LANSING, MI – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is announcing more than 31,000 state employees will take two unpaid days off every pay period for the next three months as the state fights the COVID-19 crisis and a dramatic budget shortfall.
As part of the program, impacted state employees will take two temporary layoff days per pay period beginning May 17, until July 25. Whitmer said this will result in up to $80 million in decreased wage costs.
Michigan is participating in the federal Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Work Share program. According to Gov. Whitmer, this will allow employees to keep working and keep their insurance.
«Utilizing this federal program allows the state to protect the paychecks of our state employees so that they can continue to support Michigan families, and ensure that essential services for Michiganders can continue on without interruption,» Whitmer said.
Affected employees will continue to work on reduced hours, and will be able to collect partial unemployment benefits to make up for portions of their lost wages. Employees will retain their health insurance and other benefits to help ensure they have the support they need during this challenging time.
Today’s layoffs do not impact anybody working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Law enforcement, the prison system, veterans’ homes, and other key health and human services all remain fully staffed with on-site employees.
