Question

Read Case #1 entitled "Understanding Your Employee Benefits: Qualifying for Unemployment Benefits" on pages 214-215 of your text and answer these 3 case questions. Are you eligible to receive unemployment if you resign? Explain your answer. Should you resign or wait to find out if and when you are laid off? Elaborate. Explain the criteria to qualify for unemployment benefits and relate the criteria to this case study. 150 words

During the three years that you have worked at your current company, the company has had some success, but mostly, it has not done well. The most recent downturn in business has made you concerned about the future of the company. Several employees who work in your department were laid off in the past six months due to lack of work, and you are concerned that you may be next on the list. It seems that others feel the same way, as company morale is at an all-time low. In fact, the overall company morale, coupled with the poor attitude of your supervisor, is making your job miserable. You aren’t sure if it is worthwhile at this point to try to stick it out.

Every day you dread getting up and going to work. Your supervisor is frustrated about trying to get work done with a lean staff, and you feel that he is taking it out on you. He criticizes you constantly and sometimes makes it seem that it is your fault that things are going so poorly. He has mentioned several times that the department will likely be closed within the year. You know that he is under a great deal of stress, given the impending lay offs, but the situation is becoming unbearable. You still show up to work and do your best, but you’re not sure how much longer you can do it. It seems inevitable that you will lose your job, so you are starting to think that it might be a better idea to resign your position now.

You know that you are going to need to look for a new job soon, regardless of what you do, but it is hard to even think about a job search while you are working full time. You are thinking that maybe quitting your job now will relieve some stress and give you the time you need to conduct a job search. However, you rely on your weekly paycheck, and you aren’t sure what you will do if it takes you very long to find a new job. A former coworker who was laid off last year told you that the unemployment insurance payment that he received helped bridge the gap between the lay off and finding a new job. After a one-week waiting period, he received a weekly benefit that helped him pay his bills until he found another job. As the job market is uncertain, you think that you need the support of unemployment insurance to sustain yourself until you find another job.

You are pretty sure that you will be eligible for unemployment insurance if your company does ultimately lay you off. However, you’re not sure if you can still qualify for unemployment insurance if you resign. If you are able to collect unemployment insurance, 214you would like to quit soon so that you can move on with your job search, and you must do some research to understand the unemployment insurance benefit.

Answer 1

1. Are you eligibile to receive unemployment benefits if you resign:

The answer is to this is complicated and primarily depends upon the reason you quit your job. In most cases if you quit your voluntarily you will not be eligible to collect unemployment benefits. However, there are certain exceptions which are termed as "good cause" and if you quit your job for a "good cause" you might be eligible for unemployment benefits. The unemployment programs are totally administered by the states and hence may vary depending upon where you live.

2. Should you resign or wait to find out if and when you are laid off?

"A bird in hand is worth two in a bush". You should definitely not resign at this moment. Instead you can first check with your state government whether you are eligible for unemployment benefits if you voluntarily leave under your current circumstance and then decide to resign. Also the company is going through tough times and you must not act to seperate yourself voluntarily from it. You should carry on with your work and first find out whether they are going to lay you off or not.

3. Explain the criteria to qualify for unemployment benefits and relate the criteria to this case study:

The criteria to be eligible for unemployment benefit as per the scenario is that you will be eligible for unemployment benefit if you leave the company under the following terms:

a. If you are laid off.

b. If you get fired.

c. If you quit your job for what is known as "good cause". What is "good cause"? If you leave the company due to the below working conditions:

c1. Poor or unsafe working conditions

c2. Discrimination

c3. Harassment

c4. Lack of Payment

c5. Change in Job Duites

As per the scenario you should take the example of your colleague who was laid off and was eligible for unemployment benefits. As the per the scenario you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits. The company is definitely going down and is likely to close business, however it has not yet decided to lay you off or close its operations yet.