce hours for two or more employees;

    • participating employees do not need to be in the same work unit or location.

    Icon with Green Checkmark  reduce employee's hours between 10% and 60% of the normal hours per week;

    Icon with Green Checkmark  cover regularly employed full-time, part-time, salaried, or exempt employees;

    Icon with Green Checkmark  keep employees covered under health insurance and retirement plans; and

    Icon with Green Checkmark  explain how employees will be notified of changes in their work schedules in advance.

    • if it is not feasible to give advance notice, the plan must explain why it is not feasible.

Work-Share plans can't:

    Icon with Red X  include employees that have been employed for less than three months (on the effective date of the Work-Share plan);

    Icon with Red X  include seasonal, temporary, or staff employed on an intermittent basis; and

    Icon with Red X  exceed a total of 12 months in any five-year period.

NOTE: Plans must be approved by the Department of Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Division (DWD-UI) and can be cancelled by DWD-UI if the employer deviates from the plan.

 Apply

To apply for a Work-Share plan, review the Application Cover Sheet then complete the Plan Application Form:

Return by Secure Email:*

taxnet@dwd.wisconsin.gov

Return by Mail:

DWD-UI
Employer Service Team
P.O. Box 7942
Madison, WI 53707

Return by Fax:

(608) 267-1400

* If sending via email, you should encrypt the Work-Share Application before sending.

To encrypt the Work-Share Application in Microsoft Word, use the "Protect Document – Encrypt with Password" option from the "File" menu. If you're using an Excel file for your participant list, the process is the same, but the button will read "Protect Workbook" instead of "Protect Document".

Once you have emailed us the encrypted document, you can send us the password from a subsequent email, or over the phone to ensure the information remains protected.

 Steps for Employers


  1. Employer applies for and receives approval for the Work-Share program.

  2. Employer notifies employee of reduced hours under the approved Work-Share plan.

  3. Employee begins working reduced hours in line with the approved Work-Share plan.

  4. Employee files an initial claim to apply for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.

  5. Employee files a weekly claim, to report their wages and hours worked each week they work reduced hours.
    • Employees do not need to apply for other jobs or be available to work for another employer while on a Work-Share plan. However, employees must be available for work with the employer participating in the Work-Share program including any extra hours offered and any employer-sponsored training program.

 Examples

Tax Experience Rating Impact

UI benefits paid to employees under an approved Work-Share plan are charged to their employer's UI account the same way regular UI benefits are charged.

  Regular Employment Without Work-Share Program With Work-Share Program
(20% reduction in hours)
Employer: 10 employees at $25 per hour for a 40-hour work week:

$10,000
per week in salary
8 employees at $25 per hour for a 40-hour work week, lay off 2 employees:

$8,000
per week in salary

10 employees at $25 per hour for a 32-hour work week:

$8,000
per week in salary
Employee: Regular earnings for full-time work at $25 per hour for a 40-hour work week:

$1,000
per week

+ health insurance coverage, if covered
+ retirement benefits, if covered
Laid off, eligible for maximum UI benefits:

$0 per week from employer
+
$370 per week from UI
----------
$370
per week
Regular earnings for full-time work at $25 per hour for a 32-hour work week plus eligible for maximum UI benefits:

$800 per week from employer
+
$74 per week from UI
($370 * 0.2 = $74)
----------
$874
per week

+ health insurance coverage, if covered
+ retirement benefits, if covered

 Questions

Email the DWD-Unemployment Insurance Employer Service Team at taxnet@dwd.wisconsin.gov with any questions related to the application and application process. Email workshare@dwd.wisconsin.gov with any benefit-related questions.

Find answers to our Frequently Asked Questions below:

Expand All | Collapse All

Submit a Work-Share Application (Form UCT-17434) for a new application for a Work-Share plan or to modify a plan that has previously been approved. We recommend first reviewing our Work-Share Fact Sheet for Employers to ensure the Work-Share program is right for you.

The quickest method to submit a Work-Share Application is by email to taxnet@dwd.wisconsin.gov.* Applications can also be faxed to (608) 327-6158 or mailed to P.O. Box 7942, Madison, WI 53707.

Work-Share plans require a list of the participating employees. You can submit the required employee information in Section E, Participant List, of the Work-Share Application (Form UCT-17434) or you can submit a list of participant employees in an Excel Spreadsheet.

Note: If sending via email, you should encrypt the Work-Share Application before sending.

To encrypt the Work-Share Application in Microsoft Word, use the "Protect Document – Encrypt with Password" option from the "File" menu. If you're using an Excel file for your participant list, the process is the same, but the button will read "Protect Workbook" instead of "Protect Document".

Once you have emailed us the encrypted document, you can send us the password from a subsequent email, or over the phone to ensure the information remains protected.

Work-Share plans become effective the Sunday after approval by the department or the later date indicated on the application. Work-Share applications are prioritized and generally processed within one week, but processing time is dependent upon the amount of applications being submitted and whether additional or clarifying information is needed.

Yes, Work-Share plans can be extended but cannot exceed a total of 12 months in any five-year period.

Email taxnet@dwd.wisconsin.gov the following information:

  • Work-Share plan number;
  • UI account number;
  • Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN); and
  • Desired termination date
    • The earliest a Work-Share plan can be terminated is the second Sunday after your termination is submitted.

A legal business entity can only have one plan in place for a total of 12 months (52 weeks) in a revolving five-year period. Modifications can be submitted as long as there are still Work-Share weeks available.

Any non-temporary and/or non-seasonal employee employed with you for at least three months prior to the start date of the plan and will have their work hours and pay reduced between 10% and 60% of their normal weekly work schedule (not including any hours over 40 hours in a week). This includes salary and exempt employees as long as their reductions also meet these conditions.

A Work-Share plan can include employer-sponsored training to enhance job skills. Employees may participate in training funded under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) without affecting availability for work, subject to the approval of the department.

Your employees will file for UI benefits online at: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/apply. Once your application is approved, your covered employees' claims will be part of the Work-Share program.

UI benefit payments are based on what the claimant reports on their weekly claims. To verify that information, you will be sent a Wage Verification/Eligibility Report (Form UCB-23) for each employee. If there are discrepancies, or eligibility issues, the forms should be completed and submitted electronically through SIDES, mailed, or faxed to the department by the deadline.

After your application has been processed, email workshare@dwd.wisconsin.gov with all benefit-related questions.

Your employees can call the Help Center at (414) 435-7069 or toll-free (844) 910-3661 during business hours.