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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS SET UP TO CONFUSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS! They make it so complicated with all these different thresholds and requirements. Why can't they just have ONE place to register for everything instead of making us jump through hoops with federal AND state agencies?
To answer your specific question - yes, you're likely already liable based on what you described. With two employees, you should register with NYS Department of Labor immediately and start tracking your quarterly wages. For federal, if you're paying more than $1,500 in any quarter, you'll need to file Form 940. Better to register early and stay compliant than deal with penalties later.
Your best bet is probably NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) or OECD historical statistics if you can access them through your school library. NYS Department of Labor data from that era would only cover New York state anyway. Try searching for 'industrial unemployment 1933' in academic databases like JSTOR.
Wait why are you looking at NYS Department of Labor for international data? That doesn't make sense. You need to use different sources for historical research like this.
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about your adjudication status, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Much easier than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
The whole system is BROKEN! They talk about these noble purposes but then leave people hanging for months without any communication. I've been waiting 8 weeks for my appeal hearing and can barely pay rent. Where's the 'temporary financial assistance' when you actually need it??
I work in government consulting and yes, federal economic policy absolutely impacts state unemployment operations. When the Fed makes major announcements about employment targets or economic stimulus, states often have to adjust their processing to align with new federal oversight requirements. It's frustrating but it's real.
Logan Scott
ugh the whole earnings thing is so confusing!! I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask about this but can never get through. The phone system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever. How is anyone supposed to get answers about this stuff?
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Ethan Clark
•I had the same problem trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor about my earnings questions. Actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Basically they handle all the calling and waiting for you.
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Chloe Green
Just wanted to add that the earnings allowance is calculated on your gross pay, not your take-home. So if you earn $120 gross but only take home $95 after taxes, they use the $120 number for the calculation.
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