NJ Unemployment Denied

[pookie20nj]

I was origionally granted unemployment because i quit my job due to hostile work environment. I faxed over my resignation letter to the unemployment office explaining the reasons why I had left. Unemployment was granted to me. During my appeal unemployment reversed my decision. Why would I be granted by one examiner and refused by the other when both were given the same information. And now I have to pay money back? Are they able to grant and then deny on the same grounds? Isn't there a mistake somewhere? I left my employer because my manager kept pulling me aside and making me feel uncomfortable. She told me she did not trust me to do my job and I was only there for 3 months. I called HR on her because she kept embarrassing me in front of my staff and talking down to me. All when she was supposed to be training me on how to do the job. After contacting HR she pulled me aside and knew everything I told HR because her boss told her. She was trying to intimidate me into not telling anyone about what she did. When I confronted her on her behavior, she denied it. Because she was friends with her boss, they both had a meeting with me without HR (although HR was supposed to be involved in the meeting) This was the second time this had happened and I had tried to rectify the problem. I quit my position when I had explained I could not work with this manager because the things she was doing were making me so upset and sick I was calling out of work. I asked for a transfer and HR told me that they would get me one if there were positions available. There were positions available, but my managers boss would not approve it. It was either work with her or I quit. I quit. The 2 managers before me quit for the same hostile/unethical reasons. Can they grant me unemployment and then take it back?

[Beth3]

The man at the unemployment office in Trenton, NJ told me that an employer should not have to hire me because I am a risk being pregnant and that I have no rights to my unemployment money because employers should not have to pay the citizens anything and that it is their money and not ours. This guy works for the UC divison??? If that's really what he said (and I'm not necessarily convinced that it is), then you should contact the manager of that office and report this. I will agree that at eight months pregnant it is unlikely you will find a job right now as you will be off on medical leave for several months almost immediately after starting. Very, very few employers are interested in hiring someone with a medical condition that will require a lengthy medical leave immediately.

The determination went from collecting because of the bad environment to quitting for personal reasons. Unless your boss was engaging in prohibited harassment, then that almost certainly is the legally correct ruling. (Prohibited harassment would be harassing you because of your gender, race, national origin, pregnancy, religion, etc.) The boss just being a jerk does not violate any laws and seldom constitutes "good cause" to quit a job and collect UC benefits.

I appealed the decision and I recieved a letter that my case was not even read and that there was no need for further hearing. If you'd already had a hearing (which I presume you did), then the next step is an administrative review by the UC Division of the transcripts of the hearing, not another hearing.

I was also working with senator Kryllos' office and Gov. Codey's office and they are also unable to help me. I was told by their assistants that they oversee these departments, but that there was nothing that they could do for me. Why are we electing officials that can not even take care of their people!!!!!! Neither a Senator nor a Governor can intervene and subvert the law. If under your State's UC regulations you are not eligible for UC benefits, then that's just the way it is.

While you haven't provided much information about your prior workplace, what you describe does not meet the definition of a hostile workplace in the law and it doesn't appear your boss wasn't violating any laws, therefore no matter how unpleasant the workplace was, you very likely are not eligible for unemployment benefits if you quit.

I know that's not what you want to hear but those are the facts of the situation.

[pookie20nj]

The man in the unemployment office did tell I was a risk for employers and that no one should have to hire me. Now that I know I can file a complaint I will go down and do that. I have witness to that and feel better now that I know there is at least something I can do about it.