Can you get NY unemployment if you reject lower salary after company buyout?

This is actually a really good question with some nuance to it. In NY, if someone rejects a job offer with substantially lower pay compared to their previous position, they may still qualify for unemployment benefits. The key word is "substantially" - generally the NYSDOL considers a wage decrease of 20% or more to be substantial enough to justify turning down the offer. Since your family member has been with the company for 25 years, they should document their current compensation package thoroughly before any changes happen. They should save pay stubs, benefits information, etc., to prove what they were making before the buyout.

theyl probably try to make them take the lower salary its BS my brothers company did this last year offered everyone 15% less and said take it or leave..... some people took it cuz they had no choice but the ones who didnt had a HARD time getting unemployment approved took like 8 weeks

To add to what others have said, your family member should be aware of a few specific details regarding NY unemployment in this situation: 1. They must be very clear when applying that they didn't voluntarily quit but rather rejected a substantially inferior offer following a company acquisition 2. They should use language in their application that specifically states they were "constructively discharged" as this is the technical term that helps NYSDOL understand the situation 3. They need to document EXACTLY what their previous compensation was AND what the new offer includes (not just base salary but benefits, hours, etc.) 4. If possible, they should get the new offer in writing with all details 5. They should apply immediately after rejecting the offer, don't wait The standard process is that NYSDOL will likely contact both the employee and employer to verify the circumstances. Your family member should be prepared to explain specifically why the new position represents a substantial reduction in their working conditions or compensation.

I went through something similar in 2025 when my employer of 18 years was acquired. They offered me a 22% pay cut and I refused. I applied for unemployment and was DENIED initially! I was completely shocked and panicking because I had bills to pay. The system is NOT fair at all!! I tried for TWO WEEKS calling the NY unemployment office every single day but could never get through to a real person. Always got disconnected or stuck on hold forever. I was about to give up when someone recommended I try Claimyr.com to get through to an agent. They have this service that helps you actually reach a real unemployment agent (they showed a video of how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE). Once I finally got through to an actual human agent, they reviewed my case and reversed the denial! The agent told me that the system automatically denies many claims that involve refusing job offers, but when a human reviews it with the proper context (pay cut after acquisition), they often approve it. I got all my benefits backdated too. Tell your family member not to accept a big pay cut and to fight for their benefits if needed!

What everyone's ignoring is that a company buyout often means the TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT change!!! It's not as simple as "I rejected a salary cut so I get benefits." If the new company is technically a new employer, they're making a NEW JOB OFFER, not continuing old employment. This is a legal distinction that matters!!! I worked in HR for 12 years and saw this constantly. The NY unemployment system often sees this as you rejecting a job offer from a NEW employer, not being laid off from the old one. It depends on the legal structure of the acquisition!!! Your family member needs to find out if: 1) The same legal entity is employing them (just new owners) 2) They're being terminated from old company and hired by new one If it's #2, they might be eligible for severance from the old company, which is MUCH BETTER than unemployment!!!

my cousin went thru this excat thing!!! got offerd 30% less pay after 15 years at same job... he told them to F off and filed for benifits... took forever to get approved but he did. he had to appeal like 2 times tho. the hole system is messed up

One important thing to note about NY unemployment in 2025 is that the NYSDOL now has specific guidelines for company acquisition scenarios. If the new position offers less than 80% of the previous total compensation (including benefits, not just salary), it's generally considered a "substantial change in employment conditions" that justifies rejection without disqualifying you from benefits. However, the burden of proof is on the claimant. Your family member should: 1. Get the current compensation package documented (salary, benefits, PTO, etc.) 2. Get the new offer in writing with ALL details 3. Calculate the total percentage reduction 4. If it's 20%+ reduction, apply for benefits citing "constructive discharge due to substantial reduction in compensation following company acquisition" The initial determination might still be a denial, but with proper documentation and those specific terms, appeals are often successful. Just be prepared for it to potentially take 8-12 weeks for final resolution if appeals are necessary.

have they actually been offered a lower salary yet or is this just a rumor? might be getting worried over nothing

One last piece of advice - if your family member does end up in this situation and needs to apply for unemployment benefits, documentation and timing are absolutely critical. Make sure they: 1. Don't formally resign - instead, they should clearly communicate in writing that they are not accepting the substantially reduced compensation offer 2. Apply for benefits immediately after the last day of work 3. Be prepared to appeal if necessary (many of these cases get denied initially but approved on appeal) 4. If they have trouble reaching a live person at the NYSDOL (which is unfortunately common), consider using a service that helps you get through the phone systems 5. Consider consulting with an employment attorney before making any final decisions, especially with 25 years of service involved Best of luck to your family member - company acquisitions are always stressful, but knowing your rights helps tremendously.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My company was just acquired and they're restructuring everything. One thing I learned from my union rep is that if your relative is in a union, they should definitely check their collective bargaining agreement - sometimes there are specific protections for situations like this that people don't even know about. Also, I've heard that keeping detailed records of ANY communication about the buyout is important. Even informal conversations with managers should be documented with dates and what was said. If they end up needing to prove their case later, having a timeline of events can be really valuable. The whole process is super stressful but it sounds like there are definitely options available if the worst-case scenario happens. Fingers crossed the new company doesn't cut salaries as much as the rumors suggest!

I went through something very similar when my company was acquired in 2023. After 12 years there, they offered me a position with 25% less pay and called it "market realignment." I was terrified about whether I'd qualify for unemployment if I turned it down. What really helped me was documenting EVERYTHING from the moment we heard about the acquisition. I kept emails, meeting notes, even wrote down conversations with my supervisor about the changes coming. When I eventually had to apply for benefits after rejecting their offer, having all that documentation made a huge difference. The key thing I learned is that NY treats these buyout situations case-by-case, but if you can show the new offer was substantially worse than your previous position (not just salary but total compensation package), you have a good chance of getting approved. It took about 6 weeks for my claim to be fully processed, but I did get approved. Your relative should start gathering their current pay stubs, benefits information, and any communications about the buyout right now, even if it's still just rumors. Being prepared ahead of time will make things so much smoother if they do end up needing to file a claim.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your relative does end up in this situation, they should also check if their company has any kind of retention bonus or severance package they might be entitled to. Sometimes during acquisitions, companies will offer these to long-term employees even if they're not legally required to. Also, I'd suggest they start networking and updating their resume now, just in case. With 25 years of experience, they're probably very valuable in their field, and having other options lined up can give them more confidence to reject a lowball offer if it comes to that. The unemployment benefits are definitely there as a safety net, but having multiple backup plans is always the best approach. Hopefully the new owners will recognize the value of experienced employees and not make drastic cuts!