This Law Firm Publication by Fisher & Phillips LLP discusses the "SharedWork Ohio" initiative, which was signed into law earlier this year. The program is designed to prevent layoffs by allowing employers who need to reduce the number of hours worked to cut hours worked across an entire workforce, instead of laying off a set number of employees. As of October 21, 2013, the new law requires employers to "promptly and adequately" respond to unemployment information requests from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Failure to comply may result in significant increases in unemployment insurance costs to employers.