Governor Lynch Signs Legislation Aimed at Helping Part-Time Workers Balance Jobs, Caring for their Children

Governor Lynch Signs Legislation Aimed at Helping Part-Time Workers Balance Jobs, Caring for their Children

Gov. John Lynch today signed into law legislation aimed at helping part-time workers balance jobs and caring for their children, by allowing them to receive unemployment benefits in certain cases.

"With this new law we are taking an important step forward in recognizing New Hampshire's changing workforce, and in helping families who are struggling to balance work with raising children," Gov. Lynch said.

The legislation, House Bill 170, allows people who lose their part-time jobs to receive unemployment benefits, even if the demands of caring for their children only allow them to work part-time. The legislation also allows workers to refuse to work certain shift, such as overnight, if they are the only person available to care for their children.

Currently, in order to receive unemployment benefits, part-time workers must agree to accept a full-time job. Part-time workers must still meet the other criteria for unemployment benefits, including: having earned least $2,800 in the last 18 months and being unemployed through no fault of their own.

http://www.nh.gov/governor/news/071405PartTimeWorkers.htm