New Jersey is implementing a new program called “Return and Earn”. The program is designed to provide incentives to NJ employees returning to work and provide training incentives to NJ small employers who hire eligible workers with identifiable skills gaps as the economy recovers from COVID-19.
The program will offer a $500 incentive for unemployed workers reentering the workforce and receiving on-the-job training. It is designed for private and nonprofit businesses with 100 or fewer employees. To qualify for the incentives under the program, the employees must be New Jersey residents working full time (minimum 32 hours). It does not apply to seasonal, part-time, commission-based, or independent contractor (1099-employee) positions.
Under the on-the-job training infrastructure, the program will offer employers a wage subsidy for up to six months with up to the cap of $10,000 per Return and Earn employee. Employers will be reimbursed for 50% of the wages paid for regular hours worked during the contracted employer-provided training period. The subsidy is limited to $40,000 across all employees per employer.
The New Jersey Department of Labor is currently working on the implementation of this program. Employers who are interested in participating in this program can request additional information as it becomes available by completing a form on the link below under the learn more section.
Please feel free to contact SobelCo for more information.
