A company I was working working for laid off some workers and unfortunately, I was part of the laid off workers. Now, I’m without a job and it’s been really hard. Should I file for employment benefits?
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If I assume right, I guess you meant “unemployment benefits” and not “employment benefits”. Unemployment Benefits is a form of insurance that is paid to people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. If an employee quits the job of his own volition he is often not eligible for unemployment compensation unless he can prove he was forced to quit for various reasons. Conversely, if an employee is fired “for cause” then he is often not eligible for unemployment compensation. The employee can fight the employer in a court of arbitration for the benefits. Many times companies will pay the unemployment compensation even when they do fire someone for cause because it’s easier to pay than to let the situation drag out or be sued for for wrongful termination, age discrimination or so on. In my experience helping friends with this situation the arbitration courts tend to be biased towards the employee while some companies tend to be vindictive. It depends on the culture of the organization and the relationship with the employee. Employees who are laid off through no fault of their own, such as through automation, reduction in force, business decline and so forth are eligible for unemployment.
Yes, I’d suggest you file and proceed with it as soon as possible. Most employers know that almost all fired employees will file. Do not be worried about them. I was previously let go from a job for an unreasonable reason. I was working at a call center and I accidentally let a curse word out after I got off a call. When I filed, I argued that this was part of the culture and that I should not have been singled out for this. I had a exemplary customer service record prior to that. The unemployment decision makers agreed with me and granted me unemployment. Do not be concerned with what the your former employer will say. If you can make a case for benefits, proceed with filing.