Employers FAQs

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Shared Work Program

What is the Shared Work Program?

The Shared Work Program from the Kansas Department of Labor provides employers with an alternative to layoffs. The Shared Work Program is designed to help both employers and employees.

Shared Work can help employers:

avoid layoffs.
keep valued employees.
recover fast when business improves.
adjust as business changes.

Shared Work can help employees:

keep their current job.
avoid a financial crisis.
keep benefits such as health insurance.

Under the program, employers reduce the total number of hours that employees work. Employees can then receive partial unemployment benefits for the number of hours their workweek was reduced.

Where can I learn more?

To learn more, you can visit our Shared Work page. You can also contact us at the information below.

For Employees

How does it work in practice?

An employee normally works a 40-hour week. The employer reduces the work schedule by 20%. The employer submits a plan for this reduction to KDOL and is approved under the Shared Work Program.

In this example, the employee qualifies for regular unemployment compensation with a weekly benefit amount (WBA) of $488 (actual WBA will vary based on the employee).
20% of 40-hour work week = 8 hours
Employee works and earns wages for 32 hours
20% x $488 WBA = $97

This employee would receive $97 in unemployment benefits in addition to the 32 hours of wages earned during the week.

As an employee, can I be covered by the Shared Work Program?

Employees may participate in a Shared Work plan if they meet the following conditions. They must:

be able to work and available for full-time work with the participating employer.
be eligible for regular unemployment benefits in the state of Kansas.
accept all work offered by the participating employer for the claim period filed.
not work more than the reduced hours specified in the plan.
have valid authorization to work in the United States, if not a U.S. citizen.
report to their employer any hours worked with other employment.
work at least 8 hours in the week.

The Shared Work Program does not cover seasonal employees. An employee will be considered seasonal if they typically work for a period of six months or less and the period of employment begins in approximately the same part of the year (e.g., summer, winter or holiday season)—regardless of how many hours the employee is expected to work each week.

Employees who are participating in the Shared Work program may receive benefits for up to 52 weeks.

What do I have to do in order to participate?

The employer manages the Shared Work Program, which means they will need to apply to participate and provide a list of employees who will be affected. Employers should also notify employees that an identity verification will be conducted with the Social Security Administration as part of the employer’s application.

At the start of the employer’s participation in Shared Work, employees may have to complete a form to confirm their identity and help the employer create their claim.

Employees should NOT file a claim for regular unemployment. Doing so will cause a delay in payment.

Employees can elect to receive their Shared Work benefits through direct deposit or debit card. To change payment method, log on to the Get Kansas Benefits site and select “Payment options” from the main menu. Then select the payment method and fill out the required information.

If you are participating in the Shared Work Plan, you are not required to look for work and are not penalized for refusing job offers from other employers.

After an employer has been approved and has submitted the required forms to initiate an employee’s claim, the employee will receive in the mail a Monetary Determination and Regular Unemployment forms. Employees should review the Monetary Determination carefully to understand how their benefits have been calculated. They should securely discard the Regular Unemployment forms because the Shared Work Program forms their employer submits cover their claim and ongoing participation.

What if I work at another job?

An employee may work another job while participating in Shared Work. However, if an employee’s combined hours of work for both employers are equal to or greater than 40 hours of work with the Shared Work participating employer, the employee will not be eligible for Shared Work benefits.

How do I file my unemployment claim or weekly claims when my employer has filed Shared Work?

The employer is responsible for filing your unemployment claim or weekly claims on your behalf. The employer certifies the number of hours you worked during the week and if you refused an offer of full-time work with this employer. You do not need to file weekly claims.

I was sent forms to complete while in Shared Work. Do I need to complete these or does my employer?

You may be sent forms addressing your ability to work, availability for work and moneys you may have received. You should complete and send back any forms we mail you.

How will I be paid on Shared Work?

Shared Work claimants can choose to receive payments via debit card or direct deposit. You should make your payment selection by creating an online account and selecting payment options.

For Employers

How does it work in practice?

A firm facing a 20% reduction in production may consider laying off one-fifth of its workforce. Instead, when faced with this situation, the company can retain its total workforce on a four-day-a-week basis. This reduction from 40 hours to 32 hours cuts production—and payroll—by the required 20% without reducing the number of employees.

All affected employees receive their wages based on four days of work. In addition, those employees can receive a portion of unemployment compensation benefits equal to 20% of the unemployment compensation weekly benefit amount payable had the employee been unemployed a full week.

Based on a 40-hour week, the employer reduces the work schedule by 20%. The employer submits a plan for this reduction to Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and is approved under the Shared Work Program.

In this example, the employee qualifies for regular unemployment compensation with a weekly benefit amount (WBA) of $488 (actual WBA will vary based on the employee).

          20% of 40-hour work week = 8 hours
          Employee works and earns wages for 32 hours
          20% x $488 WBA = $97

This employee would receive $97 in unemployment benefits in addition to the 32 hours of wages earned during the week.

Each week, the employer makes sure that they are meeting the Shared Work program requirements and submits a certification form to KDOL verifying who is affected.

What are the business eligibility requirements?

To participate in the Shared Work Program, an employer must:

have reduced the normal weekly work hours and corresponding wages by at least 10% but no more than 50%.
have a reduction that affects a business unit of two or more employees
apply the plan for reduced hours to at least 10% of the employees in the affected unit.

The Shared Work Program is not available for seasonal layoffs.

As an employer, who does the Shared Work Program cover?

Employees may participate in a Shared Work plan if they meet the following conditions. They must:

be able to work and available for full-time work with the participating employer.
be eligible for regular unemployment benefits in the state of Kansas.
accept all work offered by the participating employer for the claim period filed.
not work more than the reduced hours specified in the plan.
have valid authorization to work in the United States, if not a U.S. citizen.
report to their employer any hours worked with other employment.
work at least 8 hours a week.

The Shared Work Program does not cover seasonal employees.

An employee will be considered seasonal if they typically work for a period of six months or less and the period of employment begins in approximately the same part of the year (e.g., summer, winter or holiday season)—regardless of how many hours the employee is expected to work each week.

Employees who are participating in the Shared Work program may receive benefits for up to 52 weeks.

How do I apply?

Download the Shared Work application (K-BEN 101) below.
Complete it digitally.
Attach the completed digital form to an email that also contains the requested details about affected employees.
Send the completed digital form and employee list to KDOL.SharedWork@ks.gov. Employers may also print and mail the form and employee list to Kansas Department of Labor – Shared Work Program, 401 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66603-3182
After the application is received, a decision will be made within 10 business days. Once approved, an employer’s Shared Work plan is valid for one year from the date the application was received.

Shared Work Application

What are my responsibilities if my application is approved?

While on Shared Work, the employer will be responsible for submitting a weekly certification form to the Kansas Department of Labor, certifying the number of hours worked by each employee during the week. The employer must make sure every week that at least 10% of employees in the affected unit qualify—that is, they have had their work hours reduced by 10% to 50%.

If the employer does not meet this 10% requirement during a given week, then NO employees on the weekly certification will qualify for benefits that week. For example: A business unit of 37 employees must have at least 10% of its members—3.7 people, rounded up to 4—listed on the weekly certification.

Employees should NOT file a claim for regular unemployment. Doing so will cause a delay in payment.

The employer manages the Shared Work Program. This means that in addition to meeting the conditions for shared work each week and submitting the weekly certification, they must also keep employees informed about the program and help answer questions.

For Program Administrators

What are an employer's responsibilities under the Shared Work Program?

Initial filing: The employer must inform affected employees about the Shared Work program, which includes sharing pamphlets with them and advising them that their identity will be verified with the Social Security Administration as part of determining their eligibility for benefits. If needed, the employer will also need to make sure that employees complete the Shared Work Employee Information form to acknowledge their participation and help KDOL confirm their identity and help the employer create their claim. The employer will need to submit those forms along with a KDOL-provided spreadsheet. Details, including the required pamphlets to distribute, the forms and instructions on returning them to KDOL will be included in the email confirming an employer’s approval for the Shared Work Program.

Weekly Certification filing: Every week after the initial filing and for the duration of the employer’s participation in the Shared Work Program, the employer must make sure to meet the terms of the program (10% of affected business unit’s employees must have hours reduced by 10% to 50%) and must complete a Weekly Certification form and return it to KDOL. The required form and how to return it to KDOL will be included in the email confirming an employer’s approval for the Shared Work Program.

Employers will also need to verify any outside employment with Shared Work participants and number of hours worked each week before submitting the weekly certification. An employee will not be eligible for Shared Work benefits and should not be listed on the weekly certification if the employee works for another employer AND the combined hours for both employers are equal to or greater than 40 hours of work with the employer who is participating in the Shared Work Program. Adjustments to the number of participating employees and hours worked must still remain in the range of a 10% to 50% reduction and must still apply to 10% of the employees in the affected unit.

Employees must also work at least 8 hours during a week in order to qualify for the Shared Work Program. They must also work all the hours assigned by the employer. Paid time off can be used during a Shared Work week, provided the employee also works 8 or more hours.

Employers should also track the number of weeks each employee participates in Shared Work so that they do not exceed the maximum. Employees should also track this information.

Do employees need to file unemployment claims?

At the start of the employer’s participation in Shared Work, employees may have to complete a form to confirm their identity and help the employer create their claim. The employer will be responsible for distributing this form, making sure it’s completed for each participating employee and submitting it to KDOL. Employees should NOT file a claim for regular unemployment. Doing so will cause a delay in payment.

How will employees receive their unemployment benefits?

Employees can elect to receive their Shared Work benefits through direct deposit or debit card.

To change payment method, employees should log on to the Get Kansas Benefits site and select “Payment options” from the main menu. They will then select the desired payment method and fill out the required information.

Do employees need to look for other work in order to receive unemployment benefits?

Employees who are participating in the Shared Work Plan are not required to look for work and are not penalized for refusing job offers from other employers.

What should an employer do if an employee hasn't received their unemployment benefits?

First, the employer should make sure the employee has been included in the weekly certification and that all weekly certifications have been submitted. Employees should receive benefits one week following the submission of each weekly certification. Second, the employer should verify that the employee meets all eligibility requirements.

If all weekly certifications are up to date and the employee is eligible, the employee should check their information with the Get Kansas Benefits site. Employees may also need to review whether they have exceeded their total annual maximum benefit amount or the maximum number of weeks of participation in Shared Work.

Can employees work for another employer participating in the Shared Work Program?

For more details about employee eligibility and how using unemployment benefits for Shared Work could affect an employee’s annual total benefits, please review K-BEN-P 052 (Rev. 12-14) SHARED WORK PROGRAM - Information for Employees.

Will participation affect an employer's unemployment tax rate?

Benefits paid under Shared Work are charged against employers’ accounts when computing (experience) tax rates. Shared Work benefit payments affect employers’ tax rates in the same manner and to the same extent as other benefit charges.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax

How do I set up my account?

It is quick and easy to register for an account online. Go to KansasEmployer.gov and select "Register". Once registration is complete, select "File a KCNS 010 Status Report to register your business for Unemployment Tax" on the next page. You will be taken through the steps to create a new unemployment tax account. Business owners, their accountants or a third-party administrator (such as a payroll service) may establish an unemployment tax account for an employer. After we receive your completed form, we'll determine whether you're liable for unemployment taxes. If so, we'll assign your business a six-digit employer account number, which should be included on all future correspondence with KDOL, and a personal identification number (PIN), which you will need for future direct entry of electronic wage reports.

How do I get a PIN number?

Once we assign you an account number, we'll send you both the account number and a PIN number. All existing accounts have been sent a PIN number.

What do I do if I lost my username, password or PIN?

You can call our office in Topeka at (785) 296-5027.

Will I be notified when my quarterly reports and payments are due?

All quarterly tax reports and payments are due by the end of the month following the end of each quarter. For example, the first quarter ends on March 31 and reports and payments are due by April 30. Only employers with fewer than 50 employees who filed a paper report in the previous quarter will have a Quarterly Wage Report and Unemployment Tax Return mailed to them. The form will include the account number and tax rate, how to reach the employer’s field representative and other information.

Do I have to file or pay unemployment taxes to Kansas?

All employing units doing business in Kansas are subject to the provisions of the Employment Security law. However, not all are subject to the taxing provisions of the law. Coverage is determined by the type and nature of the business, the number of workers employed and the amount of wages paid for services in employment. Every employing unit that begins business operations in Kansas is required to file form K-CNS 010, "Status Report," within 15 days of the date of first employment.

If you meet liability requirements at any time during a year, you must file a Quarterly Wage Report and Unemployment Tax Return for all quarters of that year in which you had any employment. A quarterly wage report must be filed each quarter thereafter until your account is closed. Employers with 50 or more employees are required to file their quarterly reports and make payments online.

For questions, please call (785) 296-5027 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Do I have to file online?

All employers are encouraged to file electronically. Quarterly filings and payments can be made easily and securely on KansasEmployer.gov. After completing the online registration form, employers can enter wage data directly into a secure form. Data files may also be uploaded. For more information on file uploading, please see Upload Your Quarterly Wage Report. Either way, the data is sent in real time and tax contribution information is automatically calculated. An employer with 50 or more employees or third-party administrators with more than 50 client employees are required to electronically file all Quarterly Wage Report and Unemployment Tax Returns and make any payments online.

What are wages?

All money, the value of meals and lodging, or other goods and services provided to an employee as payment for personal services are "wages." Payment may be by private agreement, consent or mandated by law. You can find a table with some examples of taxable and exempt payments on our web site.

How you pay your employees does not change your tax liability. Commissions, payments by the day, by the hour, by "piece rate," or any other measurement are wages, even if the employee is a casual worker, day or contract laborer, part-time or temporary worker.

Who is an employee?

As defined in the Kansas employment security law, "employees" include:

Any officer of a corporation
Any worker who is an employee under the usual common law rules
Any worker whose services are specifically covered by law
An employee may perform services on a less than full-time or temporary basis. The law does not exclude services from employment which are commonly referred to as day labor, part-time help, casual labor, temporary help, probationary or outside labor.

Who is an employer?

Two types of employers are those who run a business and those who hire domestic services. Employers who run a business can be a person or a legal entity and include:

Sole Proprietors
Partnerships
Joint Ventures
Corporations
Limited Liability Companies
Estates
Associations and Trusts
Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations
Public Entities, including State and Federal Agencies
Other Organizations
Most employers become subject to state employment taxes upon paying a worker(s) more than $1,500 in a calendar quarter and must register with the Department within 15 days.

Employee or Independent Contractor

An employer-employee relationship exists when a person who hires an individual to perform services has the right to exercise control over the manner and means by which the individual performs his or her services. The right of control, whether or not exercised, is the most important factor in determining the relationship. The right to discharge a worker at will and without cause is strong evidence of the right of direction and control. Among other considerations:

Whether the one performing the services makes the services available to the general public.
Whether the principal or the person providing the services supplies the tools, equipment and place of work for the person doing the work.
The length of time for which the services are performed to determine whether the performance is an isolated event or continuous in nature.
The method of payment, whether by time, a piece rate or by the job.
Whether or not the work is part of the regular business of the principal.
The extent of actual control exercised by the principal over the manner and means of performing the services.
Whether the worker can make business decisions that would enable him or her to earn a profit or incur a financial loss. Investment of the worker's time is not sufficient to show a risk of loss.
A written contract that claims to create the relationship of principal and independent contractor is not controlling if the practice of the parties shows that the principal retains the right of control under the common law test.

A strong indication of employment is when the work being done is an integral part of the regular business of the employer and the work is performed at the place of business. If you are unsure as to whether your workers are employees or independent contractors, see our handbook or e-mail us.

You also may want to review the information on worker misclassification.

Who is a domestic or household employer?

An employer of domestic services can be a:

Private household
Local college club
Local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority
Domestic work includes the services of cooks, waiters, waitresses, butlers, housekeepers, governesses, governors, maids, valets, baby-sitters, janitors, laundresses, caretakers, home health care workers, handypersons, gardeners, chauffeurs, crews of private yachts and pilots of private airplanes for family use.

A domestic employer becomes subject to state employment taxes as follows:

When cash wages of $1,000 or more are paid in a quarter.
Once a domestic employer meets the limits of cash wages, all cash and non-cash payments such as the value of meals and lodging must be reported as wages.

How secure is your online system?

Our system is very secure. Employers and employer representatives can securely upload wage data files to the Kansas Department of Labor or file online. We use the Automated Clearing House method to electronically transfer tax payments. The ACH system is a nationwide network designed for this purpose and uses services operated by the Federal Reserve System to maintain security and increase the efficiency of transactions.

What are the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA) and the Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) Program?

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) help workers who have lost their jobs as a result of U.S. foreign trade. The TAA Program offers a variety of benefits and services to eligible workers to include job training, income support, job search and relocation allowances; and a wage supplement to eligible reemployed workers 50 years of age and older (RTAA). Eligibility requirements for TAA benefits are based, in part, upon certified petitions filed with the U.S. Department of Labor for workers adversely affected by foreign trade. These Federally funded services are provided to eligible workers at "NO COST TO THE EMPLOYER."

Contact the Kansas Department of Commerce, Workforce Service Division at (785) 296-0607 or workforcesvcs@kansascommerce.com for more information about the TAA and RTAA programs and other programs through this agency.

How to File Quarterly Wage Reports

Do I have to pre-enroll for any of the file upload services?

No. This service is open to the public and anybody can submit data to it.

Is the data transmission secure?

Yes. Both the Internet and Web service use 128 bit data encryption.

Is there a test environment I can use to test my file submissions?

Yes. Using the Web service you can use the 'SubmitTestFile' method. Any data submitted while using this method will not be processed. You can also validate files visiting KansasEmployer.gov.

What is the maximum file size I can submit?

Each file is limited to 5mb. Each file submitter is limited to 100mb per day. If you need to submit large files, employers are encouraged to compress their files using the acceptable compression algorithms accepted by KDOL.

When can I submit files?

Files can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for scheduled maintenance periods.

Can I compress my files before submitting them?

Yes. KDOL will accept files that have been compressed using zip, gz (gzip) and bz2 (bzip2).

When can I expect an acknowledgement of my file submission?

KDOL will acknowledge receipt of your file. The time it takes to acknowledge receipt of your file depends on site traffic at the time you submit your information. In most cases you can expect an acknowledgement within a few minutes.

Will the file layout for the current magnetic media or floppy disk submission work with the new electronic file submission system?

No. Since June 1, 2007, KDOL no longer accepts magnetic media data submissions. Although we still accept the NASWA format, there have been a few additions. The Code E record has had the Zip and Zip + four moved. The Code S record has had the State Account Number moved to columns 147-152. In addition on the Code S record, the mid-month employment is now required in columns 212, 213, and 214. Please review the specification carefully before submitting any files. Any data that is in columns not listed on the file specification will be ignored.

I represent multiple employers. Can I submit more than one employer in the same file?

Yes. If you would like to submit information for multiple employers, simply add an additional employer record, followed by the additional employee records.

Do I have to send in a separate Contra Sheet for each employer submitted via file upload?

No. The contra will be calculated by KDOL based off of the wage detail submitted. No additional Contra Sheet is necessary.

If I submit my wage detail using the file upload, do I have to submit my payment the same way?

No. You can submit payments multiple ways. The file upload is just one option. Other options include the KDOL Web site or simply sending a physical check to KDOL. If a physical check is sent, an indication must be made as to which account number the payment should be applied to.

What are the fees if I make my quarterly Kansas wage tax payment via credit card?

The following credit card fee schedule outlines the charges which will be billed on your credit card as a convenience fee. The fee for payments made by credit card above $999.99 will increase by $3.00 per $100.00.

Payment Amount From($)	Payment Amount To ($)	Credit Card Fee ($)
0.01	49.99	0.00
50.00	99.99	1.00
100.00	149.99	3.00
150.00	199.99	4.00
200.00	299.99	6.00
300.00	399.99	10.00
400.00	499.99	13.00
500.00	599.99	16.00
600.00	699.99	19.00
700.00	799.99	21.00
800.00	899.99	24.00
900.00	999.99	27.00

Can I file zero wage reports using the wage upload service?

Yes. A Zero Wage report will have one employee record following the employer record. A MMREF zero wage employee (RS) record will require a Record ID, Serial/Account Number, Reporting Period and Zero Wage field. A NASWA zero wage employee (S) record will require a Record ID, Reporting Period and Zero Wage field.

If my report is late can I still file it?

Yes. Any late reports will be accepted at any time.

My question still has not been answered. Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

If you have additional questions, you can contact KDOL at (785) 296-5027 or KDOL.UITax@ks.gov.

I don't want to build a formatted file to upload. Can I still file electronically?

Yes. Wage Detail and Electronic Payments Information can still be filed via KansasEmployer.gov.

I submit MMREF or NASWA to other states. Will the same layout work with Kansas?

The required specification we use for each file is the standard specification issued by the respective organizations. However the state record allows for some customizable fields such as state employer account number. Please review the file specification carefully to ensure other layouts are compatible with KDOL's. Any data required by other states that are in columns not used by KDOL will be ignored.

New Hire Reporting

Are labor unions and hiring halls required to report?

Labor unions and hiring halls must report their own employees; that is, individuals who work directly for the labor union or hiring hall. If the labor union or hiring hall simply refers individuals for employment, it does not need to file new hire reports for these actions. If a labor organization actually pays the individuals whom it refers (as opposed to having them paid by the person or entity to whom they have been referred), the labor organization would be considered the “employer” and subject to the new hire reporting requirements.

Is anyone exempt from this law?

No one is exempt from this law.

Who must be reported?

Employers are required to report the following employees:

New employees: Employers must report all employees who reside or work in the State of Kansas to whom the employer anticipates paying earnings. Employees should be reported even if they work only one day and are terminated (prior to the employer fulfilling the new hire reporting requirement).
Re-hires or re-called employees: Employers must report re-hires, or employees who return to work after being laid off, furloughed, separated, granted a leave without pay or terminated from employment within 20 days of re-hire. Termination of employment does not include temporary separations from employment, such as an unpaid medical leave, an unpaid leave of absence, a temporary lay-off of less than 60 days in length or an absence for disability or maternity.

Who must report?

All employers and/or labor organizations in the State of Kansas.

What is the new hire law?

K.S.A. 75-5743 and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. 653A, requires all employers to report newly hired and re-hired employees to a state directory within 20 days of their hire date.

Why do we need new hire reporting?

New hire reporting speeds up the child support income withholding order process, expedites collection of child support from parents who change jobs frequently and quickly locates alleged fathers/non-custodial parents to help in establishing paternity and child support orders. New hire reporting helps children receive the support they deserve. Employers are a key partner in ensuring financial stability for many children and families and should take pride in their role.

How often must I report?

Employers must report within 20 days of a new employee’s hire or re-hire date. Employers who submit reports electronically shall submit the reports by two monthly transmissions, if necessary, which are not less than 12 days or more than 16 days apart.

What information must I report?

In accordance with federal legislation, the State of Kansas asks for the following information:

Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) - If you have more than one FEIN, please make certain you use the same FEIN when reporting new hires you use to report your quarterly wage information.
Employer’s Name
Employer’s Address
Employee’s Name (First, Middle, Last)
Employee’s Address
Employee’s Social Security number
Employee’s Date of Hire or Re-Hire
Employee’s Date of Birth (optional)

Additional information may be required if reporting electronically.

How do I report?

There are a variety of ways to report new hires, including electronic reporting and by mail or fax.

When do I have to report?

K.S.A. 75-5743 requires all employers to submit their new hire reports within 20 days after the employee is hired or re-hired. Under federal regulations, employers who submit reports electronically shall submit the reports by two monthly transmissions, if necessary, which are not less than 12 days or more than 16 days apart.

Where do I report new hires?

Electronic Reports: The online reporting feature is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may mail this file on a CD-ROM or a 3.5” floppy. Employers can send new hire data files electronically in a variety of ways or individual reports with a secure email form.
Non-Electronic Reports: Paper new hire reports may either be mailed or faxed per the contact information below.

How will the information be used?

Federal and State laws contain strict guidelines for the use of new hire reporting information. Kansas’ child support system matches new hire information against open child support cases to locate alleged fathers/non-custodial parents to establish paternity and child support orders and enforce existing orders. New hire information also is sent to the National Directory of New Hires and is utilized by Child Support Agencies nationwide.

New hire information also is used by states to help detect and prevent fraudulent payments to recipients of unemployment insurance and workers compensation.

The use of this information provides financial support for Kansas’ families and a reduction in unemployment insurance costs.

I am an employer with employees in more than one state. What special considerations, if any, need to be made for this?

New hire reporting is required in all 50 states. One of the goals of new hire reporting legislation is to make it as easy as possible for employers to comply. For those employers with employees in more than one state, there are two convenient options for reporting.

Is there an easier way to report other than submitting a paper New Hire Reporting Form?

If you are reporting more than one new hire, we strongly suggest reporting electronically. You can either report new hires using our website or transmit a data file created by your company’s human resources or payroll software. Electronic reporting will eliminate paperwork, increase the accuracy of the reports, allows faster processing and can save on postage and other costs. Electronic reporting can also qualify Multi-state employers to report new hires directly to one state.

What if I have questions about child support or income withholding?

The New Hire Directory does not have access to specific child support information and does not have the ability to answer questions related to child support. Please contact Child Support Services.

Do I have to report if I do not hire anyone?

No.

I am an employer who has more than one address. Which one should I list?

The address where you want income withholding orders sent should be used. A street address is preferred, as long as you can receive mail there.

I provide employee information on my Quarterly Wage Reports. Why must I also report the employee as a new hire?

New hire information from the Quarterly Wage Reports becomes available two to six months after the date of hire. When you immediately report new hires, there is an improved chance of locating the individual while employed and the required child support action can be promptly taken. In addition, fraudulent unemployment insurance and workers compensation benefit payments can be quickly detected.

Do temporary agencies have to report their new hires for every assignment?

Temporary agencies are responsible for reporting their workers who sign a W-4 form and report to an assignment. Workers need to be reported only once; they do not need to be reported each time they report to a new client. If the worker has a break in service from your agency and a new W-4 form is required, then a new hire report is also needed.

Do I need to report an employee who worked for a couple of hours or days then quits?

If the employee filled out a W-4 form and only worked for a few hours, that employee must be reported. Although that employee is no longer with your company, there is useful information that can be obtained, such as home address and work history.

Do I have to include my FEIN on line 10 of the W-4? The instructions say to include it only if I sent it to the IRS?

Yes, if you are sending in your new hire report by W-4, you must include the employer name, address and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) in blocks 8 and 10 of the W-4 form. If you have more than one FEIN, please make certain you use the same FEIN you use to report your quarterly wage information when reporting new hires.

If I take over a business, do I have to report all of the employees?

No, not if these employees have previously been reported. Employers must report any newly hired or re-hired employees who are hired after the takeover date.

In addition to reporting new hires, do I need to report terminated employees as well?

No. Only new hires and re-hires are required to be reported. However, if the terminated employee had an Income Withholding Order for child support, the termination should be reported to the agency that issued the Order.

Can I send out an outdated W-4?

Yes, but if you need new W-4 forms, please contact the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040.

What if I still have more questions about new hire reporting?

Do not hesitate to call the Kansas New Hire Directory at (785) 581-7700, or toll-free at (888) 219-7801 with any questions regarding the new hire reporting process. Our staff is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.

Job Vacancy Survey

Why is this survey being conducted?

Job vacancy data provide a better understanding of the labor demands in Kansas. It can assist area businesses in developing their recruitment strategies as well as various educational entities in providing necessary training for higher demand jobs.

How will this information be used?

Information provided by individual businesses will be compiled to create a report showing the number of job vacancies and the job vacancy rates. This report will present information by occupation, business size and industry. All data is confidential and will be presented in aggregate so that no individual response will be identifiable.

What areas will this information be available for?

Results from the survey will provide statewide information as well as statistics for each of the seven projection regions used by KDOL’s Labor Market Information Services Unit.

Will my company’s information be accessible to the public?

All responses to the survey are considered confidential. We will use collected responses to produce summary statistics on vacancies by region, occupation, industry and size. No data identifying individual firms will be published or released.

Who is conducting the Job Vacancy Survey?

The survey is being conducted by Labor Market Information Services (LMIS), the statistical branch of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL).

Have you conducted this survey before?

The Job Vacancy Survey has been conducted annually by LMIS since 2003. It was conducted during the Spring and Fall in 2018, then returned to an annual survey.

How can I receive a copy of the survey results?

Final results will be compiled in aggregate form and will be presented on our website. These results should be available in the fall. Results from previous job vacancy studies can be found on the Kansas Department of Labor Information Center website.

More labor market information, including past Job Vacancy Survey results, can be found here.

Who should complete this survey?

Anyone with knowledge of the company’s job vacancies can complete the survey. The survey asks for a contact person in case we have questions about information included in the survey.

Is this survey mandatory?

Participation in the survey is voluntary, however it is highly appreciated. Studies such as this are beneficial to gathering information about job vacancies. If your organization does not wish to participate in the survey, we ask that you please let us know by returning the survey form with a note saying you do not wish to participate. This will help us save time and money contacting businesses that we haven't heard from.

Can we be removed from your mailing list?

A sample of all businesses in Kansas was selected to participate in this survey. If you do not want to participate this year, please return the survey with a note so we can remove you from follow-up mailings related to this survey and its results.

Can I leave column B, the number of job openings, blank since I do not know how many openings there are?

The number of job openings is necessary in this survey to determine the number of job vacancies. Please provide the most accurate estimate of job openings you have for each occupation at this point-in-time.

This position pays by load or by term – how do I report that?

You can enter the amount of compensation and enter how it is paid, whether by load, by day, or by semester.

We received multiple copies of the survey form. Do we need to fill them all out?

The survey was mailed to individual business locations. In some cases, multiple copies may be forwarded from different locations or divisions to a central division office. Each survey is for a different business, location or county, which is indicated on the survey form. If possible, please enter the job openings you have available at the specific location indicated on the survey document.

What location is this survey intended for?

The study is for the State of Kansas, therefore the establishment we are surveying should be in located in Kansas. The mailing label should indicate the business name and mailing address. Additional information such as county and physical address of the location is included on the form to help identify the location. We are requesting that you report for the location listed on the survey. If that is not possible, please report for a location in the same county or city and provide the address of the location you are reporting for.

Information is not available for the establishment indicated in the address or the report for/location field shown on the survey form. Should I respond for a different location?

For the purposes of this survey, we are only interested in the establishment located in the state of Kansas. If you are responding for a location different than shown on the survey form, please provide the address for the location for which you are reporting. To obtain accurate results it is important that you answer all questions throughout the survey about the same establishment.

We only have a small number of employees. Do I still need to complete the survey?

It is important that we collect information from businesses of all sizes. Information will be compiled not only by business size, but also by industry and occupation.

We do not have any vacancies at this location; do I still need to return the survey?

It is important for you to return the survey even if you have no vacancies. If you have no vacancies you may notify us by telephone at (866) 270-2873 (toll-free). You will be asked to provide your Survey ID number, located on the right hand side of your survey.

The organization that received the survey is closed/has been sold/does not have any Kansas employees/etc. What should I do?

Please return the survey form with a note explaining the situation so we can remove that business from the survey mailing list.

We currently do not have any openings but are always accepting applications. Do we include the occupations that we are always accepting applications for?

This survey is being conducted to determine the number of job vacancies at this point-in-time. Please only include openings that you are currently hiring for. In some cases, applications may always be accepted, however, do not include them unless you are willing to hire someone with the qualifications you are requiring.

If you have a website listing current open-for-hire vacancies, you may provide us with the web address and we can take care of the rest. Please provide a contact person in case there are any questions regarding the listing.

Can this survey be answered on-line?

Yes, it is available on the KDOL website.

Is there a form available for me to type the information in?

Yes, there is a Microsoft Excel version of the JVS form below. We can also email you this version of the JVS form by request. We will also accept data in any format as long as the data we request is on it. You can e-mail these electronic copies back to us at KDOL.laborstats@ks.gov.  Please include your survey id number and contact information. 

Microsoft Excel JVS Form

I did not have enough space to list all of the openings we have. How can I get another copy of the survey form?

There are four methods of securing more room for all your openings.

Make as many copies of page 2, part B, as you need to allow for enough room for all your job vacancies. 
Contact us by e-mail and we can e-mail a blank copy of the form for you to print. This printable form is available in pdf.
Contact us by telephone at (866) 270-2873 and we will mail or fax additional copies to you. 
You may continue the list on another piece of paper as long as you follow the format on the survey form.

I misplaced the postage-paid envelope that came with the survey. What's the mailing address for the survey?

Attn:  Job Vacancy Survey
Labor Market Information Services
Kansas Department of Labor
401 SW Topeka Blvd
Topeka, KS  66603

What is the fax number for the Kansas Labor Market Information Services?

Our fax number is (785) 296-5286. Please fax it to the attention of Laura Crosswhite.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about this survey?

If you have any questions, please contact LMIS at (866) 270-2873 or KDOL.laborstats@ks.gov.

Report Fraud

How do I report an individual being misclassified?

More information on worker misclassification, as well as how to report misclassification, can be found at https://www.dol.ks.gov/fraud.

Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM)

What is the Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) unit?

Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) is a unit within the unemployment insurance (UI) division whose purpose is to assess the accuracy of both payments and denials issued. Auditors ensure unemployment payments are made in the correct amount to the proper entity and for the right purpose. Everything is reviewed from how the claim was initially filed to decisions made regarding entitlement of benefits to verification or correctly reported wages by the employer if the employer correctly reported wages. BAM data is used when UI payment accuracy is requested from the U.S. Congress, offices of Management and Budget, U.S. General Accounting and Department of Labor Inspector General.

Why am I receiving an employer verification form? I already responded.

BAM randomly audits UI claims for accuracy. The employer verification form is secondary to the employer notice aka employer protest form. BAM requests more in-depth information regarding separation and quarterly wage breakdown for purposes of verifying the accuracy of UI payments made to the claimant or denials issued on UI claims. Separation and quarterly wages used to entitle the claim is substantiated by information provided from the employer.

Why do I need to provide wage documents?

BAM is required to verify if the claimant’s UI taxable wage was reported correctly to KDOL. Examples of exempt wages are pre-tax health insurance premiums, group term life benefits and fringe benefits. BAM requests these documents to reconcile the Quarterly Wage Report (QWR) with what was paid to the claimant. If the employer cannot provide the amounts, payroll documentation is requested. An improperly filed QWR can affect UI claim entitlement resulting in either an overpayment or underpayment to the UI claimant.

Why did I receive a work search verification form?

BAM is required to verify the claimant has actively been seeking and applying for employment. Claimants are required to provide the date, employer name and type of activity completed. If the claimant cannot provide evidence of their activity, this information is verified directly with the employer to review their application records to verify whether the activity is acceptable, unacceptable or unverified.

Why did I receive the same form three times?

BAM is required to make three attempts to obtain a completed form from claimants and employers.

My company uses the work number to complete employment verifications.

Use of the work number is not authorized by KDOL as an appropriate response to the UI Quality Control Audit. The requested information in the employer verification must be completed by the employer or Third-Party Administrator (TPA) authorized to respond to UI requests. The secretary of KDOL has the authority to request records and reports under K.S.A. 44-714 (e). The BAM internal auditor is classified as a special examiner under K.S.A 44-703 with authorization to request this information.

If no response has been received from a TPA, an employer will be contacted directly by an auditor for completion of BAM forms.

How do I contact the BAM unit?

You can email the BAM unit at KDOL.BAM@ks.gov