Wait, so you can actually quit and still get unemployment? I thought you had to be fired or laid off. This changes everything for my situation...

I work in HR and see these situations frequently. For childcare-related scheduling conflicts, NYS DOL typically considers it good cause if: 1) The schedule changes were not part of your original job terms, 2) You don't have reasonable alternatives for childcare, and 3) You attempted to work with your employer on a solution first. The 24-hour notice issue is particularly strong evidence since it's unreasonable to expect parents to arrange childcare that quickly. Before quitting, I'd recommend sending your manager an email explaining your childcare constraints and asking for more advance notice on schedule changes. Keep their response as documentation. Also gather any evidence showing your original work schedule vs. the current unpredictable one.

focus on the effective days remaining. when those run out ur done unless u get an extension. BYE date is just the calendar end of ur claim but u still need days left to get paid

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! I have 12 effective days left and my BYE isn't until March 2022. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like I need to call ASAP before my days run out completely. Has anyone had success getting through to unemployment recently? I've been trying the main number for days with no luck. Really don't want to end up with a gap in payments while they sort this out 😰

The whole workforce registration thing is such a pain. Like we don't have enough to worry about when we're unemployed! I spent THREE HOURS at my local office just to fill out paperwork that could have been done online. The system is broken.

@Ayla Kumar - I just went through this process last month! You can do most of it online through the NY.gov website. Search for "OSOS" (One Stop Operating System) and create an account there. You'll need to complete your profile, upload your resume, and take some basic skills assessments. The only thing I had to do in person was attend a brief orientation session, but some counties are still doing those virtually. Make sure to do this ASAP - they can put a hold on your benefits if you don't complete it within the required timeframe. The whole online portion took me about 2 hours to complete.

Hey Nathan! Sorry to hear about your situation. Since you mentioned the accident prevented you from working, you should definitely look into NY State Disability Insurance (SDI) - it's separate from unemployment and designed exactly for situations like yours. You can apply online at ny.gov or call their disability line. Make sure to have your medical records and doctor's statement ready showing you're unable to work due to the accident. The good news is you can potentially get both back pay and ongoing benefits while you recover. Don't give up!

I went through something similar last year after a workplace injury. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed timeline of everything - dates of the accident, when you last worked, medical appointments, etc. The disability office will ask for all of this and having it organized makes the process way smoother. Also, if you have short-term disability through a previous employer, don't forget to check on that too. Sometimes people overlook it but it can provide coverage while you're waiting for state disability to kick in. The system is definitely confusing but there are more options than it seems at first!

same boat here mama, it's so hard!! hope everything works out for you

I'm going through something similar right now - my daycare suddenly raised their rates by 60% and I just can't afford it on my current salary. From what I've researched, NYS Department of Labor does consider "compelling family circumstances" which can include sudden loss of childcare arrangements. The important thing is documenting that you're actively looking for solutions and that the available options are genuinely unaffordable relative to your income. I've been keeping a spreadsheet of every childcare option I've contacted with their costs and availability. Also, make sure to communicate everything in writing with your employer - emails are your friend here. Even if they terminate you, having that paper trail showing you tried to work with them could really help your case. Hang in there!