Tag: Temp Jobs

Temp Jobs

  • Job Report Impact on Unemployment

    Job Report Impact on Unemployment

    The job report can impact Minnesota unemployment claims and benefits. I see this most often with audits and work availability issues.

    The job report provides data on the number of employment opportunities created. The unemployment office uses this data when claiming a person is not finding work fast enough or that the applicant’s labor market is compromised. Unfortunately, these big words and phrases are terms of art utilized by the unemployment office.

    Back to the statistics that came out on this past Friday, this information is used by policymakers, economists, and investors to assess the health of the economy and make decisions related to employment and other economic policies. Right or wrong, these types of things find themselves intertwined with certain types of unemployment appeals.

    In addition to impacting the unemployment rate, jobs data can also impact an applicant’s confidence in their work search process or encourage other job seeking strategies. Overall, looking at employment numbers is an important indicator of economic health and can have wide-reaching impacts on individuals, businesses, and the broader economy.

  • Unemployment After A Layoff

    Unemployment After A Layoff

    Unemployment after a layoff is not as easy as it sounds.  With inflation running wild and businesses laying off workers, I cannot help but address a very important point:  unemployment is not a guarantee. 

    The law aside, there are many factors that go into whether or not a person qualifies for benefits.  Even more, an employer’s actions after a job ends can drastically change how you look at application for benefits.

    As a result, when employers confuse or blur the lines, guessing isn’t enough. 

    Help with Unemployment After a Layoff

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    As many people are finding out, unemployment after a layoff sometimes comes with strings attached.  Sometimes, this means a job loss is presented with a separation agreement. 

    This is followed with a wink, a nudge, and a monetary sum of money.  Not to fast though, because signing the dotted line can lead to bigger problems down the road. 

    This is especially true when we do not whether the next job is around the corner or light years away. 

    After a Layoff, Prepare For Unemployment

    Before applying for benefits, consider some light reading.  First, look at Minnesota Statute 268.085.  This law outlines all kinds of rules on the framework of eligibility.  In fact, the name of the rule itself is called “Eligibility Requirements”. 

    When trying to understand unemployment benefits, you really cannot go wrong by reading the rules. 

    On the other hand, if a person is trying to obtain unemployment after either quitting or getting fired, consider reading Minnesota Statute 268.095.  Under this rule, you will find all kinds of reasons addressing benefits after a discharge and benefits as a result of quitting. 

    That said, reading each rule isn’t going to be good enough.  This is true because there are nearly 2,000 court cases helping us understand unemployment laws and to the extent benefits are granted.

    I know this is a lot to absorb.  Especially after a job loss.  Start simple.  The process of applying for benefits is just as important as submitting a resume. 

    In fact, some of the same principles apply in either situation.  Every question is a trick and knowing why you are offering specific information is crucial to the bigger picture. 

  • Tips & Unemployment Go Bad

    Tips & Unemployment Go Bad

    Tips and unemployment benefits have a long history. Of course, by tips I mean money given to a waiter, bartender, server, driver, hair stylist, or just about anybody else for providing a service.

    When we start linking money gifted by a customer to an unemployment benefit, things go bad very quickly. Whether applicants start thinking about their worst case scenario, sometimes there are accusations of misrepresentation. This problem can multiply when you consider the IRS’ interest in the matter.

    If you ask an employer for help, they will often run the other way. Rightfully so, because they hardly know themselves. Thinking about asking the unemployment office for help? You might incur consequences.

    Finding Out That There Was a Problem

    Generally, a person becomes aware of an unemployment claim and a gratuitous tip problem in one of a handful of ways. This includes:

    • Receiving a letter stating there was an overpayment,
    • Learning about an audit,
    • Hearing from past co-workers,
    • Learning that the Department of Labor is auditing wage and hour issues,
    • Receiving a letter from Minnesota’s Department of Revenue,
    • Getting notice of a Federal Overpayment, and
    • Seeing the phrase “misrepresentation” inside one’s online unemployment account.

    All of these methods are scary and require a different legal response. Thus, take their notices seriously.

    Unemployment Laws for Tips

    The word tip appears next to the definition of wages. As a result, consider looking at the 30 plus Minnesota unemployment cases that interpret tip law. Unfortunately, the difference between a tip and wage can be very confusing.

    In the meantime, take a look at Minnesota Statute 268.035 and look at the dozens of unemployment tips I shared in other blog posts.

  • 6 Reasons why Christmas Layoffs are the Best Type of Layoff

    Christmas layoffs feel horrible, which is why I wanted to identify six reasons why things will not be as bad as you think.

    After grief, the step following a layoff is seeking unemployment benefits. If this is your first time approaching this problem, please consider these six points as you begin your search for employment.

    Christmas Layoffs:  Best Time Reason #1

    If a job must end, being laid off is the best involuntary reason for work to end.

    Of course, when a job transition is blurred between a layoff, quit, or termination, this is generally where people seeking unemployment benefits make errors in their application process.

    That aside, when a worker with certainty experiences a Christmas layoff, generally speaking, that person has far more advantages from an unemployment perspective versus any other type of job loss.

    Part-Time: Reason #2

    The second reason being laid off during the holiday season is the best time for a layoff is given the opportunities for part-time work.

    Many people scoff at this.  After all, they want a full-time job.  However, the idea of adding part-time work to one’s job search process is intended to buying time. More on this in a second.

    But first, if you are an upper level manager or executive, perhaps you are now turned off by my reference to part-time employment. Part time jobs do not downgrade careers. And, nobody needs to know. That said, upper level employees encounter a different set of issues, which I discuss in other posts.

    Back to buying time.  What I mean is the process of finding part-time work with the intent of delaying the payment of benefits under Statute 268.085. 

    Why would a person want to do this?  Here are three reasons:

    • To get out of the house,
    • Building hope that benefits will not end after 6 months, and
    • Giving oneself a bigger window to find  the ideal full-time opportunity.

    Again, part-time work opportunities are abundant around the holidays versus the summer months.

    Over the last few years, the summer months generally see a higher unemployment rate than our winter months.  My source of truth stems from the seasonally adjusted unemployment statistics published by MN DEED.

    If this doesn’t convince you that the best layoff is a Christmas Layoff, then consider my third reason.

    Summer Job Seekers:  Reason #3

    Working with unemployed employees at all levels, it is my experience that summer layoffs are worse.  I believe this is the case because there are fewer opportunities for short-term or temporary jobs.

    Look, workers and employees who are able and willing, are going to find work.  The best job might not come along right away, but eventually, it must.

    Yes, the job search process at 45, 55, and 65 feels icky.  For that matter, the job search process at 25 and 35 feels icky too.  But, the job search process is not impossible.  Just different than the last time you were looking for a job.

    Even better, laid-off workers in Minnesota can collect unemployment benefits for 26 straight weeks.  When things get bad, our Government has the option to extend unemployment benefits even future. This isn’t guaranteed, but it helps.

    Because laid-off workers are required to wait one week before collecting, this puts most people in the month of June before benefits will end.  If my intuition is right, you are going to find a job long before June.  

    For those that disagree, might I suggest more positive thoughts. If this doesn’t convince you, then consider my fourth reason.

    Company Budgets:  Reason #4

    Most businesses and companies start over with their budget on January 1.  This generally means companies are firm on growth projections and needs.  In other words, new job postings are more likely to get posed in the new year.  Also, this means an unemployed worker is less likely to hear “we have a hiring freeze“.

    For the types of businesses that ramp up in the spring or summer, you are ahead of that curve too!

    If this doesn’t convince you, then consider my fifth reason.

    Taxes Start Over: Reason #5

    Collecting unemployment in January is better than collecting unemployment in October or November.

    On their own behalf, some of my past Clients take it upon themselves to set aside their own tax deductions.  When an applicant in Minnesota fills out their application for benefits, they will be asked whether they want taxes taken from their benefit.

    Of course, this is a personal choice and requires feedback from a tax professional.

    However, it is reassuring that the tax window for benefits after a Christmas layoff is pushed out a little further.  Combine this with the hope of landing a new job in the months to come, I view this as a positive.

    If this doesn’t convince you, then consider my sixth reason.

    Minnesota Unemployment: Reason #6

    On a week by week basis, Minnesota pays the second most in unemployment benefits.  In other words, I would rather be unemployed in Minnesota than 48 other States.

    If you are curious, Massachusetts pays the most.  If you have an hour, here is a cool website with additional UI data points.

    Final Christmas Layoff Thoughts

    I believe in Christmas Miracles.  You are one phone call from making things turn around. Whether your miracle comes this week, in four months, or thereafter, today is the goal.

    Nonetheless, I wish you and your family the very best during this holiday season.

  • My Temp Agency Job Ruined my MN Unemployment

    My Temp Agency Job Ruined my MN Unemployment

    The combination of MN unemployment temp agency benefits is stressful.  If you can, do not mix them.  If you cannot help it, then consider the following.

    How does the temp agency process start?

    Often, unemployment appeals begin and end when an applicant applies for work at a temp agency.  Here are the problems an unemployed worker seeking temp jobs will run into:

    • Wage reporting,
    • Failing to recognize when a work week starts or ends,
    • Turning down a temp job for the wrong reasons, and

    At first, work through a temp agency might seem like a necessity.  If this is your decision and you are collecting or anticipate collecting unemployment benefits, take extreme caution going forward.

    From the perspective of the job seeker, a job through a temp agency is “temporary.”

    From the perspective of the unemployment office in Minnesota, a person who turns down a “temporary” job is no longer eligible for unemployment benefits going forward.  As suggested above, this issue can instigate an unemployment appeal.

    Elements of MN Unemployment Temp Agency

    First, please recognize that a person requests unemployment benefits on a week to week basis.

    Each week, the worker will report whether they are working.  The process of answering questions presented by the unemployment office is often where the risk of an unemployment appeal begins

    Because work through a temp agency is often “temporary”, there are many legal issues related to temp agencies that can get a person in trouble.  For example, a person can become ineligible for unemployment benefits indefinitely after turning down or rejecting a job offer from a temp agency.

    Also, if the unemployment office in Minnesota willy nilly determines a worker failed to accept a valid job offer, that worker could be deemed ineligible for unemployment benefits for each future week.

    Yes, this rule can be true even if the job was “temporary” or if the wages the person was expecting from the temp agency become less and less each subsequent week.

    Other confusing parts for temp workers and their unemployment benefits

    Working at a temp agency can be confusing in terms of hours worked and hours paid.

    A person who works 32 hours or more in any given week is automatically ineligible for unemployment benefits in Minnesota.  From the perspective of the unemployment office in Minnesota, it doesn’t matter whether or not the worker was paid for their labor.

    Yes, there is a government agency (the Department of Labor) that protects workers from this issue.  But, it is not as significant of an issue in terms of unemployment benefits.  Again, this alone can instigate an unemployment appeal.

    Being alert while you are unemployed

    Once a person applies for a job through a temp agency they have to be on alert.  The worker who is collecting unemployment benefits and applying for work through a temp agency has to be on alert because a job offer (even for a day) can be proposed with or without notice.

    The general rule is the moment a worker turns down or rejects a temporary job offer, the person is now ineligible for unemployment benefits indefinitely.  Luckily, there are exceptions to this rule too.

    Double trouble for MN Unemployment Temp Agency

    Another example related to wages can be seen in this example called “double trouble.”

    For a moment, lets assume a person worked at a temp agency some two weeks in the past and was not paid until today.  If the worker was ineligible for unemployment benefits two weeks ago after working more than 32 hours, believe it or not, the wages paid after the fact will also reduce the person’s eligibility for unemployment benefits during the week the worker was paid.  I call this “double trouble.”

    My point about temp jobs and unemployment benefits

    A person who is collecting unemployment benefits in Minnesota and works or anticipates work through a temp agency can unknowingly increase the likelihood of an appeal for unemployment benefits.

    Yes, it is okay to pursue both, but every Applicant trying to manage MN unemployment temp agency should take steps to protect themselves too.