A bill to allow unemployed part time workers to collect Unemployment Insurance has passed the State Senate.
If the measure becomes law, New Hampshire will join a growing number of states recognizing the increased role part-timers play in the nations economy.
NHPR's Todd Szahun has this report.
AS HOUSE BILL 589 NEARS FINAL PASSAGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE MAY SOON JOIN 24 OTHER STATES IN ADOPTING A POLICY ALLOWING PART-TIME LAID OFF WORKERS TO COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
17% OF THE NATIONS WORKFORCE IS NOW CONSIDERED PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, THAT FIGURE HAS NEARLY TRIPLED SINCE THE 1950�s
THE BILL�S SPONSORS INITIALLY DESIGNED THE MEASURE TO PROTECT ALL PART TIME EMPLOYEES.
BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE SINCE AMENDED IT TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO QUALIFY..
NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR KATHERINE WHEELER
�we�ve been working on this issue for a long time to recognize the increase in the number of part time workers. Employers pay benefits for their part time workers. But right now those workers if they are laid off or fired without good cause, they are unable to collect those benefits. It was widely supported and understood that we needed to include some part time workers in these unemployment benefits.�
TO QUALIFY UNDER THE AMMENDED LEGISLATION, INDIVIDUALS MAY ONLY BE WORKING PART TIME ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE CARING FOR A CHILD AT HOME OR A SICK FAMILY MEMBER.
THE BILL HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM SOME WHO BELIEVE THAT THE ELIGILIBITY REQUIREMENTS ARE TOO STRICT.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AFL/CIO PRESIDENT MARK MACKENZIE
�if you�re going to have part-time workers, if you need them in the work force, they�re an important part of the work force. When you don�t need them and you lay them off and this is all these people want to work and all they can work, then why not provide them the benefits until they gat back in a part time job again. But that�s not what the state of New Hampshire wants to do.�
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE UNEMPLOYMENT FUND CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 300 MILLION DOLLARS AND THE PROJECTED COST OF THIS LEGISLATION IS ESTIMATED AT 2 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.
STILL JOAN LAPLANTE WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE�S NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS WORRIES THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT FUND WILL BE DRAWN DOWN
�eventually the fund is going to be drawn down and it may come to the position where legislators will then look towards the business community to get more money to replenish the fund and that�s what we�re concerned about because these small employers really can�t afford to continually be tapped for more and more money.�
WHILE THE NUMBER OF PART TIME WORKERS IN GENERAL HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE DECADES, ONE PORTION OF THE POPULATION IS PARTICULARLY AFFECTED��WOMEN MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY OF PART TIME EMPLOYEES.
ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUE ECONOMIST JEFFREY WENGER
�I think that this is a trend that more and more states will get on line with very soon. More states are having a recognition that they�ve in essence disproportionately excluded women from the program. And, having that realization and realizing that those earnings are important in terms of family makes this a much more popular policy than it was say 25 years ago.�
HOUSE BILL 589 NOW GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR A FINAL VOTE AND IS EXPECTED TO PASS WITH BYPARTISAN SUPPORT. IF IT GETS TO THE GOVERNORS DESK SHE IS EXPECTED TO SIGN IT.
FOR NHPR NEWS I�M TODD SZAHUN
