State Senate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Contact: Senator Maggie Hassan (603) 271-4153
SENATE EXPANDS UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR PART-TIMERS
CONCORD - The Senate voted today in favor of an update to the rules for unemployment compensation to take into account the growth in part-time workers. Senate Bill 502 now heads to the Senate Finance Committee.
The bill expands on existing rules that allow part-time workers with family care-taking responsibilities to qualify for benefits when they're laid off. Currently, most part-time workers cannot qualify for unemployment benefits unless they say they are looking for a full-time job.
"This bill is long overdue and reflects the modern economy in which many families rely on part-time jobs - sometime multiple part-time jobs - to support their households," said Senator Maggie Hassan, (D-Exeter) prime sponsor of Senate Bill 502.
The bill allows anyone working 20 hours a week who is laid off and is seeking another part-time job to be eligible for benefits. Employers already pay into the unemployment compensation system regardless of whether their workers are full-time or part-time.
Department of Employment Security Commissioner Richard Brothers supports the legislation. He said part-time workers typically find jobs twice as fast as those seeking full-time work. The legislation is not expected to have a significant impact on the unemployment trust fund.
New Hampshire will join 23 other states in providing some benefits to part-time workers who are laid off. The number of part-time jobs has been growing as employers seek to lower costs and develop a more flexible workforce. Workers over age 65 are three times more likely to have a part-time job than other working adults and 72 percent of part-time workers are women.
"It's time to recognize the importance of part-time workers to our employers and our economy," Hassan said.
The changes come at a time when the federal government is considering financial incentives for states that modernize their unemployment compensation rules in this and other ways. If this legislation is signed into law, New Hampshire will be positioned to benefit from any incentive payments approved by Congress and the President.
-30-