CHARLESTON, W.Va. - During interim legislative meetings this week, state lawmakers will look at voluntary work-sharing. Instead of laying off employees when they need to cut costs, employers could collaborate with the unemployment-insurance system to keep people working at reduced hours.

Sean O'Leary, a policy analyst with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, says that right now, a worker loses his job and collects unemployment. But he says under work-sharing, companies could cut back hours instead of workers, with unemployment making up part of the lost pay.

"They've got ten workers, they can lay off two. Or they can have all their employees work four days a week, and they'd collect unemployment benefits on the fifth day."

A draft bill was put on the agenda for a committee meeting today.

O'Leary says some lawmakers have asked if work-sharing adds a new burden, for employers or the unemployment system, but the program is voluntary and only kicks in if an employer asks for it. He adds the states that now use work-sharing say it costs the same, because it's just using the same money in a different way.

"If you're paying a tenth of a benefit to ten employees or a full benefit to one employee, it's the same amount that's being paid out. So then, the same amount's being charged back to the employer."

By making the system more flexible, O'Leary says, work-sharing has been proven to help employers and the economy as a whole.

"It allows employers to keep their work force intact. It allows them to keep employees that they value: they don't risk losing them. They're ready to ramp production right back up once the economy's going. And that allows for shorter recessions and quicker recoveries."

He says it's also good for workers, because they don't lose their skills, work habits or motivation after long stretches of unemployment.

"They're typically on work-sharing for a shorter amount of time than they are on unemployment benefits. They don't lose their job; they don't become detached from the work force."

About half the states have voluntary work-sharing programs now.

More information is at goo.gl/eHZxm.

Joint House/Senate Committee meets at 10 a.m. Mon. in the House Judiciary Committee Room (410-m) at State Capitol Bldg., 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.




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SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Strikes that erupted in what became known as "Striketober" aren't over yet. After a two-day strike in October, health-care workers at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield have walked out again to push management to finish up contract negotiations.

More than 300 health-care workers and members of Service Employees International Union Local 49 are striking this week through Friday for better pay and protections on the job.

Aaron Green, certified nursing assistant (CNA) at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center and a member of SEIU Local 49, spoke from the picket line about pay during the pandemic.

"Wages over the last two years have increased substantially across the state, but McKenzie hasn't kept up," Green argued. "And it really shone a light on how important affordable health care is for health-care workers."

A spokesperson for McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center said representatives from the hospital have met extensively with SEIU members, but members turned down its proposal to increase wages, leading to this week's walkout. It said hospital operations will continue uninterrupted.

Green pointed out the lack of job competitiveness has consequences. He noted the hospital has hired new people who have only stuck around for one or two months.

"Then they turn around and leave to another facility that is providing better pay and better health care," Green observed. "Which then leaves our patients feeling that, because there's less of us to do the same amount of work, so we're doing the work of two or three people."

Rachel Gordon, also a CNA at the hospital and union member, said workers want more COVID-19 protections. She also believes the hospital's proposed increase to health-care costs is unaffordable.

"I mean, I would rather be at work, inside this building here, versus being outside," Gordon stated. "So, there's a problem inside if we're outside."

SEIU Local 49 members at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center were among the first to go on strike in October, when thousands of workers across the nation also walked out for better conditions on the job.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Like most of the nation, Wisconsin does not have a statewide paid parental leave policy, but in Milwaukee, a three-month paid parental leave policy is being proposed for city government employees.

The City of Milwaukee does not currently offer paid parental leave for its workers.

Marina Dimitrijevic, a Milwaukee alder currently running for mayor, said if adopted, her proposal would provide long-term benefits for children.

"When they're at home, the babies with their family members, we know breastfeeding rates increase, infant mortality can decrease, the bonding increases, and it's the best start possible," Dimitrijevic outlined.

The proposal comes as federal lawmakers debate a similar measure in the Build Back Better framework. In recent weeks, the provision has been slashed from three months of paid leave to one.

A 2018 report from the Partnership for Women and Families found a national paid parental-leave policy of three months would result in at least 600 fewer infant deaths annually.

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, only nine states and the District of Columbia have adopted statewide parental-leave policies.

Dimitrijevic pointed out her proposal could make Milwaukee's one of the most generous such programs in Wisconsin.

"We know there's employee and labor shortages across the nation, "Dimitrijevic observed. "I think this will make a great place for talent and recruitment, and diversity and inclusion."

Jennifer Morales, network learning accelerator for Family Values at Work, said activists have been pushing to expand paid parental leave in the state for decades. She noted Wisconsin was a leader in establishing unpaid parental leave in the 1990s.

"Families need this," Morales contended. "We need this for our health, we need this for our economic stability and to end poverty, and so many great benefits for families."

The three-month proposal was introduced to Milwaukee's City Council last month. It is making its way through the committee process, and is expected to be before the city's Finance Committee in January.

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- If South Dakota wants to turn out a thriving economy, quality affordable child care needs to be a vital component, according to a new report, which lays out how the issue affects families and their budgets.

Findings from KIDS COUNT South Dakota show most households around the state spend between $7,000 and $10,000 dollars each year for infant care from licensed providers.

Xanna Burg, KIDS COUNT coordinator for South Dakota, said it is almost as much as in-state tuition at the University of South Dakota. She argued in order for parents to stay in the workforce, they need care options better suited to their finances.

"When parents have a safe and reliable place for their children to receive care, those parents can then show up to work at the thousands of businesses across the state," Burg explained.

She pointed out child-care expenses take up even larger chunks of income for families of color in South Dakota. The report added child-care workers are often paid poverty-level wages, making it harder for centers to stay open due to turnover.

Among the recommendations are grants to expand existing facilities or build new ones. In her budget address this week, Gov. Kristi Noem proposed spending $100 million in child-care programs.

But Burg contended the state needs to embrace a number of long-term solutions to ensure care infrastructure is in place for all families. She believes it cannot happen if policymakers fail to provide more direct funding to boost wages and offer bonuses.

"A child-care worker in South Dakota making the median wage, which is $10.39 an hour, to do the essential work of caring for our children," Burg stressed.

According to KIDS COUNT, state investments make up only 2% of the estimated cost to provide child care. Gov. Noem also proposed scholarships to train skilled child-care workers in her budget plans, matching a recommendation in the report. It is unclear whether state lawmakers will adopt the suggestions.