Same thing happened to my friend last year - they wanted to change her from day shift to overnight and she couldn't do it because of her kids. She documented the whole thing and when they fired her she got approved for unemployment. The key is showing you didn't just quit.

The schedule change situation you're describing sounds like constructive dismissal - when an employer makes your working conditions so unreasonable that you're essentially forced to quit. In NY, if you can show that refusing the schedule change was reasonable (like having family obligations or other legitimate hardship), and they terminate you for it, that should qualify as involuntary separation. Just make sure to get everything in writing - ask for the schedule change demand via email, document your response explaining why it's not feasible, and keep records of the termination if it happens. This paper trail will be crucial if you need to file for benefits or appeal a denial.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this process recently. I was laid off from my software engineering job in September and have been using Coursera courses as part of my job search activities since then. I typically spend 4-6 hours per week on Python and machine learning courses, which has been accepted as one activity without any issues during my weekly certifications. The key things I've learned: 1) Keep detailed logs with dates and hours spent, 2) Save all completion certificates and progress screenshots, 3) Make sure the courses clearly relate to your field, and 4) Remember it only counts as ONE activity no matter how many hours you put in. I also keep a simple spreadsheet tracking: Course name, Date, Hours spent, Topics covered, and Skills gained. This has been super helpful for staying organized and would be perfect documentation if I ever get audited. The courses have actually been really valuable for my job search too - I've been able to mention specific skills I've gained in interviews. Hope this helps! The system can be confusing but as long as you document everything and meet the 3-hour minimum, you should be fine.

I've been on NY unemployment since December and can confirm what others are saying about the 3-hour minimum for Coursera. I'm taking cybersecurity courses (relevant to my IT background) and do about 4 hours per week, which counts as one activity. The tricky part is they really do want to see relevance to your field - I had a friend who got questioned because they were taking creative writing courses while looking for accounting jobs. My advice: stick to courses that clearly enhance your employability in your field (Python and data analytics are perfect for IT), keep screenshots of your progress pages, and save every certificate. I use a simple Google Sheet to track course name, date, hours, and what modules I completed each week. Also remember you still need 2 other job search activities each week - applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. The documentation requirements seem inconsistent depending on which agent you talk to, so better to over-document than under-document. I haven't been audited yet but I'm prepared with everything saved in a folder on my desktop.

The timing also depends on if there are any red flags on your claim. If NYS Department of Labor needs to verify anything about your employment or eligibility, your claim could go into adjudication which adds weeks to the process. Hopefully yours is straightforward!

Another thing to watch out for - make sure you're certifying for benefits on the right days. In NY you can usually certify starting Sunday for the previous week, and you have until the following Saturday to do it. If you miss your certification window, you could delay your payments even more. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to certify one week and had to wait an extra week to get back on track. Set a reminder on your phone!

I'm in a similar situation - just started my unemployment claim last month and have been thinking about doing some freelance writing work. From what I've researched, the key is being completely transparent with NYS Department of Labor about any income. I called their hotline (took forever to get through) and they told me that even if I only make $20 one week, I need to report it. They said it's better to over-report than under-report. Also make sure you're still meeting the work search requirements - they want to see you're genuinely looking for full-time employment even if you're doing side work. Good luck with your consulting business!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I started doing some part-time web development work while on unemployment. Here's what I learned: You definitely need to report ALL income, even small amounts. I made the mistake of thinking anything under $50 wasn't worth reporting and got flagged during an audit. NYS Department of Labor is very strict about this. When reporting, make sure you understand the difference between "work performed" vs "payment received" - you report based on when you actually did the work, not when you got paid for it. Also keep detailed records of everything - hours worked, payment amounts, client names. They may ask for documentation later. The good news is that as long as you're honest and keep meeting your job search requirements, having a small business shouldn't disqualify you from benefits. Just make sure your weekly earnings don't exceed your benefit amount too often or they might question whether you're truly available for full-time work.

Just be super careful about this. My cousin got in trouble because she didn't report some small payments from her etsy shop and they made her pay back like $2000 in benefits. The penalties are no joke.

I went through this exact situation last year when I started doing some freelance web design while collecting benefits. The most important thing is to be completely transparent - report EVERY dollar you earn, even if it's just $20 for a small project. I kept a detailed spreadsheet of all my business activities and earnings to show I was being honest. Also, make sure you can prove you're still actively job searching - I kept screenshots of job applications and emails with potential employers. The NYS DOL really does check this stuff, so don't risk it. Better to have reduced benefits than no benefits at all.