Volunteering to be laid off...

Mrs.Greg · August 2012

So I work in a government office. Due to some budget issues, there has been talk and an article in the local paper about my office laying off up to 8 employees. I'm planning on quitting my job in May/June of next year so I'm thinking about talking to HR about being laid off instead. The thing is, I'm pretty much working so my three kids can go to daycare. After I write a fat check to daycare, there's only about 600 left from my income each month. Its pretty much a wash because I have to pay for gas, clothes for work, occassional lunches out and stops at Starbucks, etc. Sure, I could just quit now but it would be nice to collect some unemployment for a few months since I'm volunteering to be laid off. This all sounds like a great plan to me but I think I've just got a slight case of short timers and I'm counting down the days til I can quit and I'm just looking for a way out now. Is my plan completely absurd?

Rynleigh · August 2012

As long as you know that volunteering to be laid off can possibly thwart any unemployment benefits you could receive - because they may just write you out as quitting, anyway, instead of as a lay-off. If it were me, I'd probably wait and see if they laid me off, and then quit later if they keep you around. Worst case scenario you leave when you feel like it without unemployment, best case scenario you get laid off early and get a couple of months of extra assistance for your years in your career.

jcath · August 2012

I would do it in a heartbeat. Don't you usually get a compensation package when that happens?

Mrs.Greg · August 2012

jcath:
I would do it in a heartbeat. nbsp;Don't you usually get a compensation package when that happens?

Not sure about a compensation package but any amount of extra money would definitely be a nice bonus. I guess I'm kinda thinking I'm sort of doing my office a favor they don't have to make the diffucult decision of who to lay off and my coworkers would get to keep their jobs. Because most people work to pay bills, I work to pay for daycare.

pillowass · August 2012

Not sure how it is in your state but where I live you have to prove that you are actively looking for work if you are claiming unemployment. If you were planning to quit anyway and have no intention of looking for work, it could be considered fraud.

I would play by the rules, especially when there are so many people who legitimately need those unemployment benefits.

2moms2b · August 2012

What I would recommend is meeting with HR and taking it from a different angle. The company has to pay a portion of unemployment when employees file (that is why companies are always notified when you file so they can fight if they want). I would meet with your HR rep and make sure they understand this is a completely confidential discussion (in case the answer is not what you want and you decide to keep working). I would ask them hypothetically if you were to volunteer to be laid off (over other people in your department) what that would do benefit wise. Would you still be eligible for an severances they are paying, unemployment, insurance etc. If they say no, you would basically be quitting then you can make an informed decision.

Also as pp said, most states require you to use their workforce website to log in and log jobs you have applied for and interviews you have gone on. If you are not actively seeking employment, then they will end your benefits. Also if you are applying for jobs with no intention of taking them just to keep your benefits (not flaming you) and get a call for an interview, think of the person who didn't get called because you did. In my state if you turn down an interview or decline a job offer without due cause then your benefits immediately end. Taking unemployment with intention to run out the benefits and not really look for a job is considered fraud.

I would try to get a nice severance for volunteering to leave instead of filing for unemployment.

leviandlandensmom · August 2012

I can't give you advice on what you should do but I can tell you what I would do. I'd stay at this job until your planned exit date unless you are laid off, in which case you could legitimately collect unemployment benefits - provided you do search for work while you are receiving them with the intention of accepting a good job offer should you get one.

I don't know if you've ever been on unemployment but it's stressful and they don't just sit back and let you collect. You have to actively look for work and it has to be in your field, they can call you into the worksource office and have you bring your job search log and verify that you did look for x amount of jobs per week and they were legitimate, and if you turn down a job they will kick you off.

mysteriousmommy · August 2012

If you volunteer for lay off it will most likely negate your ability to collect unemployment. Also, you are going to have to actively look for employment and provide proof that you are doing so.

If you're just working to pay for daycare then why would you attempt to draw unemployment benefits if your kids aren't in daycare? It doesn't sound to me like you really *need* the money, so why take it? Just volunteer for the layoff if you want to try and save one of your coworkers his/her job. Do it because you are a good person and not because you might be able to draw money off the government that you've already admitted you don't need.

AmyJoy728 · August 2012

If you were to volunteer, I would make sure they would give you a severance package. If you aren't planning on working, I wouldn't apply for unemployment.

Want a personalized experience?

Volunteering to be laid off...

Re: Volunteering to be laid off...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards