What happens if you turn down a job while on unemployment - NYS Department of Labor consequences?

You can refuse unsuitable work and still keep your benefits. NYS Department of Labor considers several factors when determining if work is suitable - pay compared to your previous job, your skills and experience, commuting distance, and working conditions. A $5/hour pay cut from retail management to warehouse work could definitely be considered unsuitable, especially early in your claim period.

yeah but be careful because they do investigate this stuff sometimes. i turned down a job that was paying way less than my old one and never heard anything about it but my friend got questioned

Wait, I'm confused about this too! I thought you HAD to take any job offer or they'd stop your unemployment? I've been so stressed about this exact situation. Does anyone know where to find the actual NYS Department of Labor rules about what counts as suitable work??

I had a similar situation where I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this directly. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent I spoke with explained the suitable work rules in detail and it really put my mind at ease about declining inappropriate job offers.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I declined a job last month because it required me to work nights and I have kids at home but now I'm paranoid they're gonna find out somehow and cut me off

From what I understand, the general rule is that you don't have to accept work that pays less than 80% of your previous wage in the first few weeks of unemployment. But honestly, the NYS Department of Labor website is so hard to navigate that I can never find the exact details when I need them.

I'm in a similar boat right now - been on unemployment for about 3 weeks and I'm terrified of getting a job offer that doesn't match my background. Reading through all these responses is super reassuring though! The 80% rule that @Libby Hassan and @Natasha Volkova mentioned is really helpful to know. I had no idea there were actual guidelines like that. Does anyone know if the rules change after a certain number of weeks on unemployment? Like do they eventually expect you to take jobs that pay less than 80% of your previous salary?

Maya, you should definitely feel confident about declining that warehouse job! The combination of the significant pay cut (from $18 to $13/hour) and the complete mismatch with your retail management experience makes this a clear case of unsuitable work under NYS Department of Labor standards. I was in a similar situation a few months ago when I was offered a job that was way below my previous salary and skill level - I declined it without any issues with my benefits. The key thing is that you're still early in your unemployment claim (only 6 weeks), so the standards for what constitutes "suitable work" are much more in your favor. Just keep a record of the job offer details and your reasons for declining in case you ever need to explain your decision later. You're absolutely making the right choice by holding out for something more appropriate to your background and pay level!

Maya, you're absolutely in the clear to decline that warehouse job! As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I can tell you that a $5/hour pay cut combined with zero relevant experience makes this textbook "unsuitable work" under NYS Department of Labor guidelines. At only 6 weeks into your claim, you're still in the early period where they expect you to be selective about job offers that match your background and salary history. I declined three jobs in my first two months that were significantly below my previous pay rate and never had any issues with my benefits. The key is keeping good records - save that job offer email/details and maybe write a quick note about why it's unsuitable (major pay cut, no warehouse experience, doesn't utilize your retail management skills). Don't let them pressure you into taking a job that could derail your career trajectory. You have time to find something more appropriate!

Maya, you're definitely safe to turn down that warehouse job! The combination of the $5/hour pay cut (from $18 to $13) and the fact that it's completely outside your retail management experience makes this a clear case of unsuitable work. I went through something similar when I was between jobs - turned down several offers that were way below my previous salary in the first couple months and NYS Department of Labor never questioned it. At 6 weeks into your claim, you're still well within the period where they expect you to be selective about offers that don't match your background or pay level. Just keep documentation of the job offer details and your reasons for declining (significant pay reduction, no relevant warehouse experience, doesn't utilize your management skills) in case they ever ask. Don't feel pressured into taking something that could set your career back - the system is designed to give you time to find appropriate work!

Maya, you're absolutely making the right decision by questioning that warehouse job offer! As someone who just went through this exact situation a few months ago, I can tell you that declining unsuitable work is completely within your rights under NYS Department of Labor guidelines. A $5/hour pay cut from your retail management role (that's about a 28% reduction!) combined with zero warehouse experience makes this textbook unsuitable work, especially at only 6 weeks into your claim. I turned down two similar offers early in my unemployment period - one was a significant pay cut and another required skills I didn't have - and never heard a word from NYS DOL about it. The key is being able to justify your decision if they ever ask: document the pay difference, note how it doesn't match your management experience, and keep records of your active job search in your field. Don't let anyone pressure you into thinking you have to take the first thing that comes along - you've earned the right to be selective about finding work that actually fits your background and career goals!

Maya, you're absolutely in the right to decline that warehouse job! I went through something very similar when I was on unemployment - got offered a job that was way below my previous salary and completely outside my field. The NYS Department of Labor has clear guidelines about "suitable work" and your situation hits multiple criteria for unsuitable: the significant pay cut (from $18 to $13/hour is nearly a 30% reduction!), the lack of relevant experience, and you're still early in your claim at only 6 weeks. I kept detailed records of offers I declined and never had any issues with my benefits. The system recognizes that taking a job that's way below your skill level and pay grade can actually hurt your long-term career prospects. Focus your search on retail management positions or similar roles that match your $18/hour experience level - you have time to find something appropriate rather than settling for the first thing that comes along. Just document everything in case they ever ask for justification later!