US Department of Labor award of $382K grant will promote, enhance Maine Department of Labor’s Short-Time Compensation program

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award a $382,579 grant to the Maine Department of Labor to promote and enhance its Short-Time Compensation program. STC is an unemployment program that allows entire groups of workers to receive partial unemployment benefit payments while their employer reduce their hours to avoid layoffs.

The Maine Department of Labor will use the grant, administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, to educate employers about “Workshare,” its STC program.

“This grant will help keep people in Maine working and provide them partial benefits at this crucial point in the nation’s recovery by informing employers about Short-Time Compensation as a useful alternative to layoffs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Suzi Levine. “Promoting Short-Time Compensation is an important component in supporting Maine’s economy.”

The Maine Department of Labor will use the grant funds to raise awareness of the state’s STC program and its benefits, increase participation and streamline reporting by participating employers and workers’ to the state’s Bureau of Unemployment Compensation.

The grant, funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020, is part of up to $100 million in funding available to states for the implementation or improved administration of a Short-Time Compensation program. In addition, states may use funds to promote the program and enroll employers.

Learn more about STC and find out if your state has a STC program.