Do you hate your job? Do you want to quit right now without even thinking about the consequences? Do you figure that whatever happens, you can deal with it?
The truth of the matter is that if you quit your job, the chances of getting unemployment are slim to none – especially in today’s world where there are millions still on the unemployment rolls. Typically, if you quit your job, you are not qualified to apply for unemployment.
Some of the more common reasons to quit a job include not liking your pay, not liking the people you work with or for, not liking the hours or working conditions or maybe just because you were burnt out. Although these may sound like valid reasons to you, they are not reasons that the law recognizes which mean no unemployment benefits!
Now, if you quit your job for cause, you “might” be able to draw unemployment. The rules vary from state to state but some of the reasons that might be allowed would include workplace discrimination or safety risks as well as not receiving compensation for work performed. The problem is that you have to prove this.
When you apply for unemployment, they will ask you why you are not working. When you indicate that you quit, you will need to fill out a ton of paperwork and state your case. Then the information goes to the company and they have the chance to rebut it. Typically if the company disputes your claim, the claim is denied. However, you have the right to a hearing where you can plead your side. I have some personal experience in this process and it certainly is not a fun one. You can wait weeks for a response from the unemployment office only to be told that your claim was denied and you do not have any recourse.
However, if you do happen to prove your case and are able to start receiving unemployment benefits, you have to know what comes along with that. While on unemployment, you have to keep yourself eligible for any employment that comes along – within reason. If you continue to receive notification of jobs that fit your qualifications but you turn them down, you could still risk losing your unemployment benefits. In addition, you could end up in a job that is even less desirable than the one you just left!
So, if you are considering resigning from your current position and expecting to receive unemployment – think again. The rules were very tight prior to the fall of Wall Street and are even more so today. Before you quit, talk to your supervisor or department head and see if there are any changes that could be instituted to make work life better. More than likely they had no idea that you were unhappy or that there were issues in the workplace. So, before you walk out the door, make sure you have exhausted all avenues.
By: Nancy Anderson, Staff Writer
The truth of the matter is that if you quit your job, the chances of getting unemployment are slim to none – especially in today’s world where there are millions still on the unemployment rolls. Typically, if you quit your job, you are not qualified to apply for unemployment.
Some of the more common reasons to quit a job include not liking your pay, not liking the people you work with or for, not liking the hours or working conditions or maybe just because you were burnt out. Although these may sound like valid reasons to you, they are not reasons that the law recognizes which mean no unemployment benefits!
Now, if you quit your job for cause, you “might” be able to draw unemployment. The rules vary from state to state but some of the reasons that might be allowed would include workplace discrimination or safety risks as well as not receiving compensation for work performed. The problem is that you have to prove this.
When you apply for unemployment, they will ask you why you are not working. When you indicate that you quit, you will need to fill out a ton of paperwork and state your case. Then the information goes to the company and they have the chance to rebut it. Typically if the company disputes your claim, the claim is denied. However, you have the right to a hearing where you can plead your side. I have some personal experience in this process and it certainly is not a fun one. You can wait weeks for a response from the unemployment office only to be told that your claim was denied and you do not have any recourse.
However, if you do happen to prove your case and are able to start receiving unemployment benefits, you have to know what comes along with that. While on unemployment, you have to keep yourself eligible for any employment that comes along – within reason. If you continue to receive notification of jobs that fit your qualifications but you turn them down, you could still risk losing your unemployment benefits. In addition, you could end up in a job that is even less desirable than the one you just left!
So, if you are considering resigning from your current position and expecting to receive unemployment – think again. The rules were very tight prior to the fall of Wall Street and are even more so today. Before you quit, talk to your supervisor or department head and see if there are any changes that could be instituted to make work life better. More than likely they had no idea that you were unhappy or that there were issues in the workplace. So, before you walk out the door, make sure you have exhausted all avenues.
By: Nancy Anderson, Staff Writer
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