Office moving, unemployment comp.? *update*

helpyhelperton

Hey all, I'm using an alt acct. just to be safe. So I just found out that the company I work for is relocating to an office across town (40+ minute commute). The job was a work from home deal doing tech support. I just found out about the office today from a co-worker. Management has not told us anything. The move in date for this office is next week! So basically no notice.

My wife and I only have one vehicle so this is going to be a big problem considering we really can't afford to just whip out another vehicle by next week.

The other issue is regarding health insurance reimbursement. The company does not offer health insurance but does (at least they claim they do) reimburse employees for the insurance they get. I got on my wife's plan awhile back. I have asked several times now what they need from me, documentation wise, for reimbursement.

I have never received a response back so we have been eating that cost for 7+ months now. I feel like I am being ignored on this when it was agreed that they would reimburse!

Between that and the sudden office move, I am seriously considering quitting but I wanted to ask if I would be able to qualify for unemployment benefits?

I would really appreciate any advice on this! Thanks!

*update* - Heard back from the boss man. It is official. The office is officially available to us, the company, next week. He is going to have a meeting about sorting all of this out tomorrow. It sounds like there will be some flexibility in transitioning all of us there over an unspecified period of time. Guess I will find out more tomorrow.

Esh

If you quit, no. They'll (unemployment) ask why you can't take the bus or car pool. A 40+ minute commute is nothing for a lot of people.

Pariel

40 minutes isn't bad. When you're talking an hour and a quarter, hour and a half, that's bad. You might have to move things around a little to make it work, but not much.

It certainly doesn't sound like you'd qualify for unemployment.

Skoal Cat

Man, it takes me 40 mins to drive 9 miles with traffic

tinwhiskers

What the hell is with all these "If I quit my job will I get unemployment" threads lately.
Rule #1 of the current economy: "If you have a fucking job, you should keep that job unless you have a signed offer for a better job"

Also, if you are working from home...why does them moving the office matter?

helpyhelperton

Damn dude calm down, I am just asking what my options are. The big thing is I don't have a car to get there and they are giving me less than a weeks notice.

V1m

helpyhelperton wrote:

Damn dude calm down, I am just asking what my options are. The big thing is I don't have a car to get there and they are giving me less than a weeks notice.

What are your transport options? Can you drop a few bucks on a horrible old beater to get you through the next few months?

Could you potentially carpool?

Is cycling feasible?

Is moving feasible? If not now, then maybe in the few months your $300 beater will buy you?

Because what tinwhiskers says is 100% totally correct:

tinwhiskers wrote:

Rule #1 of the current economy: "If you have a fucking job, you should keep that job unless you have a signed offer for a better job"

Skoal Cat

If management hasn't told you anything, then you haven't actually been told anything

Enc

40 minutes is something you would need to adapt to, but that seems pretty standard transport times for most white collar jobs in larger metro areas. What are the mass transit options in your city? If you have a reliable subway or metro-rail system it's probably not a problem. Even some local bus systems are reliable, though that varies from town to town.

Knowing what you have to work with would make it easier to offer personal experiences with public transport.

tinwhiskers

re-reading this:

If you are currently working from home, and management didn't inform you of the new office they are moving to. Are you sure you are moving to the new office? Could they be moving to a different office, and you are still working form home?

V1m

Good point: go clarify this with your manager right now. Get a definite answer and a date. Most companies don't make these kind of decisions on a 1-week timescale. If you're working for the kind of company that does make these kind of decisions on that kind of timescale, then you're probably going to be unemployed fairly soon anyway.

If that answer is "Well we're just moving; you're moving on", then yes you will probably qualify for U.I.

And the corollary to Tinwhisker's Rule is that if you have reason to even think ]you might become unemployed, then immediately start searching intensively for another job. It's massively easier to get a job if you have a job, but even in the best possible outcome, it'll be 4-6 weeks before you get a paycheck from this hypothetical new job, so start the process now. Remember, just looking for a job commits you to nothing. The least possible outcome is that you'll get a good idea of the consequences of quitting over a measly 40 minute commute.

Disrupter

Question, at what point, if any, would such a situation end in a manner for you to earn unemployment? If the company moved to california from chicago? Can a company reasonably expect an employee to relocate? If not, then what level of commute would be possible? What about pay cuts? Can a company simply cut you down to minimum wage instead of laying you off, causing you to quit instead? I would assume not, but I have no idea.

40 minutes seems reasonable though. But I am curious what the actual laws are regarding unemployment in situations like this that are not reasonable.

EDIT: Research shows that it varies state by state and case by case. General consensus though is you are not required to "worsen" your situation, so paycuts/relocation etc would all allow unemployment. Simply being forced to travel more, however would depend on how much. Lots of opinions are 30 miles or more will qualify for UE.

Though it may be an option to accept the job, then "attempt" to go in, and then call in every day for a week saying you were unable to secure transport until they let you go. Though Im not sure if youd be elligible for UI in that case.

Shadowfire

My job moves managers around the district all the time, and it has forced a number of them to resign. These moves are often 40+ miles away, and while the company has attempted to block every unemployment claim, every one of them has gone through.

People posting here are right though. You need to find out first if they intend on having you move into that office, and you should try and see if you can get the transportation figured out. If you can't, talk to them about continuing to work from home, but if they're unwilling to work with you, I wouldn't quit... force them to term you.

helpyhelperton

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate the info! I emailed my boss this morning about this, but still have not heard back. I'll just have to wait and see what the response is and go from there.