Does Amazon fight unemployment claims in NY - anyone have experience?

Amazon doesn't typically fight legitimate unemployment claims, but they do respond to all adjudication requests from NYS Department of Labor with detailed employment records. The delay is probably just normal processing time - 3 weeks isn't unusual for adjudication especially if they're verifying your work history or reason for separation. As long as you were laid off and didn't quit or get fired for misconduct, you should be fine.

I worked at Amazon in Queens and got laid off last year. Same thing happened - took forever for my claim to process but it eventually went through. Amazon is pretty good about providing accurate info to NYS Department of Labor, they just take their time responding which slows everything down.

The adjudication delay is likely because Amazon provides very detailed separation information to NYS Department of Labor including attendance records, performance data, etc. They want to make sure everything is documented properly. If you're having trouble getting through to check your claim status, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach a real person at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.

Large employers like Amazon have automated systems that respond to all unemployment claims with standard documentation. They're not necessarily 'fighting' your claim, just providing the info NYS Department of Labor requested. The adjudication process verifies everything matches up between what you reported and what your employer reported.

ugh the waiting is the worst part!! I'm going through the same thing with a different company and it's driving me crazy. At least you know it was a legit layoff so you should be good.

I went through this exact situation with Amazon LGA8 in Queens about 8 months ago. Amazon definitely provides comprehensive documentation to NYS DOL but they're not maliciously fighting claims - it's just their standard process. The 3-4 week adjudication timeframe is pretty normal, especially for larger employers where they have to verify employment dates, reason for separation, etc. Since you mentioned it was a legitimate layoff due to volume reduction, you should be fine. Just make sure you keep certifying weekly even during adjudication. The benefits will be backdated once approved. Hang in there!

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation with Amazon JFK8 on Long Island - been waiting about 2.5 weeks for adjudication to complete. From what I've learned talking to other former Amazon employees, they have a very thorough HR system that automatically sends detailed employment records to NYS DOL whenever there's an unemployment claim. This includes everything from your hire date, attendance records, performance reviews, and the specific reason for separation. While this comprehensive documentation can slow down the initial processing, it actually helps ensure your claim gets approved if the layoff was legitimate. The good news is that Amazon's records are usually very accurate, so if you were truly laid off due to business reasons (which it sounds like you were), their documentation should support your claim rather than contradict it.

I went through this with Amazon BWI2 in Maryland (I know it's a different state but the process is similar). Amazon has a policy of providing complete employment documentation to unemployment agencies, which includes everything from your original job offer to your final separation paperwork. The delay you're experiencing is most likely because NYS DOL is cross-referencing all this information with your claim details. In my case, it took about 4 weeks total but once approved, I got all the backdated payments. Since you mentioned it was a legitimate layoff due to reduced volume, Amazon's own records should actually support your claim. Keep documenting everything and don't skip any weekly certifications - those backdated weeks will be worth it once this gets resolved.

I'm a former Amazon employee from a different fulfillment center but wanted to share what I learned about the adjudication process. Amazon actually has one of the most organized separation documentation systems I've seen - they automatically generate detailed reports for unemployment agencies that include hire dates, job codes, supervisor notes, and the exact reason for separation. While this thoroughness can make the initial review take longer, it's generally beneficial for legitimate claims because there's a clear paper trail. The 3-week timeframe you're experiencing is pretty standard for any large employer in NY. Since your layoff was due to volume reduction (which Amazon documents very specifically), their records should actually strengthen your case rather than hurt it. Keep certifying weekly and try not to stress too much - the system works, it just takes time to verify everything matches up.

I worked at Amazon ALB1 in Albany and went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. The 3-week adjudication wait is totally normal for Amazon employees - their HR system sends NYS DOL a massive packet of documentation that takes time to review. In my case, it actually worked out great because Amazon's records clearly showed I was laid off due to seasonal volume decrease, which supported my claim perfectly. The key thing is to keep doing your weekly certifications even while waiting - you'll get all those backdated payments once it's approved. I know the financial stress is real, but based on what you described (legitimate layoff due to reduced volume), you should be good to go. Amazon's thorough documentation usually helps rather than hurts legitimate claims.

I'm currently going through this same process with Amazon JFK8 - been waiting about 2 weeks for adjudication and starting to get anxious about it. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though! It sounds like Amazon's detailed documentation process, while slow, actually tends to work in favor of legitimate layoffs. I was also laid off due to reduced volume (they cut our entire night shift), so hopefully my case will be straightforward like the others mentioned here. The financial stress is real while waiting, but it's good to know that most people eventually got approved with full backdated payments. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this process!