In 1984, the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation establishing the Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program. Work Sharing is a voluntary program that provides an alternative to layoffs for employers faced with a temporary, non-cyclical decline in business due to lower economic activity. The program is designed to avoid layoffs by preserving jobs for current employees and to assist businesses that have already undertaken layoffs to reopen and resume operations gradually. Employers who participate in Work Sharing can retain employees by temporarily reducing the hours of work, within a range of 20% to 50%, among employees within the affected unit(s). The employees with reduced work hours receive partial unemployment insurance benefits to supplement lost wages. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, Work Sharing can mitigate or prevent the adverse effects of the current economic crisis by keeping businesses connected to their employees, and ensuring employees continue to receive compensation. Work Sharing can also serve as a means of bringing most or all of a temporarily laid off workforce back to the job, even if social-distancing measures, a decline in business or other factors prevent operating at full staffing levels immediately. Join us for a webinar on Thursday, August 13th from 10-11am to learn more about this critical program. We will be joined by representatives from the Maryland Department of Labor, Governor’s Workforce Development Board and employers utilizing the program who will provide us with an overview on both employer and employee benefits, requirements, and next steps for participation. Presented by: Bryan Moore, deputy assistant secretary, division of unemployment insurance, Maryland Department of Labor Mike DiGiacomo, executive director, Governor’s Workforce Development Board, Maryland Department of Labor Molly Mesnard, director of workforce engagement, Governor’s Workforce Development Board, Maryland Department of Labor Phil Tulkoff, president, Tulkoff Food Products, Inc.