Work Sharing Program
Source: https://www.edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/work_sharing_program
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:20
Work Sharing Program
Skip to Main Content
Work Sharing Program
Cut Hours, Not Jobs
Español
Work Sharing Program
Cut Hours, Not Jobs
Español
Employers can apply for the Work Sharing program as a temporary alternative to layoffs if the business’s production or services have been reduced.
How the Program Works
The program helps employers:
Minimize or eliminate the need for layoffs in nearly all types of businesses or industries.
Keep trained employees and quickly recover when business conditions improve.
Employees whose hours and wages have been reduced can:
Receive unemployment benefits.
Keep their current job.
Minimize financial hardships.
“The Work Sharing program really helped us out during a period that construction had slowed down considerably. It worked out great for all of us—we kept a great crew and they still worked during a very slow period. It really is a good program.”
Laura Zeller, California Employer
Want to Learn More?
Employers can attend an online webinar to learn more about the program, and how to apply. Choose a 2026 date below to register for a webinar.
Thursday, June 18
Thursday, September 17
Thursday, December 10
Note:
If you're unable to attend a live webinar, you can learn more by watching our pre-recorded video:
Important Plan Details
All approved Work Sharing plans are active for one year.
Work Sharing plans always begin on Sunday. The earliest date to start a new Work Sharing plan is the Sunday before the first day you contact the EDD.
To renew your plan without a gap in coverage, you must submit an application no more than 10 days after your previous plan ends. Otherwise, your plan will start the Sunday before the day we receive your application.
Requirements
To participate, an employer’s business must meet
all
of the following requirements:
Be a legally registered business in California.
Have an active California State Employer Account Number.
A minimum of two employees
and
at least 10 percent of your regular workforce, or a department of the workforce, must be affected by a reduction in hours and wages.
Hours and wages must be reduced by 10 to 60 percent.
Health and retirement benefits must stay the same as before, or they must meet the same standards as other employees who are not participating in Work Sharing.
The employees’ bargaining unit must agree to voluntarily participate and sign the application for Work Sharing.
Affected work units to be covered by the Work Sharing plan, and each participating employee, must be identified by their legal name and Social Security number.
Employees must know in advance that you plan to take part in the Work Sharing program.
Estimated amount of layoffs to be avoided by participating in the Work Sharing program.
All necessary reports and information are provided to the EDD.
Restrictions
Leased, intermittent, seasonal, or temporary service employees cannot participate.
Corporate officers or major stockholders with investment in the company cannot participate.
Work Sharing cannot be used as a transition to a layoff.
Apply or Renew Online
Apply or renew online for faster processing and to conveniently manage your account.
Note:
You cannot apply for Work Sharing using Internet Explorer. Use Chrome for the best online experience.
Register for an Account
To access Work Sharing online, you must first register for an account, even if you already have an existing plan.
Once you have registered, log in to apply for a Work Sharing plan, submit a form, or quickly view and manage approved plans online.
If you have an existing plan, you can link it to your new online account after you log in.
Register for an Account
Already have an account?
Log in to Work Sharing
.
Apply or Renew by Mail
All employers can also apply by mail with the
Work Sharing (WS) Unemployment Insurance Plan Application
(DE 8686) (PDF)
.
You may need to download the no-cost
Adobe Reader
to view and print the application.
Contact Work Sharing
Employers
If you need additional information on the Work Sharing Program, contact the EDD Special Claims Office at 1-916-464-3343.
Employees
If you are approved by your employer to participate in the Work Sharing Program and have questions about your claim, contact the EDD Special Claims office at 1-916-464-3300.
Additional Resources
General Information
The Work Sharing Program: An Alternative to Layoffs
(YouTube)
Work Sharing Program: Alternative to Layoffs
(DE 8685) (PDF)
Work Sharing Program Toolkit
(DE 8683) (PDF)
Work Sharing Information for Employees FAQs
Work Sharing Information for Employers FAQs
Work Sharing Employer Requirements and Criteria
(DE 8686RQ) (PDF)
Work Sharing Application
(DE 8686) (PDF)
How-to Guides
A Guide For Work Sharing Employers
(DE 8684) (PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Create an Account
(PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Log in to Your Account
(PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Submit and Update Forms
(PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Link an Account
(PDF)
Skip to Virtual Chat
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منابع اللغة (Arabic)
լեզվական ռեսուրսները (Armenian)
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भाषा संसाधन (Hindi)
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Языковые ресурсы (Russian)
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Recursos en otros idiomas (Spanish)
Mga Resource ng Wika (Tagalog)
แหล่งข้อมูลด้านภาษา (Thai)
語言資源 (Traditional Chinese)
Nguồn Hỗ Trợ Ngôn Ngữ (Vietnamese)
Skip to Main Content
Work Sharing Program
Cut Hours, Not Jobs
Español
Work Sharing Program
Cut Hours, Not Jobs
Español
Employers can apply for the Work Sharing program as a temporary alternative to layoffs if the business’s production or services have been reduced.
How the Program Works
The program helps employers:
Minimize or eliminate the need for layoffs in nearly all types of businesses or industries.
Keep trained employees and quickly recover when business conditions improve.
Employees whose hours and wages have been reduced can:
Receive unemployment benefits.
Keep their current job.
Minimize financial hardships.
“The Work Sharing program really helped us out during a period that construction had slowed down considerably. It worked out great for all of us—we kept a great crew and they still worked during a very slow period. It really is a good program.”
Laura Zeller, California Employer
Want to Learn More?
Employers can attend an online webinar to learn more about the program, and how to apply. Choose a 2026 date below to register for a webinar.
Thursday, June 18
Thursday, September 17
Thursday, December 10
Note:
If you're unable to attend a live webinar, you can learn more by watching our pre-recorded video:
Important Plan Details
All approved Work Sharing plans are active for one year.
Work Sharing plans always begin on Sunday. The earliest date to start a new Work Sharing plan is the Sunday before the first day you contact the EDD.
To renew your plan without a gap in coverage, you must submit an application no more than 10 days after your previous plan ends. Otherwise, your plan will start the Sunday before the day we receive your application.
Requirements
To participate, an employer’s business must meet
all
of the following requirements:
Be a legally registered business in California.
Have an active California State Employer Account Number.
A minimum of two employees
and
at least 10 percent of your regular workforce, or a department of the workforce, must be affected by a reduction in hours and wages.
Hours and wages must be reduced by 10 to 60 percent.
Health and retirement benefits must stay the same as before, or they must meet the same standards as other employees who are not participating in Work Sharing.
The employees’ bargaining unit must agree to voluntarily participate and sign the application for Work Sharing.
Affected work units to be covered by the Work Sharing plan, and each participating employee, must be identified by their legal name and Social Security number.
Employees must know in advance that you plan to take part in the Work Sharing program.
Estimated amount of layoffs to be avoided by participating in the Work Sharing program.
All necessary reports and information are provided to the EDD.
Restrictions
Leased, intermittent, seasonal, or temporary service employees cannot participate.
Corporate officers or major stockholders with investment in the company cannot participate.
Work Sharing cannot be used as a transition to a layoff.
Apply or Renew Online
Apply or renew online for faster processing and to conveniently manage your account.
Note:
You cannot apply for Work Sharing using Internet Explorer. Use Chrome for the best online experience.
Register for an Account
To access Work Sharing online, you must first register for an account, even if you already have an existing plan.
Once you have registered, log in to apply for a Work Sharing plan, submit a form, or quickly view and manage approved plans online.
If you have an existing plan, you can link it to your new online account after you log in.
Register for an Account
Already have an account?
Log in to Work Sharing
.
Apply or Renew by Mail
All employers can also apply by mail with the
Work Sharing (WS) Unemployment Insurance Plan Application
(DE 8686) (PDF)
.
You may need to download the no-cost
Adobe Reader
to view and print the application.
Contact Work Sharing
Employers
If you need additional information on the Work Sharing Program, contact the EDD Special Claims Office at 1-916-464-3343.
Employees
If you are approved by your employer to participate in the Work Sharing Program and have questions about your claim, contact the EDD Special Claims office at 1-916-464-3300.
Additional Resources
General Information
The Work Sharing Program: An Alternative to Layoffs
(YouTube)
Work Sharing Program: Alternative to Layoffs
(DE 8685) (PDF)
Work Sharing Program Toolkit
(DE 8683) (PDF)
Work Sharing Information for Employees FAQs
Work Sharing Information for Employers FAQs
Work Sharing Employer Requirements and Criteria
(DE 8686RQ) (PDF)
Work Sharing Application
(DE 8686) (PDF)
How-to Guides
A Guide For Work Sharing Employers
(DE 8684) (PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Create an Account
(PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Log in to Your Account
(PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Submit and Update Forms
(PDF)
Work Sharing Employer: Link an Account
(PDF)
Skip to Virtual Chat
Leaving the EDD Website
You are about to leave our website.
Leave Website
Language Resources
منابع اللغة (Arabic)
լեզվական ռեսուրսները (Armenian)
منابع زبان (Farsi)
भाषा संसाधन (Hindi)
言語ソース (Japanese)
언어 자료 (Korean)
ធនធានភាសា (Mon-Khmer [Cambodian])
ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਸਰੋਤ (Punjabi)
Языковые ресурсы (Russian)
语言资源 (Simplified Chinese)
Recursos en otros idiomas (Spanish)
Mga Resource ng Wika (Tagalog)
แหล่งข้อมูลด้านภาษา (Thai)
語言資源 (Traditional Chinese)
Nguồn Hỗ Trợ Ngôn Ngữ (Vietnamese)