LANSING – Legislation that would give businesses the option to keep their employees rather than be forced to lay them off in the event of a downturn cleared the Senate unanimously on Wednesday.

SB 1094 , sponsored by Sen. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale), would be applicable to employers with two or more employees and permits them to reduce the hours the affected employees normally has while permitting them to receive reduced unemployment benefits to somewhat make up for their losses otherwise. The unemployment benefits acquired during such a time period would not count toward future unemployment benefit collections should that employee be laid off at another time, either.

The concept was proposed by Governor Rick Snyder during a special message in November regarding recruiting and retaining talent in the state. Caswell has previously said that the bill would provide an excellent way for companies to keep their skilled workers and not lose them to another job or another state.

Caswell said there may be more technical changes because of the ever-changing federal laws but that the heart of the bill would not change.

The only discussion came from Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield), who attempted to tack on an amendment to re-instate the number of weeks of unemployment from the state an employee can receive to 26 weeks. Current statute permits only 20 weeks, a result of a cost-cutting bill that passed last March in the Legislature.

Caswell dismissed the amendment, saying that it would rebuild the debt the measure has been able to cut even in a year’s time. He added that the intent of his bill was not to extend unemployment but rather to build and maintain a skilled workforce.

Sen. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights) was the sole member of the majority to vote alongside Senate Democrats on the amendment, but it was defeated 13-24 along party lines otherwise.

But Gregory stood up again prior to voting on final passage of the bill and rose in support of its content despite losing his amendment.

“What matters is that the Senate is taking action provide help for Michigan’s workers to get by,” he said of the bill. “This is a win-win for employees and companies. Work-sharing has proven an effective tool in other states and in keeping payroll in line during a downturn.”

A similar bill (SB 1106 ), also sponsored by Caswell, also cleared the Senate 36-0. Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville) abstained from a vote and Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) was absent for session Wednesday. Hansen was also counted as an excused vote on SB 1094.

SB 1106 would allow some small businesses that currently pay full unemployment benefits to extend the length of time for which those benefits can be collected from 7 weeks to 20 weeks.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

a>>