Does minimum wage increase unemployment - NYS Department of Labor claim experience after wage hike
Been thinking about this after losing my retail job right when NY minimum wage went up last year. My manager basically told us they had to cut hours and let some people go because of labor costs. Now I'm on unemployment and wondering if there's actually a connection between wage increases and more people filing claims with NYS Department of Labor? My weekly claim certification asks about job searches but honestly most places seem to be hiring fewer people now. Anyone else notice this pattern or is it just bad timing on my part?
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Lena Kowalski
There's actually mixed research on this topic. Some studies show minimal job losses from minimum wage increases, while others show more significant impacts in certain industries like retail and food service. What matters for your unemployment claim is that you lost your job through no fault of your own, which qualifies you for benefits regardless of the economic reasons behind the layoff.
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DeShawn Washington
•But does NYS Department of Labor consider economic layoffs differently when determining benefits? I'm worried they might question my eligibility somehow.
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Mei-Ling Chen
same thing happened at my restaurant job!! they cut like 6 people right after the wage increase and said it was 'restructuring' but we all knew what was really going on. filed my unemployment claim the next week
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Sofía Rodríguez
•Economic layoffs are actually one of the most straightforward reasons for unemployment benefits. NYS Department of Labor doesn't penalize you for broader economic factors affecting your employer. As long as you weren't fired for misconduct, you should qualify. Make sure you're documenting your job search activities properly for your weekly claims.
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Aiden O'Connor
The whole system is rigged anyway. They raise wages to look good politically then small businesses can't afford to keep everyone. Meanwhile big corporations just automate more jobs. Been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months trying to get my claim processed while watching more automation replace workers everywhere.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•That sounds frustrating with your claim processing. Have you tried calling the NYS Department of Labor directly? I know the phone lines are always busy but sometimes you can get through early in the morning.
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Jamal Brown
•Actually had luck with a service called Claimyr when I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor myself. They basically call for you and get you connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me weeks of trying to get through on my own.
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DeShawn Washington
I think this is just coincidence honestly. My cousin works in labor economics and says the job market has way more factors than just minimum wage. Supply chains, technology changes, consumer spending patterns all matter more. Focus on your unemployment benefits and job search rather than trying to figure out macro economics.
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Toot-n-Mighty
•You're probably right. I should just focus on my weekly claim certification and finding new work. Thanks for the perspective.
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