How does short week (short-time) work?

The National Insurance Board will give those on short weeks 60 per cent of their earnings for those days.  For example, if a person is placed on a three-day week, then the Board will pay 60 per cent of the wages the person would have earned for the other two days.

Unemployment short-time is paid only if the current weekly earnings are less than 50% of the average weekly earnings in the relevant quarter.

For e.g.

Relevant quarter = JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2019

Total earnings in relevant quarter = 3122

Average weekly earnings = $240.15          

HALF AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS — $120.08

Based on this, if the claimant worked for less than 120.08 in any week, she is entitled to short time for that week

In week commencing 23.03.2020, she earned $65.00, therefore she is entitled to short–time.

SHORT TIME CALCULATION for week commencing 23.03.2020 (and any other week for which the claimant earned $65.00) 

1. Take away earnings paid for the week during which the claimant worked from the average weekly earnings in the relevant quarter 240.15 – 65.00 = $175.15 = average weekly short time earnings
2. Calculate 60% of the difference (from (1) above 175.15*60% = $105.09 = weekly short time benefit rate —The weekly benefit rate is paid for any week, Monday to Saturday, during which the claimant earned less than half his average weekly earnings