UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - BE PREPARED

This came up in a recent matter: while you are employed, keep copies of everything, especially an employee handbook if your employer has one. Why? If your employment is later terminated and your employer is objecting to your claim for unemployment benefits, one of the grounds they may claim is misconduct and failure to follow company policy. If the Department of Labor sides with your employer and you request a hearing on the issue, it is very likely that the employee handbook will be introduced by the employer as evidence of company policy. Your lawyer and/or representative will want to review this beforehand; otherwise, your hearing may be extended into more than one day as your lawyer and/or representative should want to review it carefully.