Hotel job stringing me along - can I collect NY unemployment after 14 years of employment?

Yes, you absolutely can and should file for unemployment right away. In New York, you're considered \

Thank you so much for the clear explanation. I didn't realize I could file while technically still employed! I have all the texts saved from my manager promising different return dates. Should I mention that I think they might be selling the hotel? Or just stick to the facts about no work/pay being offered?

Just went through something SIMILAR with a restaurant chain!! They kept saying \

That's exactly what I'm afraid of - that I'll miss out on unemployment I should've been getting this whole time. Did you eventually get backpay for all those months? And did you have to get a new job or were you able to stay on unemployment?

I only got partial backpay (about 6 weeks worth) because I couldn't prove exactly when they started giving me the runaround. I'm still kicking myself for not documenting better!!!! I did finally find a new job, but the unemployment helped me survive those months in between. Don't make my mistake - file NOW.

same thing happend to me with a big hotel in times square!! they kept saying

Hotel industry HR professional here. What you're describing is unfortunately common right now in hospitality. Under NY law, you're in what's called a \

Thank you for the detailed advice! I had no idea about \

Legally, they cannot refuse to rehire you because you filed for unemployment - that would be retaliation. In practice though, I recommend being straightforward if they contact you. Simply explain that without income or a definite return date, you had financial responsibilities that required you to file. Any reasonable employer understands this.\n\nAlso, consider sending a formal email to HR asking for a written update on reopening timeline and your employment status. This creates documentation AND shows you're still interested in returning.

I spent 3 MONTHS trying to reach the NY unemployment office about a similar situation (hotel industry too). Couldn't get through on the phones, emails went unanswered, website kept crashing. FINALLY I discovered Claimyr.com and was connected to a real agent in under 10 minutes. They helped me file properly and get backpay for weeks I was eligible but hadn't filed. There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - seriously saved my sanity and finances during the whole hotel reopening runaround.

does this actually work?? ive been trying 2 get thru 2 unemployment for like 3 weeks and keep getting hung up on!!

It worked for me! My claim had been stuck in pending for weeks, and I couldn't get through on the regular phone line despite calling literally 50+ times. The Claimyr service got me connected in about 8 minutes. The unemployment agent was able to fix some issue with my claim that I couldn't resolve through the website.

Quick question - does anyone know if taking unemployment would prevent the hotel workers from filing a class action later if it turns out management was deliberately misleading everyone? My cousin's workplace did something similar and their lawyer said unemployment claims might complicate their case.

Taking unemployment doesn't prevent any legal action against the employer for false promises or misrepresentation. They're separate issues - unemployment is about your current income situation, while a potential lawsuit would be about the employer's conduct. Document everything carefully either way.

MY HOTEL DID THE EXACT SAME THING TO US!!!! First it was \

Yikes, that's what I'm afraid is happening. How long did your hotel string you along before the sudden sale? And did you have any warning signs I should watch for?

They strung us along for SEVEN MONTHS with constant \

One more important thing - when you apply for NY unemployment, you'll need to show you're actively looking for work to maintain eligibility. This means applying to at least 3 jobs per week and keeping records of your search activities. If your hotel does eventually call you back, you can simply stop claiming weekly benefits at that point.\n\nAs for holding the hotel accountable - you might want to contact the NY Department of Labor about potential labor law violations. If many employees are in the same situation, they might investigate. The hotel industry in NY has specific regulations about notice periods for mass layoffs (even \

That's good to know about the work search requirements. If I do get interviews elsewhere while waiting, should I be honest with potential employers that I'm still technically employed but without work? I don't want to seem like I'm job-hopping.

Be completely honest with potential employers. Explain that your hotel has suspended operations indefinitely with vague promises of reopening, but no concrete timeline. Most employers will understand - this situation has become common in hospitality. You can frame it positively: \

i no a guy who works at local 6 he says they been getting lots of calls bout this excat thing. said u should contact ur union rep rite away cuz they need to no how many workers r getting screwed

That's a great point about contacting the union. I'll call my rep tomorrow. Have you heard if Local 6 is doing anything specific to help people in our situation?

Has anyone tried calling the NY unemployment office lately? Is it still impossible to get through? When I had issues last year I had to call 37 times before someone picked up!

It's still a nightmare. My neighbor called for two weeks straight without getting through. I used Claimyr like I mentioned above - worth every penny to avoid the frustration of calling endlessly. Especially in situations like this where you need specific questions answered about your eligibility.

It's definitely worse now than a few months ago. I think a lot of hospitality and retail claims are hitting the system at once. Best times to call are Tuesday-Thursday right when they open or during lunch hours when call volume dips slightly.

Update to my earlier advice: Make sure you track all of this carefully for tax purposes. Unemployment benefits are taxable income, and if you do get called back to work, you'll need to report all UI payments received. The NYSDOL issues Form 1099-G in January 2026 for all unemployment received in 2025.\n\nAlso, you might qualify for partial unemployment if they eventually bring you back with reduced hours. New York has a pretty generous partial unemployment system compared to many states.

Thanks for mentioning taxes - I hadn't even thought about that part. I'll make sure to set aside some of the unemployment money for taxes if I get approved. And that's good to know about partial unemployment too, in case they eventually bring us back but only part-time at first.