Unfortunately, We Cannot Assist With Unemployment Claims. Those Who Have Been Wrongfully Terminated Are Encouraged To Contact Us.

COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the United States economy. State unemployment filing systems are crashing and California is buckling under the weight of a population that is being "let go" in-mass. For those who have been "laid off," you may be feeling helpless. Luckily, there are some options available to you, you just have to know where to look.

Once you've been laid off, there isn't anything you can do to immediately get your job back. Focusing on limiting the damage as much as possible can save you a lot of money as well as significantly decrease the amount of time it takes you to get money that you are owed.

One thing you should do as quickly as possible is ask your former employer about healthcare continuation and severance.

Request Healthcare Continuation And Severance

In many circumstances, employers who lay off workers will allow for healthcare continuation coverage. During these unprecedented times, it would not be surprising if employers are willing to provide further assistance to their recently laid-off workers. Reach out to your former employer as soon as possible and push them to provide you with further help during this difficult time. They may surprise you.

Confirm Employer Will Not Contest Unemployment Claim

Have your employer confirm, in writing, that they will not be contesting your unemployment claim.

When millions of people are filing for unemployment at the same time, you don't want to give your unemployment application extra hoops to jump through. By including a document verifying that your employer will not be contesting your claim, you may decrease the amount of time it takes your unemployment benefits to reach you.

Apply For Unemployment

Use the following resource to file for unemployment in California online: https://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/UI_Online.htm

You will need to provide your personal information and your:

• Last employer info including name, supervisor's name, address and contact number
• Last date worked and the reason you are no longer working
• Gross earnings in the last week you worked, beginning with Sunday and ending with your last day of work
• Information on all employers you worked for during the past 18 months, including name, address (mailing and physical location), the dates of employment, gross wages earned, hours worked per week, hourly rate of pay, and the reason you are no longer working.
• Notice to Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance, Standard Form 8 (former federal employees only)
• DD 214 Member 4 copy (ex-military only)
• Citizenship status, and, if you are not a U.S. citizen, information from your employment authorization document

Find Out If You Were Laid Off Illegally

Some employers may use the pandemic to illegally "let go" of workers. If you were laid off illegally, you may be owed compensation for your employer's violation.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides protected leave from work when employees are ill, need to take care of a loved one who is ill or is caring for or bonding with a newborn or new baby. Employees have the right to return to their job and to be free from retaliation for taking leave. Private employers must have 50 or more employees for at least 20 weeks a year to be covered by the law. 

If you were fighting against your employer to secure unpaid wages, commissions or overtime and got fired as a result, you may be able file a lawsuit.

If you reported sexual harassment in your workplace to the company's human resources department and were fired soon after, that is a sign that your employer fired you as retaliation for reporting the harassment.

Contact An Employment Attorney

Most of those who have been "let go" during this mass LA County lay off do not have a valid employment law case. However, there are several that do.

Kingsley and Kingsley Employment Lawyers has spent nearly 40 years fighting on behalf of employees whose employers thought they could “get away with it”. Call us today at (818) 990-8300 to obtain a free consultation and find out what we can do for you. No win, no fee.

Unfortunately, We Cannot Assist With Unemployment Claims. Those Who Have Been Wrongfully Terminated Are Encouraged To Contact Us.