Can I collect unemployment if I get fired during my probation period in NY?

Being fired during probation doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in New York. What matters is the reason for termination. If they're letting you go for performance issues or saying you're not a good fit, that's typically not considered misconduct and you should be eligible. However, if you were fired for something like attendance issues, theft, or violating company policy, that could be considered misconduct and might disqualify you.

You should definitely file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. The NYS Department of Labor will review your case and make a determination based on the circumstances. Since you mentioned it was about not picking up processes quickly enough, that sounds like a performance issue rather than misconduct. Make sure to be honest about the reason for termination when you file your weekly claims. The employer might contest it, but you have the right to appeal if they deny your claim initially.

ugh the probation period firing thing is so frustrating!! companies use it as an excuse to get rid of people without consequences. but yeah you should still be able to get unemployment unless they claim you did something really bad

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check on my claim status after a similar situation. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals and hold time when I needed answers about my adjudication.

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. The key thing to remember is that being terminated during probation is actually pretty common and doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits. Since your employer cited performance/fit issues rather than misconduct, you should be in good shape. When you file your claim, be clear and honest about what happened - "terminated during probation period for not learning job duties quickly enough" or similar. Keep any documentation you have about the termination (emails, termination letter, etc.) in case the employer contests your claim. File as soon as possible after your last day to avoid any delays in benefit processing.