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Bill

Bill

H 2111

An Act amending the unemployment insurance law for workers with fluctuating work schedules

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Marjorie Decker and 6 co-sponsors

Massachusetts updates unemployment insurance rules to better serve workers with irregular schedules, addressing modern gig and seasonal employment patterns.

Read second and ordered to a third reading
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 2111

Legislative bill overview

H 2111 amends Massachusetts's unemployment insurance law to better accommodate workers with fluctuating or irregular work schedules. The bill addresses gaps in current UI eligibility rules that may disadvantage gig workers, seasonal employees, and others whose hours vary significantly week to week.

Why is this important

Unemployment insurance was designed primarily for workers with stable, traditional employment. As work becomes increasingly non-standard—through gig economy platforms, seasonal jobs, and on-call positions—many workers fall through eligibility cracks despite experiencing genuine joblessness. This bill seeks to modernize the system to reflect how many people actually work today.

Potential points of contention

  • Employer contribution impacts: Changes to UI eligibility may increase payroll taxes on employers who rely heavily on flexible staffing, potentially raising their labor costs
  • Benefit calculation complexity: Determining appropriate UI benefit amounts for workers with inconsistent earnings histories is technically difficult and may require new administrative procedures
  • Work availability requirements: Defining what constitutes "actively seeking work" or "able and willing to work" becomes murkier for people whose schedules are inherently unpredictable

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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