Can I collect unemployment?

[Mack25]

I have been on unemployment in Massachusetts for about 6 months. I recently signed an official job offer and non-compete from my company.However my first day of work is not for another 2 weeks. Can I collect unemployment those 2 weeks?

[HotelSecurity]

I have been on unemployment in Massachusetts for about 6 months. I recently signed an official job offer and non-compete from my company.However my first day of work is not for another 2 weeks. Can I collect unemployment those 2 weeks?

Who issues the unemployment cheques? Why not call & ask them?

[copelandamuffy]

I have been on unemployment in Massachusetts for about 6 months. I recently signed an official job offer and non-compete from my company.However my first day of work is not for another 2 weeks. Can I collect unemployment those 2 weeks?

I do believe you can. I live in Massachusetts. A WORD TO THE WISE!! Be very nice to the people in the unemployment office. Very nice. 1996 my factory closed. I went to the unemployment office, and talked to someone named John.
He was a-okay. Just doing his job. I got home, and wrote him a Thank You note. I got a phone call from the next
day. He told me in his 10 years of working in the unemployment office no one ever sent him a thank you note

Mack, there is extra help and benefits for people like me who are Military Veterans. John had my unemployment go far beyond six months, almost a year. Granted I had to get my butt back in college, but it was a Godsend those checks
He also allowed me to work weekends as a Security Guard, with no penalties.

[Squid]

Yes, that 'non-compete' really isn't their biz, and is most likely kinda bogus, and more about hyping you to think they are some really cool company.

Sure you could "go to work full time" and some lame agreement you signed that doesn't mean anything without them suing you doesn't come close to counting as "other reason you couldn't have worked full time". Unless that "other reason" might show up in State data-base, like if you were in jail(dont' think that is even X-checked) no worries.

Only thing that might count is if you are on State Workers Comp or disability.


Yes, be VERY nice to UE folks, my buddy in construction got denied for 3 YEARS after supposedly making a "false statement to obtain benefits". The kicker to that was it was because he got paid 2 HOURS wages that the company decided to be put on next weeks payroll for their own dumb reason.

[jtwestern]

If you are worried about UE, then ask your UE rep. Don't rely on what the intertardweb people tell you. They aren't the ones that may or may not violate the law.

[HotelSecurity]

If you are worried about UE, then ask your UE rep. Don't rely on what the intertardweb people tell you. They aren't the ones that may or may not violate the law.

EXACTLY what I was saying.

We're a nice group here & it's nice to ask each other for help. But why do some people come here to get opinions when it is easier & more acurate to go directly to the source & get the correct answer?

[Pop pop]

EXACTLY what I was saying.

We're a nice group here & it's nice to ask each other for help. But why do some people come here to get opinions when it is easier & more acurate to go directly to the source & get the correct answer?

LOL, The same reasons recruits ask us for advice on the US Army forums while their working on their Recruitment packets

with their recruiter..

It gets worse, they come on the Quite Professional site offering advice, and get promptly kicked off forever.

[Squid]

Normally I'd say "call them" but in this case it will be real easy to 'confuse' them and UE seems to have great power to make bad calls "on the fly".

Less you tell them the better, and you stick to "Magic Words"(in CA that is "laid off due to lack of work").

You start babbling to Babo about "non-compete agreements" being a reason you "can't work" (according to your interpretation) and you are "sticking your head in the lion's mouth".


Don't force yourself to be dumb and screw yourself out of benefits.

"Was there any other reason you couldn't have worked full time?" Yeah, the job was underwater oil rig welder and all the gear I'd need was still in the store, and cost $200,000 which I don't got.

Yes, there will always be reason you might not be able to work a PARTICULAR job, or even a job "in your trade", but I don't think that is what they are asking.

1)even if the non-compete matters to UE, it ain't gonna hit their system. ANY "non-compete" is open to renegotiation, or flat out waiver....even if legal and valid. Consider them to be sorta like a Patent. All it is is the first of many steps to enforce a contract or get permission to sue. Means basically nothing until the employer holding the non-compete "calls you" on it. If you got another job, THEN your employer threatens you with the NC....I'm still not seeing anything that is the UE dept's biz.

2)even if it turned out to be considered valid by court(most aren't) it still SHOULDN"T matter to UE

3)when they say "accept full time work" all they really mean is "were you unable to take ANY job".

[jtwestern]

And again, don't listen to what people (squid) tell you on the internet.

[zm88]

Mark just give them a call, but don't offer more info then they need. Keep it simple and you'll get your answer