Unemployment collection scenario (anybody know?) (1 Viewer)

[offdee]

Long story short, was let go in late March from a company I was with for 8+ yrs. It was a "business is business" combining of departments (one that I headed) as a PR move to try and look cheaper and less quality control touch points to appease some big clients. President of the company gave me a decent 6 wk severance and requested to be my direct recommendation to make it known of my value with the company and that it was not performance related. No big deal, something bigger and better is out there for me.

But, here's the situation and I'm curious about if anybody has any insights, thoughts, advice, etc...

- In Milwaukee, WI if that matters

- 6 week severance package was completed on 5/4 (Monday)

- On that same day, 5/4 (Monday) I started at a new company that I "thought" was a good opportunity, but ended up being a terrible fit and not at all what I was promised during interview process. Company was all over the place...no organization, no training, no structure, etc...I would've been miserable long term.

- Today (5/7) I decided not to waste either of our time any longer and walked away and now back to the job search. The departure was completely professional and left on good terms with the guy who hired me...he understood.

So, I worked there for 3 days and quit because I felt like I was mislead in the interview process.

My question is...how does this affect collecting unemployment now?

I've never collected unemployment in my 39 yrs of life so have no idea how this works. Know when you are laid off, it's an obvious approval. But, how does my 3 days of employment recently possibly affect this? And if it does affect it what are my options (if any)? I talked to the HR woman today with my concerns and although she said I'd need to find out details with unemployment office, they would try and work with me to do what is in my best interest, if at all possible. (ex of idea we discussed: they don't pay me for my 3 days of work..not sure if that's even possible or if it would make any difference? Obviously I want to get paid for those 3 days if it makes no difference to my unemployment status, but if it could help it, unemployment probably will be more beneficial to me long term than that 3 day paycheck)

I called the unemployment office to inquire, but to speak to a human you have to put in your social security # which puts you on record, and I don't want to mention the 3 day of work situation if for some reason that can be overlooked if it's not on official record for some reason? Not at all trying to do anything shady here, just feel that this 3 day job really wasn't a job...just a long extended information finding interview that the company failed.

Thanks in advance to all the serious replies.

 

[sbonomo]

No idea but good luck with the search. Something tells me you should be fine in collecting your full benefits and that your former employer will work with you but that is just speculation.

 

[Van Dyman]

Also no idea but my gut feeling is that you'd become ineligible because you chose to leave this crappy job. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[shadrap]

Caveat: Not a serious reply.

You should have no problems. Call Obama. His base is unemployed & he is Santa Claus.

Please note the caveat & I hope things work out well for you.

 

[Dr Oadi]

Also no idea but my gut feeling is that you'd become ineligible because you chose to leave this crappy job. Hope I'm wrong.

Why should people who have jobs be able to leave the job because they think its crappy and go get government checks? Sucks to be suckered in to a crappy company but should people expect to just say to heck with it I got a check coming my way!

 

[Zow]

Also no idea but my gut feeling is that you'd become ineligible because you chose to leave this crappy job. Hope I'm wrong.

Why should people who have jobs be able to leave the job because they think its crappy and go get government checks? Sucks to be suckered in to a crappy company but should people expect to just say to heck with it I got a check coming my way!

Former employers get stuck, at least to some extent, with the unemployment bill.

 

[Mile High]

Benefits are usually base on the previous 3 quarters. This new job shouldn't effect that since they won't have anything on it.

 

[mr fancypants]

Did you apply for unemployment after the 1st job? Or are you applying now after leaving the 2nd job?

This! It's going to come down to who you list as your last employer. Leaving a position on your own accord, won't normally get you UI.

Although you may have some leverage as they misstated the job.

 

[mr fancypants]

Benefits are usually base on the previous 3 quarters. This new job shouldn't effect that since they won't have anything on it.

But they can find out that he worked that position later on and come back after him for fraud.

Honestly the best thing would be if you could get the 2nd employer not to bother paying you

for the 3 days. This way they wouldn't have to report any earnings on you at the end of the QTR.

 

[offdee]

Did you apply for unemployment after the 1st job? Or are you applying now after leaving the 2nd job?

This! It's going to come down to who you list as your last employer. Leaving a position on your own accord, won't normally get you UI.

Although you may have some leverage as they misstated the job.

I have never yet in my life applied for unemployment. Still haven't yet..want to figure out the best way to approach it from findings here first.

 

[offdee]

Benefits are usually base on the previous 3 quarters. This new job shouldn't effect that since they won't have anything on it.

But they can find out that he worked that position later on and come back after him for fraud.

Honestly the best thing would be if you could get the 2nd employer not to bother paying you

for the 3 days. This way they wouldn't have to report any earnings on you at the end of the QTR.

If not getting paid from this new employer will help me secure unemployment, than I can try to request that. The HR woman said I'd need to state that in a resignation letter and she'd need to check with the CFO if that is even possible. She didn't know for sure, but assumed legally they would still need to pay me even if I request not to.

 

[Mile High]

Can you apply on line?

 

[Van Dyman]

Also no idea but my gut feeling is that you'd become ineligible because you chose to leave this crappy job. Hope I'm wrong.

Why should people who have jobs be able to leave the job because they think its crappy and go get government checks? Sucks to be suckered in to a crappy company but should people expect to just say to heck with it I got a check coming my way!

It sounds like the OP's career was knocked off track through no fault of his own, he's actively trying to get it back on track, and this 2nd company just jerked him around. So, yeah, I hope that doesn't screw him up on some technical loophole. Unemployment insurance exists for a reason but my concern was that, due to sheer volume, the program might not have flexibility to account for this oddball situation.

 

[Christo]

It'll probably delay your right to collect.

 

[offdee]

It'll probably delay your right to collect.

This was my other question...better for me to not apply for a week or so or doesn't it matter.

 

[offdee]

Can you apply on line?

Yep, that's the standard way of doing it. Just not sure if I even need to list this company I worked at for 3 days as past employment

 

[Mile High]

Can you apply on line?

Yep, that's the standard way of doing it. Just not sure if I even need to list this company I worked at for 3 days as past employment

Look over the application and see what they ask for.

 

[offdee]

Can you apply on line?

Yep, that's the standard way of doing it. Just not sure if I even need to list this company I worked at for 3 days as past employment

Look over the application and see what they ask for.

Will do. I would guess one question would be "Name and Date of last company worked for". That's what I'm not sure what to list.

 

[Willie Neslon]

Unemployment insurance is for people who lose their job through no fault of their own. That last job could be an issue because you left by choice. If you listed that last job on your unemployment application then I believe that 3 day employer could be on the hook and then would likely fight it. If you're paid on the books for those 3 days then the unemployment insurance office would eventually see that and could void your claim after the fact if you didn't list it on your unemployment application form and ask you to repay any benefits received. If there was a way to make those 3 days disappear from that company's records like they never happened, that's what I would think would be best.

 

[mr fancypants]

Can you apply on line?

Yep, that's the standard way of doing it. Just not sure if I even need to list this company I worked at for 3 days as past employment

Look over the application and see what they ask for.

Will do. I would guess one question would be "Name and Date of last company worked for". That's what I'm not sure what to list.

Yep, this is where it get dicey. Problem is both jobs will be reported in different Qtrs. 1st will be end of March. 2nd end of June.

Unfortunately you may have screwed the pooch. The UI office doesn't care if it was career move or not dealing with the 2nd job.

Their main focus is to get people any job and off of UI. Your last job worked for is going to be the 2nd, and hopefully you'll get

a sympathetic soul to decide your eligibility.

 

[mr fancypants]

One way you might want to think of is to pick up a temp job through a known temp agency for a couple of weeks.

You can then report that as your last job and yes the agency's do pay UI and other taxes on people they place.

 

[Van Dyman]

One way you might want to think of is to pick up a temp job through a known temp agency for a couple of weeks.

You can then report that as your last job and yes the agency's do pay UI and other taxes on people they place.

He said he didn't want to do anything shady.

 

[Dr Oadi]

Unfortunately, you should have applied immediately after losing the first job, regardless of severance. It would have opened the claim even though you wouldn't be paid yet. Once the severance ended the checks would have started, and you would have gotten the "wait week" out of the way in the process.

that works? Good info.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Some states have "tryout" statutes in their UI scheme that allow people to try out a job that may have an issue with its conditions: for example, it involves an excessive commute (that's the classic example but there are many scenarios). If the person tries out this job, but then quits (usually within a specified maximum, not-to-exceed time period like 30 or 45 days), the examiner will look at whether the UI office would have expected the claimant to have taken that job to begin with. So if Wisconsin has anything like that, that's where you likely want to be aiming here.

Not listing the three-day job is fraud measuring 9.5 on the offdee scale (skeeviest dirtbag at the office, club, etc.). Avoid.

Asking not to be paid is also fraud, and it's illegal for the employer not to pay you in most states I'm aware of anyway. Do not do.

 

[glumpy]

Unfortunately, you should have applied immediately after losing the first job, regardless of severance. It would have opened the claim even though you wouldn't be paid yet. Once the severance ended the checks would have started, and you would have gotten the "wait week" out of the way in the process.

Appreciate this comment that's also what my sister who's experienced in the business says. Unfortunately I am just thrown into this boat. How will being in a side business affect unemployment? It's in my name though built for my wife.

sorry for hijack don't know about the impact of a three day contract. May have to reapply?

 

[Marvelous]

As others have mentioned, you should have applied for unemployment as soon as you were laid off. I did this once, and I collected unemployment right away even though I had a severance package. I contacted the unemployment office, and they said go ahead and file. Each case is reviewed and they will tell you their determination. Also note that the laws vary from state to state, but they also apparently vary from situation to situation.

Some also stated that not reporting the 3 days of work would be fraud. And I suspect it would be easy for them to catch.

Asking to not be paid for the 3 days is also fraud. That does not sound right at all.

The goal of unemployment is to tie you over when you lose your job through no fault of your own. You found one. And you quit. Most people would have stuck around until they found another job. And that is what most people would have advised you to do. When I was interviewed for my unemployment claim, they laid out the rules. And one thing they said is a job offer ends your unemployment claim. So be careful who you get a job offer from.

Also, the maximum benefit in VA is $378 per week. While not nothing, it isn't a huge amount either. Obviously, if you are having trouble making ends meet, it is a very good thing.

Next time, consider all this before making a decision.