An Unemployment Lawyer In Springfield Working With Individuals Who Have Lost Their Jobs
If you have lost your job through no fault of your own or have left your employment voluntarily because of unacceptable workplace conditions, you may be entitled to significant unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, in some cases, people who should be collecting unemployment have difficulty getting their benefits because of vindictive employers or issues navigating complicated bureaucracy. To have an attorney review the facts of your case, please fill out and submit our online questionnaire with as many details as possible.
Losing your job can be emotionally and financially devastating. To provide some much-needed support for individuals and families in this difficult position, the state of Massachusetts created an unemployment insurance program. If you lose your job, you may be entitled to unemployment compensation through this insurance program.
Unfortunately, all too often, valid Massachusetts unemployment claims are wrongfully denied. At Hayber, McKenna & Dinsmore, our experienced Springfield unemployment compensation attorneys fight for the legal rights of workers seeking their full and fair unemployment benefits. If your benefits have been denied, our team can help you file an appeal. From our office in downtown Springfield, we serve communities throughout the region, including Chicopee, Agawam, Holyoke, Westfield and West Springfield.
What Is Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination happens when an employee is discharged from employment for illegal reasons or if company policy is violated when the employee is fired. If you were wrongly terminated, you may be able to appeal the decision. Here’s how to tell if you were wrongfully terminatedand what you can do about it.
Nevada Unemployment If You Get Fired
Generally, in Nevada you have to have lost your job through no fault of your own in order to collect unemployment.
In most cases, this means that if you get fired, you cannot collect unemployment benefits.
If you get fired from your job, you should go ahead and apply for unemployment benefits, because there are some cases where you can be fired from your job and still get benefits.
If you feel like you were fired unfairly, or there were extenuating circumstances, be sure to tell you unemployment counselor about them. If your unemployment application is denied because you were fired, you also have the right to appeal the decision.
Still Have Questions?
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Other Types Of Misconduct
In a number of states, the misconduct for which an employee was fired has to be quite serious to render the employee ineligible for unemployment compensation. An employee who is fired for poor performance, lacking the necessary skills for the job, or simply being a poor fit will still be able to collect unemployment in these states. An employee who intentionally acts against the employers interests, on the other hand, will not be eligible for benefits.
Other states are more strict, finding that an employee who is fired for violating a workplace policy or rule, or even for performance problems, wont be eligible to collect benefits.
In most states, these types of misconduct will likely render an employee ineligible for benefits:
- Criminal actions. An employee who engages in criminal behavior relating to the jobsuch as driving for work while under the influence, assaulting a customer or coworker, or selling illegal drugs at workwill not be eligible to receive benefits.
- Theft. An employee who steals money, trade secrets, or other valuable property from the company, or who steals from coworkers or customers, will not be eligible for benefits.
- Safety violations. An employee who is fired for intentionally violating an important safety rule probably wont be eligible for benefits.
- Excessive unexcused absences. Failing to show up for work repeatedly is likely to be seen as intentional misconduct, not the kind of mistake or inability to meet standards that some states will excuse.
What To Do If Your Unemployment Application Is Denied
If you feel that your employer lied or there was an error in your application, you can start an appeal. Sometimes the staff handling applications can make a mistake while verifying information, so you may need to call them first to discuss the problem.
If you decide to appeal a denial, you can expect to explain the situation in more detail and submit additional paperwork. If you do not have time to do this or avoid additional setbacks, you should consider consulting with an unemployment law attorney.
Your appeal will be reviewed along with any new evidence. A neutral third party will decide if the appeal is valid. If you or your ex-employer do not agree with the new decision, you can take it to the administrative agency or to your states civil court. By the time it gets to court, a judge will make the final decision.
This can be very expensive process. You should seek out professional opinions from an experienced attorney to make sure you have the best chance of success. Often it is less expensive and faster to accept the denial and job hunt quickly for something new. However, if an employer mistreated you or infringed on your rights, you may want to fight for what is just.
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What Other Legal Issues Are At Play
The other critical question lawyers are confronting is whether employer-mandated vaccinations are considered a “reasonable policy” in the first place. “I think most of the time you’re going to find that the policies are deemed reasonable because of the amount of scientific literature suggesting that vaccines are safe,” said Eliot Rushovich, managing partner at Rise Law Firm in Los Angeles.
“I can’t see the government mandating the vaccines and then saying you have to terminate these people, but you’re also liable for paying unemployment insurance benefits,” said Darren Rumack, a partner at the Klein Law Group in New York City.
Can My Employer Fire Me Because Of My Age
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act forbid employers from discriminating based on an employees age. If you are at least 40 years old, you are protected by these laws.
During a time of layoffs, your employer cannot intentionally single you out for unequal treatment because you 40 years of age or older. However, even a supposedly neutral layoff policy can still be illegal if it disproportionately affects persons over 40. See our Fact Sheet Employment Discrimination for additional information on age discrimination, including how to file a claim of age discrimination against your employer.
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Does My Employer Have To Provide Notice Of Termination
Short answer: probably not. When an employee is terminated or laid-off, there are no federal regulations requiring employers to give advance notice to the employee unless the employee is covered by an individual contract with their employer, a collective bargaining agreement, or the WARN Act. If youre like the majority of workers, these probably dont apply to youin which case, your employer is free to terminate you on the spot.
Denver Unemployment Benefits Lawyer Fights For You
Your employer is required to pay into an unemployment insurance fund that provides for employees after a job loss. If you meet the requirements for unemployment benefits, you deserve to receive your share of that fund. Whether you are filing your first claim or hope to reverse a denial, an experienced unemployment lawyer in Denver can be a valuable asset.
Nathan Davidovich has over 55 years of experience defending workers rights in Denver and can provide sound legal counsel for your case. Contact Nathan Davidovich to apply for unemployment benefits or discuss an appeal for your denied unemployment benefits claim. Call 825-5529 or complete our contact form to get started.
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Youll Help Your Case By Keeping Good Records
Finally, heres Sara Nesbitt, CEO of Coastal Carolina Soap Company, with a personal story that shows there are steps you can take to give yourself a better chance at unemployment benefits if you need them or may need them in the future:
In 2007, I was let go from a job. As I spoke with H.R. immediately following, I discovered that what my supervisor told H.R. my job position was in the company versus what it really was were two different things.
H.R. believed I had one position in two regions when, in fact, I had seven positions across three regions. A supervisor from another division in our physical office confirmed that.
The reality of how overworked and spread out I was made it reasonable that I wasnt able to get everything done. Because H.R. deemed my termination unjust and I had reams of documentation to show the work I had been doing, I was able to secure unemployment for 39 weeks.
A lady in the office farthest from my home base said always to keep a CYA file. Best advice ever!
Learn If There Are Other Opportunities For You With This Employer
If you were fired due to budget cuts or downsizing and are happy at your company, your employer may be able to offer you a role in a different department. Alternatively, you could inquire with your employer about other opportunities within the company.
For issues related to job performance or a lack of skills, you might consider asking if your employer would agree to hire you back upon professional improvement.
Note that there may not be other opportunities for you at this company. If your employer responds with a no, its a best practice to respectfully accept their decision.
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I Was Fired In Ohio Can I Collect Unemployment
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Workers in Ohio who have been laid off, fired, or forced to leave their jobs might be eligible for unemployment benefits through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services . Unemployment benefits are available to employees when they are no longer working through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of clarity regarding who gets unemployment benefits and who does not as the process is mostly dependent on the ODJFS representatives that review your case.
Therefore, our employment law attorneys recommend that everyone who may be eligible file for benefits as the worst that can happen is that you are told no.
We will get to the unemployment information is a second. But first, if your termination was unjust, it could also be actionable as part of a claim for wrongful termination. If you feel you were wrongfully fired, you could be entitled to more than unemployment benefits. Reasons for dismissal that are unlawful may include:
- Discrimination because of any protected class. Legislation on the state and federal level protects classifications such as race, gender, religion, age, disability, LGBT status and more. Your employer cannot legally fire you for any of those reasons.
- Retaliation for filing a Workers Comp claim or whistleblowing. Your boss or manager cannot retaliate against you for participating in a discrimination investigation or raising awareness to illegal working conditions or activities.
Just reasons for termination
Fired For Not Getting Vaccinated It Might Be Hard To Collect Unemployment Benefits
The federal vaccination mandate for employers with at least 100 workers is temporarily blocked, but getting unemployment benefits could still be unlikely.
Vaccine requirements could make you ineligible for jobless aid if you don’t have a legitimate exemption.
Vaccination mandates have been sweeping across the US, with President Biden’s mandate being the most expansive, requiring more than 100 million workers to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 or else submit a negative weekly COVID-19 test to their employer. The mandate applies to private sector companies with 100 or more employees, as well as federal contractors and health care workers. At least 27 states have challenged the mandate in federal court since the White House’s announcement on Thursday, with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocking the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandate for employers with 100 or more employees across the nation.
So what happens if you refuse to comply as an employee to get vaccinated or submit a weekly COVID test? Do you still qualify for unemployment insurance after getting fired?
Multiple studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe illness and death and are an important tool in bringing the pandemic under control. Nearly all COVID hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated.
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Minnesota Unemployment If You Get Fired
Generally, in Minnesota you have to have lost your job through no fault of your own in order to collect unemployment.
In most cases, this means that if you get fired, you cannot collect unemployment benefits.
If you get fired from your job, you should go ahead and apply for unemployment benefits, because there are some cases where you can be fired from your job and still get benefits.
If you feel like you were fired unfairly, or there were extenuating circumstances, be sure to tell you unemployment counselor about them. If your unemployment application is denied because you were fired, you also have the right to appeal the decision.
Still Have Questions?
What To Expect In The Unemployment Process
Lets say you just quit a job, or you were let go. If you suspect your case will face problems or youll need to defend your rights to unemployment benefits, your first step should be talking to a lawyer.
If you are proceeding on your own, you may start by:
- Going to your states government website
- Looking for an employment or unemployment section
- Reading the requirements and rules for getting unemployment in your state to see if you qualify
- Using the paper or online application to apply for benefits
- Answering the application honestly and fill out all the sections
Once your application is pending, it will be processed by the appropriate government agency. Staff will verify that your information is truthful and verify if you were laid off, fired, or quit. From there you will be approved or denied.
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While You Receive Benefits
If you do meet all the various qualifications to receive unemployment, be aware that compensation comes with conditions. While you are receiving unemployment, you must be actively seeking a new joband states can request proof of your job search.
If you turn down a suitable position , your unemployment benefits may be terminated. Also, during the Great Recession that bottomed out in 2009, many states changed their laws to prohibit receiving severance and unemployment benefits simultaneously.
Can My Employer Ask Me To Sign A Release In Exchange For A Severance Payment
Sometimes employers ask employees to sign a release giving up their claims, including discrimination claims, under federal or state laws in exchange for a severance payment. Such releases are normally enforceable, and it is up to you to decide whether its better for you to pursue a claim or accept the severance payment. If you are 40 years old or older and your employer asks you to release your age discrimination claim in exchange for a severance payment, you may have special protections under the Older Workers Benefit Protect Act that ensure that older workers are not unduly pressured into waiving their age discrimination rights. .
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Improve Your Hard And Soft Skills
While searching for jobs, it can be helpful to focus on developing both your soft and technical skills. You might take time to develop the skills you acquired in your current industry, or learn new ones relevant to positions youre applying for. To identify relevant skills to practice, refer back to job postings to understand the types of skills employers are looking for in candidates.
Can Fired Employees Collect Unemployment
Not all fired employees are eligible to collect unemployment. Heres what you need to know if you’re letting someone go.
Eligibility for unemployment is dependent on the situation under which the person was let go.
When an employee is fired, they may wonder if they are allowed to collect unemployment benefits. This can be a tricky gray area, because eligibility often depends on why the employee was terminated.
In general, unemployment benefits are available to those who were let go through no fault of their own. However, if someone was fired due to misconduct or violation of company policy, they might be ineligible to collect unemployment.
Below, we outline how unemployment works, the factors that impact eligibility for benefits and the rights of fired employees.
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The Most Frequently Disputed Issue: Reasons For Separation
On the surface, Massachusetts unemployment compensation claims are relatively straightforward. If a worker was let go through no fault of their own and they are currently looking for a new job, then they are entitled to unemployment benefits. However, in reality, these cases can become incredibly complex. Major disputes can arise over the âreasons for separation.â
Under Massachusetts law, the first issue that needs to be addresses is whether you quit or were fired. If you were fired, you will be eligible for unemployment benefits unless you were fired for willful misconduct. On the other hand, if you quit, you can still obtain benefits if you quit for sufficient cause attributable to your employer. For example, if a person is sexually harassed at work, complains through the proper channels, but the harassment continues, he or she will likely be eligible for unemployment benefits.
