Can i collect unemployment if my job only offers job options I can refuse?
What happens to you if you refuse both offers? If they let you go, then it’s a Reduction in Force (RIF) and you will qualify for unemployment. If you become an independent sales rep, then you are a contractor, and no longer an employee of the company. You should see if you can join Freelancer’s Union and qualify for their health insurance. I am not sure if your particular sales group is eligible, I haven’t looked in a while.
Hey zippy, thanks for the info. RE: CA good cause. That is my situation exactly here in Sacramento, where my boss told me he was unsatisfied with my overall skills as a waiter, did not offer me any more waiter shifts, but said he had the occasional busboy shifts (this week 2 shifts for example). No offense to the busboys of the world, but where I work they earn 50 – 60% of what the waiters earn. Plus, my number of shifts has gone down with this demotion. Do you (or anyone else here) think that the Wages clause you posted applies to bosses that try to demote you not for economic reasons but for performance judgment? Additionally, he says my contract says simply “employee”, though it is clear I was hired to satisfy a particular job position, and that I only worked as a waiter since being hired. I don’t want to be on unemployment, believe me this is all humiliating to me. But what he is offering me as an alternative is not “suitable work” in legal terms, and I do not want to be forced to
In my state (Wisconsin) in this situation, I do not think you would qualify for unemployment, as your benefits were just reduced. Like zippy said, with a family to support, I doubt unemployment will really be enough money to sway your decision. (New Jersey’s maximum weekly collection was $560 in 2008) ALSO, even if you are entitled to unemployment, it is an unusual enough situation that your employer will likely contest it, and that will take a lot of time. And they will likely win. Take option 2 and look for something else..maybe you can negotiate your current employer paying a month or two of your COBRA while you try to find a different employer or different health insurance?
