Does employer have to pay unemployment benefits in New York - confused about who pays what

Your employer doesn't pay your unemployment benefits directly. They pay unemployment insurance taxes to NYS Department of Labor throughout the year, kind of like how they pay into workers comp. When you file for UI, the money comes from the state unemployment insurance fund that all employers contribute to. Your claim might affect their future tax rates, but they're not writing you a check every week.

yeah your manager was probably just trying to scare you into not filing lol. employers hate when people file because it can raise their unemployment tax rate if they have too many claims. but that's their problem not yours - you paid into this system through your work

The way it works is employers pay quarterly unemployment insurance taxes to NYS Department of Labor based on their payroll and their experience rating. If they have more former employees collecting unemployment, their tax rate goes up in future years. But the benefits you receive come from the state UI fund, not directly from your employer's pocket. You earned this coverage by working there, so don't feel guilty about filing your claim.

ugh employers always try to guilt trip people about this!! my old boss did the same thing when I got laid off last year. I was so stressed about calling NYS Department of Labor because I thought I was personally costing them money. turns out they're just worried about their future tax rates going up

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to file your claim, I had good luck with this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent by phone. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself when I needed to get my claim straightened out.

just to add - make sure you file right away because there's usually a waiting period and you want to get the process started. don't let your employer guilt you out of benefits you're entitled to

Your manager was definitely trying to discourage you from filing, which is pretty common unfortunately. In New York, unemployment benefits are funded through the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is built up from taxes that employers pay on their payrolls. When you collect benefits, it doesn't come directly from your former employer - it comes from this state-managed fund. However, your claim can impact your employer's future tax rate through what's called an "experience rating" - basically, employers with more former employees collecting unemployment may see their UI tax rate increase in subsequent years. But that's a cost of doing business, not something you should feel guilty about. You worked there for 2 years and earned this safety net!

Your manager was absolutely trying to manipulate you - this is unfortunately super common. Employers know that unemployment claims can affect their experience rating and potentially increase their future UI tax rates, so some try to discourage employees from filing. But here's the thing: you PAID for this coverage through your work! Every paycheck you earned helped fund the system through your employer's contributions. You're not taking charity or hurting anyone - you're accessing a benefit you literally earned by working there for 2 years. File your claim ASAP and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it. The NYS Department of Labor website has all the info you need to get started.

I went through this exact same situation when I got laid off from my restaurant job last year! My manager also tried to make me feel guilty about filing, saying it would "hurt the business" and that I should "be loyal" even after they let me go. It's such a common manipulation tactic. The reality is that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. Your employer has been paying premiums into this system the whole time you worked there, just like they pay into workers comp or any other mandatory business insurance. When you file a claim, you're not personally costing them money any more than filing a car insurance claim personally costs your insurance company - it's literally what the system is designed for. Don't let them guilt you into not accessing benefits you've earned. File your claim immediately because there can be delays, and you need that income to survive while job hunting.