The whole system is so confusing! I never know if I'm doing the job search part right. How many jobs do you have to apply to each week?

One thing that might help your case is that you mentioned HR said it was a layoff while your supervisor said termination for cause. That discrepancy could work in your favor during the adjudication process. When you file, make sure to explain the attendance issues were due to car problems and that you tried to work with your supervisor on solutions. Document everything you can remember about those conversations. The NYS Department of Labor looks at whether the employer followed progressive discipline policies and if you made good faith efforts to address the issues. Since there's conflicting information from your former employer, they'll have to provide documentation to support their position.

Just went through this myself. You also need to post the unemployment insurance notice in your workplace where employees can see it. NYS Department of Labor provides the poster when you register. Don't forget about workers comp insurance too - that's separate but also required for most businesses.

ugh the government just wants to squeeze every penny out of small businesses... my cousin's friend said you can just pay people as contractors and avoid all this mess

Just went through this last year - the registration process with NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty straightforward once I got all my paperwork together. Make sure you have your federal EIN ready and know your NAICS code for your industry classification.

One thing to keep in mind is that New York has some specific thresholds for when you need to register. Generally, you need to register for unemployment insurance once you pay wages of $300 or more in any calendar quarter, or if you have one or more employees for some portion of a day in each of 20 different weeks (doesn't have to be consecutive). The rates for new employers are typically around 4.1% for most industries, but like others mentioned, this can change based on your claims experience after a few years.

One thing to remember is that your unemployment insurance rate will change over time based on your experience rating. If you have a lot of former employees filing claims, your rate goes up. If you have few claims, it goes down. So there's an incentive to be careful about hiring and to document any performance issues properly in case you need to contest a claim later.

As someone who just went through setting up unemployment insurance for my small business, I'd recommend calling NYS Department of Labor directly to confirm your industry classification - that affects your initial rate. Also make sure you understand the difference between independent contractors and employees because misclassifying workers can lead to big penalties. The quarterly reporting deadlines are strict so set up reminders. One more tip: even if you only have one employee now, start keeping detailed personnel files from day one including job descriptions, performance reviews, and any disciplinary actions. You'll thank yourself later if you ever need to contest a claim.

IMPORTANT INFO FOR YOUR CASE: Under NY labor law, if your working conditions changed substantially (like major schedule changes) AND you can prove it creates undue hardship, you may have good cause to quit. Document everything! Save emails, write down conversations with dates/times, get medical documentation for your family member. When you file, be super specific about timeline and how the changes made it impossible to continue employment while maintaining caregiving duties. If denied, APPEAL! Use claimyr.com to reach an agent faster - worth the $20 to get answers quickly.

Also check if your employer has FMLA obligations - if they have 50+ employees and you've worked there a year, they might have been required to offer you unpaid leave or schedule accommodations for family caregiving. If they violated FMLA by not even considering accommodations, that strengthens your unemployment case even more. Document that they didn't offer any alternatives before you quit!