You may have noticed a theme to Nextep’s series of unemployment tips; they are not only about handling employee terminations properly, but also about teaching managers and supervisors to be effective in their jobs as authority figures.

Unfortunately, managers occasionally promise unemployment to exiting employees without fully realizing the implications. The end of employment does not automatically entitle employees to unemployment benefits. Unemployment is intended for people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, such as a layoff or job elimination. People who voluntarily quit to work somewhere else or who are terminated for cause may not be eligible. Employers should not guarantee unemployment benefits verbally or in writing as part of a termination settlement or negotiation.

To help combat swiftly rising unemployment costs, Nextep is very aggressive about protesting claims to prevent unnecessary unemployment payouts. For assistance in whether a specific termination might be eligible for unemployment benefits, please contact Nextep’s HR Department.