Can I decline job offer requiring extensive travel without losing ESD benefits?
I've been on unemployment for about 2 months and just had a phone screening for a position that seemed perfect based on the job listing. However, during the call I discovered the job requires traveling to another city and staying in hotels 3-5 days EVERY week! This was nowhere in the job description and isn't normal in my industry (marketing analytics). If they make an offer, would declining it count as refusing suitable work? I'm worried ESD will cut off my benefits if I turn it down, but this travel requirement would make childcare impossible for me as a single parent. I don't want to waste the employer's time either - is it better to just withdraw my application now? Has anyone dealt with something similar?
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Liam Duke
You're absolutely within your rights to decline this offer without risking your UI benefits. According to ESD's definition of 'suitable work,' a position must align with your training, experience, and usual occupation. If extensive travel wasn't part of your previous positions and isn't standard in your field, you have legitimate grounds to refuse. I'd recommend documenting everything carefully - save the original job posting that didn't mention travel, write down details from your phone screening (date, time, who you spoke with), and if you withdraw, do it via email citing the undisclosed travel requirements so you have a paper trail. If ESD questions it later, you'll have evidence that the job substantially differed from what was advertised.
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Dana Doyle
•Thank you SO much for this detailed answer! That's a huge relief. I'll definitely keep documentation of everything. Should I report this on my weekly claim somehow or only if they actually ask me about it later?
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Manny Lark
This happened to me last year!! Job seemed perfect then BAM they drop the travel bomb in the interview. I straight up told them no thx and withdrew. ESD never even asked me about it. As long as ur still doing ur job searches each week ur fine
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Dana Doyle
•That's reassuring to hear someone else went through this! Did you mention the withdrawal anywhere on your weekly claim? I'm not sure if I need to report that I withdrew from consideration for a job.
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Rita Jacobs
BE CAREFUL!!!! ESD is looking for ANY reason to deny benefits. If you get offered the job and decline it, they WILL find out eventually and you'll have to pay everything back with penalties. Job search requirements say you MUST accept suitable work when offered. Maybe try negotiating less travel before outright declining????
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Liam Duke
•This isn't accurate. The key here is the definition of "suitable work" which ESD clearly defines. A job with undisclosed requirements that significantly alter the nature of the position (like extensive travel that wasn't advertised) would not be considered suitable work, especially if it creates hardship due to childcare responsibilities. The law specifically protects claimants from having to accept positions that substantially differ from their usual occupation or that present undue hardship.
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Khalid Howes
I went through something similar with a warehouse job that turned out to require overnight shifts that weren't mentioned in the posting. I called ESD directly to ask about this exact situation and they confirmed I could decline without penalty because it wasn't suitable work. I spent 4 hours trying to get through to someone though - their phone lines are ridiculous. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was worth it to get a clear answer from ESD directly about my specific situation.
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Ben Cooper
•did claimyr actually work?? ive been trying to get thru to esd for 3 WEEKS about my adjudication. i keep hearing about this service but seems to good to be true lol
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Naila Gordon
just withdraw now and dont mention it anywhere on ur weekly claim. they only care if u actually REFUSE an OFFER not if u withdraw beforehand. i always just ghost employers if the job turns out to be different than advertised lol
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Liam Duke
•While it's true that withdrawing an application before an offer is made is different from refusing an offer, I wouldn't recommend ghosting employers. It's better to formally withdraw your application with a brief explanation. This creates a record showing you had valid reasons, which protects you if questions arise later. Professional communication also preserves industry relationships.
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Cynthia Love
What industry are you in? I'm in sales and had this EXACT situation come up during my unemployment last year. The travel requirement makes a HUGE difference in whether ESD considers it suitable or not. In my case, because I'd never had a traveling sales job before, ESD sided with me when the employer reported that I'd turned down an offer. Took some back and forth with adjudication though.
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Dana Doyle
•I'm in marketing analytics - previously worked at an agency where I was in-office 5 days a week. Never had any travel requirements beyond occasional client meetings in the same city. That's helpful to know ESD sided with you even when the employer reported it! Did you have to go through a formal appeal process?
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Cynthia Love
•No formal appeal needed! They put my claim in adjudication for about 10 days while they investigated, asked me for details about my previous work history, and ultimately determined the travel requirements made it unsuitable. Just make sure you document EVERYTHING and be very specific about how this job differs from your previous positions. Good luck!
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Ben Cooper
ur overthinking this. just withdraw ur application and keep looking. its not like ur turning down an actual job offer. ive withdrawn from dozens of interviews during my unemployment when i realized the job wasnt right. esd never said anything
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