I was just informed after 6 years of adminastrative/clerical work that my postion is being eliminated due to "too many heads to pay for"at the end of the year. Now, I was offered a union postion(I'm currently non-union) in our warehouse as an order picker. There is a $2.50 pay cut and the hours are 2pm to 12am opposed to the 9am to 5pm I work now. My emplorer knows i cannot take the warehouse postion due to the fact I am a single mom and have 2 kids at home(who is to take care of them when they get home from school?They are 8 and 12.) My question is, if I decline the warehouse offer does that place me as quitting? Am I able to collect unemployment? Can they decrease my pay and change my hours and job function. This is a big difference from what my skills are utilized for...clerical to picking orders in a warehouse. I just need clarity cuz I'm going crazy trying to get answers...thank you for your time

Whether or not you can decline work and still receive unemployment is going to be up to the state. But for the most part, if you turn down work, you don't get UI. I don't mean this as harshly as it will seem, but your child care issues are not your employer's problem. If the only position they have open for you is during second shift, they don't have to create a position for you that suits your scheduling needs. They didn't HAVE to offer you a new position at all, let alone one with the same job function and pay and hours.

If you are let go for refusing the other position, you can certainly apply for UI. The worst that can happen is that you are turned down - there is no penalty for being wrong. And you never know; the state may decide in your favor.