David G. Schiller represents North Carolina employees in a wide range of employment law cases — including unemployment benefits.
Mr. Schiller provides statewide representation for employment law cases. You may call our office at (919) 789-4677 to discuss your employment law issue.
Employment Security Commission
An employee who has been discharged from employment can seek unemployment benefits by applying with the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (the DES).
The DES is also a good source of job leads.
Eligibility for Unemployment Benefits
An unemployed individual is eligible for unemployment insurance benefits if he or she
1. is physically able to work;
2. is actively looking for work each week; and
3. has no restrictions which would keep him or her from accepting suitable work.
There are three main ways that an individual may be disqualified for benefits:
1. If the individual leaves work “without good cause attributable to the employer” the individual will be disqualified for unemployment benefits.
2. If the employee is terminated for “misconduct” the individual will be disqualified for unemployment benefits.
Leaving Work
If the employee leaves work, the burden of showing “good cause attributable to the employer” rests on the employee.
“Good cause attributable to the employer” can include a number of actions by the employer, such as a unilateral and permanent reduction in pay of more than 15%.
Employees who are contemplating resigning should seek legal counsel before making the decision.
Misconduct
Misconduct is: “conduct evincing such willful or wanton disregard of an employer’s interest as is found in deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect of his employee, or in carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to manifest equal culpability, wrongful intent or evil design, or to show an intentional and substantial disregard of the employer’s interests or of the employee’s duties and obligations to his employer.”
Misconduct includes but is not limited to: reporting to work significantly impaired by alcohol or illegal drugs; consuming alcohol or illegal drugs on employer’s premises; conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction for manufacturing, selling, or distribution of a controlled substance while in the employ of said employer.
Contact Us • Statewide Representation
You may call our office at (919) 789-4677 to discuss your employment law issue.