Can I collect unemployment if my company moves location in NY?

You may actually qualify for unemployment benefits in this situation! NYS Department of Labor considers it 'good cause' to quit when your employer relocates beyond reasonable commuting distance. Generally anything over 50 miles or significantly increases your commute time can qualify. When you file your UI claim, make sure to explain the relocation circumstances clearly in your application.

I went through this exact same thing 2 years ago when my company moved from Rochester to Elmira. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim but it took about 3 weeks for adjudication because they had to verify the relocation details. Make sure you keep all the emails and notices about the move as documentation.

Wait I'm confused - I thought quitting always disqualifies you from unemployment? This would be huge for me because my job might be moving to Long Island soon and there's no way I can afford to live there.

The NYS Department of Labor phone lines are impossible to get through to verify this stuff. I spent literally 2 hours on hold last week trying to ask about my weekly claim certification. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to a real NYS Department of Labor agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

Just make sure you don't quit before the actual move happens! I made that mistake and it complicated my claim because NYS Department of Labor said I quit prematurely. Wait until you have the official relocation date and then you can quit with good cause.

I just went through something similar when my company relocated from Albany to NYC. The key thing is that NYS considers it "constructive dismissal" when the relocation makes it unreasonable for you to continue working there. In my case, I had to demonstrate that the commute would be over 2 hours each way or that relocating wasn't financially feasible. Keep all documentation about the move announcement, including emails about the timeline and new location. When you file, be very specific about why the relocation creates an undue hardship - whether it's distance, commute time, or family obligations that prevent you from moving. The adjudication process took about a month for me but I was ultimately approved. Don't let HR discourage you - they often don't know the specific unemployment regulations.

I work for a law firm that handles employment cases and can confirm that employer relocation beyond reasonable commuting distance is definitely considered "good cause" under NY Labor Law Section 593. The 50+ mile rule mentioned earlier is generally accurate, but it's not just about distance - they also consider commute time and whether public transportation is available. Syracuse to Buffalo is about 150 miles, so you're well beyond the threshold. When you file your claim, emphasize both the distance (150+ miles) and time (2.5+ hours each way) as creating an undue hardship. Also mention any family circumstances that prevent relocation, like kids in school or caring for elderly parents. The fact that you've been there 4 years actually works in your favor - it shows you're not someone who quits jobs frivolously. Don't let HR intimidate you - they're often wrong about unemployment eligibility because it's not their area of expertise.

I actually had a very similar situation about 6 months ago when my company moved from Binghamton to White Plains. The distance was about 160 miles and would have meant a 3+ hour commute each way. I was terrified that HR was right about it being considered a "voluntary quit," but I filed for unemployment anyway. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 3 weeks of review. The key was being very detailed in my application - I explained the exact mileage, calculated the daily commute time, estimated the additional gas and wear-and-tear costs (which would have been over $400/month), and mentioned that my spouse's job and our mortgage kept us rooted in Binghamton. I also included screenshots of the company's relocation announcement email. The adjudicator I spoke with was actually very understanding and said cases like this are more common than people think. Don't give up - your situation with Syracuse to Buffalo sounds even more clear-cut than mine was!