


Ask the community...
Just be prepared that they might deny your initial claim and you'll have to appeal. The burden of proof is on you to show you had no choice but to quit. Document everything you can remember about the toxic behavior - dates, witnesses, any HR complaints you made. Even if you don't have written proof, your testimony during the hearing can still carry weight.
Don't give up before you even try! NYS Department of Labor actually sides with workers more often than people think when there's clear evidence of hostile work environments. The key is being thorough in your application and not leaving out any details about why continuing to work there wasn't reasonable.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been waiting 7 weeks and every time I call they just say 'still processing' or hang up on me. Meanwhile bills are piling up and I'm about to lose my apartment. They make it impossible to get through to anyone who can actually help.
Just wanted to update - I was in a similar situation last year and it ended up taking 5 weeks total. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review, because if you miss those you'll lose benefits for those weeks. Also document everything in case you need to appeal later.
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor agents about additional support resources, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through their phone lines. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me connect with someone who could explain what services were available beyond just the weekly payments.
The psychological impact is HUGE and nobody talks about it enough! I went through a whole identity crisis when I lost my job because so much of who I was felt tied to my work. Plus the stress of dealing with all the NYS Department of Labor paperwork and requirements on top of job searching... it's exhausting.
I'm on week 23 of my benefits and getting really nervous about what happens when I hit 26 weeks. Are there any other programs I can apply for after regular unemployment runs out?
Zara Malik
yeah most companies have to pay it, even small ones. I think the only exceptions are like churches and some non-profits maybe? but regular businesses definitely have to contribute to unemployment insurance
0 coins
Luca Marino
•That's mostly correct. Religious organizations and certain non-profits can be exempt, but they can also choose to participate. Agricultural employers have different rules too. But for a typical small business like a marketing firm, they absolutely have to pay unemployment insurance taxes to NYS Department of Labor.
0 coins
Nia Davis
I had a nightmare trying to reach NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my employer's UI status during my claim. Kept getting busy signals and getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier when I needed to verify my employer information.
0 coins
Diego Flores
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check that out if I have trouble getting through to ask about my employer's status.
0 coins