Advocates making new push for Indiana work-share program

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Advocates for starting a statewide program allowing workers to receive partial unemployment benefits say they will make a new push for legislative approval of the work-share proposal.

Such work-sharing programs are already in place in nearly 30 other states, where businesses reach agreements with the state to reduce their employees’ hours as an alternative to laying them off completely.

Similar proposals failed to advance during Indiana’s past two legislative sessions.

Republican Representative David Ober of Albion tells the Indianapolis Business Journal that he’ll sponsor a bill creating an Indiana work-share program during the upcoming 2016 session. He says the program allows companies to hold onto workers during economic downturns.

Governor Mike Pence’s spokeswoman says he’s had concerns about potential fraud and the program’s cost.