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TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Fred Madden (D-Gloucester, Camden) that would permit an employer of at least 10 full-time, non-seasonal employees to provide a shared work program was signed into law today.

“While nationally we are seeing progress in terms of reducing the unemployment rate, unfortunately we are seeing little change here in New Jersey,” said Madden, chair of the Senate Labor Committee. “That is why it is crucial we take steps that will keep small businesses from having to lay off workers. This bill will do just that, by providing them a better option while at the same time preventing them from having to spend money they don’t have.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden that would permit employers to offer unemployment benefits to employees whose weekly hours have been cut by at least 10 percent was approved today by the Senate Labor Committee by a vote of 5 to 1.

“We are living in tough economic times, and for hourly employees, even a slight change in the number of hours they work each week can pose a significant financial hardship,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who chairs the Senate Labor Panel. “Through this bill, we would be giving employers an alternative to laying-off employees. Employers would be able to provide ‘short-time’ unemployment benefits for workers whose hours have been cut, to help these employees make ends meet. This is a great program, and it would greatly benefit some of New Jersey’s hardest-working men and women.”