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omg I'm so confused about this stuff too! I thought there were only like 2 types - unemployed or employed lol. This is way more complicated than I expected when I lost my job.
THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING!!! They make everything needlessly complicated with all these different terms and categories. Just file your claim and answer their questions honestly - don't overthink the economic theory behind it.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to update your address or verify your claim status, you might want to check out claimyr.com - they help people get through to agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used it last year when I couldn't reach anyone about my adjudication issue.
When you file your claim, make sure to explain exactly what happened - that it was an economic layoff due to the employer's inability to meet new wage requirements. Don't just put 'laid off' - be specific. Also keep any documentation from your employer about the layoff if they gave you anything in writing. NYS Department of Labor sometimes asks for additional information during the adjudication process.
The whole minimum wage situation is creating so many problems for small businesses. My friend owns a coffee shop and she's been struggling ever since the increases started. But you're right that workers shouldn't be penalized for economic decisions they had no control over. The unemployment system exists for exactly these situations.
I had a similar situation where I couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to check on my contested claim status. After weeks of busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to real agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.
Been through this twice now. Your employer can definitely make things difficult by contesting but NYS Department of Labor usually sides with the employee if you were legitimately laid off. Just make sure you have any documentation about your layoff and keep filing your weekly claims even during the adjudication process.
CosmicCadet
File anyway and see what happens. Worst case they deny you but at least you tried.
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Malik Robinson
•Actually, there can be consequences for filing without good cause - it could affect future benefit eligibility. Better to understand the requirements first.
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Chloe Harris
I went through something similar when I quit my job at a warehouse. The supervisor was making sexual comments and creating an uncomfortable environment. I filed for unemployment and had to go through the whole adjudication process, but I eventually got approved. The key was having specific examples and being able to show I tried to address the issue with HR first. NYS Department of Labor wants to see you made reasonable efforts to resolve the situation before quitting.
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GalaxyGlider
•Did you have to provide witness statements or just your own account of what happened?
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