2015 STC Summit Sustaining STC Now and in the Future Neil Gorrell Employment System Policy & UI Director Washington Employment Security Department

2015 STC Summit Sustaining our Gains: What comes next? Neil Gorrell Employment System Policy & UI Director November 2015

2015 STC Summit Washington’s STC Experience Shared Work created in state law based on model guidelines in 1983 Used in at least three major recessions and several localized economic downturns Demonstrated history of use in economic downturns and expansions – there’s always a place for it in a state’s toolbox 3

2015 STC Summit Who is using Shared Work?

2015 STC Summit Who is using Shared Work?

2015 STC Summit Growing Pains – Great Recession The Shared Work program experienced incredible growth during the recession. Sharp increase in number of employer plans: – In 2008: approximately 300 – In 2010: approximately 3,000 – In 2013: approximately 2,500 From 5,700 covered workers in 2008 to almost 44,000 in

2015 STC Summit

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 Federal government encouraged states to implement and improve Shared Work programs – Provided federal money to implement, improve and advertise shared work programs – Provided reimbursements to states for benefits paid for shared work – Gave states the option whether to use additional funds to shore up trust fund or provide relief to employers

2015 STC Summit Promote & Enroll Grant Goals – update promotional tools and materials Progress – recreated brochures, videos, communications with updated information and identifiable “brand” for ongoing use after grant period What comes next – finalize changes to materials for ongoing use 9

2015 STC Summit Promote & Enroll Grant Goals – consider and test innovative outreach techniques for businesses Progress – identified and tested several avenues for outreach to businesses, local organizations, workforce partners What comes next – standardize approach to successful outreach avenues; set aside those that did not succeed as hoped 10

2015 STC Summit Implement & Improve Grant Goals – Review and streamline business processes to improve work flow Progress – Lean review of entire process; identified several improvement opportunities; continuing to work those improvements What comes next – continue making improvements and standardizing work; prepare for business changes coming with new benefits system 11

2015 STC Summit Implement & Improve Grant Goals – improve technology tools to streamline data entry work and reduce duplication Progress – Updated paper forms to web based fillable forms; final stages of developing a web- based SQL database to log and track employer plans (replacing an Excel workbook) What comes next – finalize SQL database; prepare to integrate into new benefits system 12

2015 STC Summit Preparing for the Next Recession Invest in tools to simplify the work – Move from manual to automated processes – even partial or incremental improvements can result in substantial gains Improving the process is as important – if not more so – than improving the tools Nurture the program – not just for downturns Build relationships with workforce partners 13

2015 STC Summit DISCUSSION What are you doing in your state to sustain your gains? 14

2015 STC Summit Thank you!