Bill > S1334

This bill amends Massachusetts unemployment insurance law to address how wages are calculated for workers with fluctuating work schedules. Specifically, the legislation modifies the existing statute by changing how wages are evaluated when determining unemployment benefit eligibility. Under the proposed change, if the standard method of calculating wages based on the highest quarter would normally make an individual ineligible for unemployment benefits, the bill introduces an alternative calculation method: the individual's total wages from the two most recent quarters would be divided by 26 to determine their benefit amount. This provision appears designed to provide more flexibility in unemployment benefit calculations for workers whose income may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, potentially helping workers with irregular or inconsistent work schedules to access unemployment benefits more easily when they are between jobs or experiencing reduced work hours.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1334