Work Sharing Information for Employees FAQs

You can participate in the Work Sharing Program if the following eligibility requirements are met:

• Be regularly employed by an employer whose Work Sharing Plan Application has been approved by the EDD.
• Be a part of your employer’s permanent regular workforce and not a leased, intermittent, temporary, or seasonal employee.
• Have qualifying wages in the base quarters used to establish a regular California Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim.
• Your reduction in hours and wages must be at least 10 percent and no more than 60 percent.
• Have completed a normal work week (with no hour or wage reductions) before participating in Work Sharing.

Your employer will notify you if they have been approved for a Work Sharing plan that allows you to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit payments. Contact your employer for questions related to your Work Sharing benefits.

Work Sharing is an Unemployment Insurance program paid for by your employer, at no cost to you.

You must meet the following requirements for each Work Sharing week:

• Have a valid Unemployment Insurance claim.
• Your reduction in hours and wages must be at least 10 percent and no more than 60 percent.
• Must be available for all work provided by your employer.
• Accept all work made available by your employer.

Your employer will provide you the Work Sharing claim forms. Employers must complete their section first, then you can complete and submit the form.

Work Sharing claim forms can be submitted by mail or online depending on your employer’s preference. If your claim forms are submitted online, you will receive an email notification when the form is available.

You can get Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit payment information using UI Online or by calling the UI Self-Service Line at 1-866-333-4606.

Contact the Work Sharing Office at 1-916-464-3300 for more information.

You will receive a Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Award (DE 429Z) (PDF) after your Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance claim is filed. It will provide your weekly benefit amount and you will receive a percentage of that amount based on your reduced hours and wages for each week. Your weekly benefit amount could range from $40 to $450.

Unemployment Insurance benefit payments are issued by debit card or check. The debit card is the fastest and most secure way to receive your benefits. You can get more information about the debit card by visiting EDD Debit Card.  

Yes, like regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) customers, Work Sharing participants must serve a one-week unpaid waiting period. The waiting period is usually the first eligible week claimed after the Work Sharing UI claim is filed.

Contact the EDD Work Sharing Office at 1-916-464-3300 to change your Work Sharing claim to a regular Unemployment Insurance claim.

Either you or your employer can submit your Work Sharing claim forms. Work Sharing claim forms can be submitted by mail or online, depending on your employer’s preference.  If your claim forms are submitted online, you will receive an email notification when the form is available. Forms sent by mail must be postmarked within 14 days of when the form was issued.

Your benefits may be affected if you miss work and the absence is not approved, or if you are not available for all work offered by your employer.

Yes. However, any earnings from an employer, other than your Work Sharing employer, may reduce the amount of Unemployment Insurance benefits you will receive.

If you no longer want to participate in Work Sharing, simply stop submitting certifications.

You may cancel a claim if no payment has been made. Refer to A Guide to Benefits and Employment Services (DE 1275A) (PDF) for information on cancelling a claim.

Yes. You have the option to withhold 15 percent for federal taxes.

Visit Unemployment Insurance Appeals for information on how to appeal the EDD’s decision.

If you have questions about why you were denied Unemployment Insurance benefits, contact the Work Sharing office at 1-916-464-3300.

If you worked the holiday last year and in the same position before the employer was approved for the Work Sharing program, you may be able to use the holiday as a Work Sharing day. Otherwise, holidays typically cannot be used as a Work Sharing day.