NYS Department of Labor employer obligations - how does unemployment work from business side?
I just started a small business in NYC and I'm trying to understand my responsibilities as an employer when it comes to unemployment insurance. I know I have to pay into the system, but what exactly happens when a former employee files for benefits? Do I get notified? Can I contest claims if someone was terminated for cause? I'm also confused about the quarterly reports I keep hearing about. Any business owners here who can explain how this all works from the employer perspective?
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Lucas Notre-Dame
Yes, you'll definitely get notified when someone files. NYS Department of Labor sends you a 'Notice of Claim' form that you need to respond to within 10 days. You can contest it if you have documentation showing misconduct or voluntary quit. The quarterly reports are your UI contribution statements - you'll need to report wages paid and pay your UI taxes quarterly. Make sure you keep good records of everything, especially any disciplinary actions or resignation letters.
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Layla Mendes
•Thanks! So I respond directly to NYS Department of Labor when I get that notice? What kind of documentation do they typically want for misconduct cases?
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Aria Park
Been running my business for 8 years now. The key thing is responding to those notices quickly - I learned that the hard way when I missed one early on and the claim got approved automatically. For misconduct, you need written warnings, attendance records, any policy violations documented. Screenshots of time clock violations work great too. NYS Department of Labor takes documentation seriously so don't just rely on verbal warnings.
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Layla Mendes
•Good to know about the automatic approval! I'll definitely set up a system to catch those notices right away.
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Noah Ali
honestly the whole system is a pain for small businesses, you pay these taxes and then when you try to contest bogus claims half the time they approve them anyway because some adjudicator doesn't understand your industry
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Lucas Notre-Dame
•I understand the frustration, but proper documentation really does make a difference. The adjudication process can be slow but they do review everything you submit.
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Chloe Boulanger
Wait, so if I have an employee who just stops showing up to work, they can still get unemployment? That doesn't seem right...
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Aria Park
•Job abandonment is considered voluntary quit if you can prove it. You need to show you tried to contact them and they didn't respond. Document your attempts to reach them - texts, emails, calls. After a few days with no contact, send a certified letter asking about their status.
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James Martinez
One thing that helped me was using a service called Claimyr when I had a complex case I needed to discuss with an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. Their phone lines are impossible to get through normally, but this service (claimyr.com) got me connected to someone who could actually explain the employer rules. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time instead of sitting on hold for hours.
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Layla Mendes
•Interesting, I'll check that out. Sometimes you really do need to talk to a real person to understand these regulations.
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Olivia Harris
Also remember you can appeal if they approve a claim you contested. The hearing process lets you present your case more thoroughly than just the initial written response.
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