Due to poor financial conditions of his employer, a friend was just told that he will only be given around 20 hours a week instead of full time employment. Can he file for unemployment in California?
TIA,
Haj
In most states, if the move was involuntary on the part of the employee and was not caused by his or her misbehavior, then unemployment would be available.
He can easily file a claim (especially given the extra free time he should have) and see what happens.
I’ve heard of it happening in PA, but CA unemployment rules may be different. In PA, the person was able to file for partial unemployment (hours cut from 40 to 20 due to lack of business). Full unemployment benefits would have been, for example, 200/wk. Partial unemployment benefits were almost half that.
I heard this second hand, but it sounded reasonable.
I worked part time and collected unemployment. You have to make under your weekly allotment (in Illinois, anyway). You still have to look for full-time work. It worked for me!
In California: Yes (second-hand information, but from good sources).
He should call them (State of California, Employment Development Division?), but not on a Monday morning, or at ten minutes to quitting time. Treat as bureaucracy, take notes, follow the procedures, fill in the forms.
Don’t rebuke the person on the phone. Ask questions as needed. Don’t lie, it isn’t worth it. Circulate the money back into the economy (ie spend it), it’s a good deed.