Getting unemployment for called off

Nurses General Nursing

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I am new to floor nursing and was wondering if anyone who works in Pennsylvania has successfully filed for unemployment for days they were cancelled and what is the process for doing this. Thanks.

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
A friend of mine lives in PA, and we were commiserating that we were living in two of the highest-taxed States in the Union......starting to see one of the reasons why!

I think it's great PA recognizes that a life changing event (birth, illness of a child) and requesting your employer to change your hours a little and their refusal means you get some help. There are enough people who obtain benefits they aren't entitled too...certainly being bothered by somebody who pays into the system using it as it was intended isn't the worst thing ever.

I found those who were bothered by it were moms who didn't know they may have had the same opportunity.

Like I said...all my NM had to do was work with my request and I would have remained employed there. But she demanded I work the shifts she wanted and they just weren't going to work with my life changing event (which was actually not just the birth but something else...however the birth is enough in PA).

I think this is great if it gets more moms at home either by cutting hours at work or by leaving employment for a period of time to focus on the baby. I have had 5 kids and only used this with the last one ( didn't know about it before)...and I tell other new moms and expecting moms about it so they can possibly have a less stressful life after baby comes. If we had reasonable maternity leave in this country this wouldn't be needed.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"I had a life changing event and those hours didn't work for me."

I am not trying to put you and your experience under a negative microscope. I'm just pointing out how radically Americans' expectations of social services have changed. For better or for worse, depending upon your personal point of view.

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"I had a life changing event and those hours didn't work for me."

I am not trying to put you and your experience under a negative microscope. I'm just pointing out how radically Americans' expectations of social services have changed. For better or for worse, depending upon your personal point of view.

What she said! My comment wasn't directed to anyone in particular, just that since there are now several comments about how and when unemployment has been used, it is an eye-opener for me.

Whether or not anyone agrees with what the laws allow, the fact that they DO allow so very much (in comparing one State to another, and comparing today's regulations with those of some time ago) is worth recognizing. And yes, taxes being what they are, I can see where more subsidizing of benefits directly impacts the employed (ie: income-taxable) people's bottom line.

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It never occurred to me that you could DO such a thing! I live in Washington state and have yet to file for unemployment, ever, but there may come a time as I get older. My first thought was YEAH, RIGHT! when I read the OP, but I learn something new every day.

I'm going into PD homecare, and it's a no-benefit kind of job that will go up and down in terms of shifts. Patients go to the hospital or pass away, so it's not exactly a predictable, stable income. I might need to look into this, I know NOTHING about how it works.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

[h=3]Unemployment Compensation Regulations - Portal.state.pa.us[/h]

Eligibility:

[h=3]Am I eligible for UC?[/h]

To claim benefits, you need to have earned enough money during your "base year." The base year is the first four quarters of the last five completed quarters at the time your claim is filed. The money you made during your base year determines, in part, if you can collect UC and how much you can collect. And, you have to have been working at a job that's covered by Pennsylvania's UC Law.

UC is for people who lost a job because of something that wasn't their fault. If you're out of work because your employer had to make cutbacks, close an office, went out of business or something you couldn't control, it's possible that you will be eligible to collect UC.

If you're out of work because you quit, you might not be eligible for UC. If you were fired from your company, you might not be able to collect UC.

Finally, you must be able and ready to return to work (either to your old job or a new one) to claim UC. For claims with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2012 or later, you'll also have to actively seek work during each week that you claim UC benefits.

2. If my employer reduces my work hours, will I be eligible for UC benefits?

Where a claimant works less than his full-time hours through no fault of his own, the claimant may be potentially eligible to receive full or partial benefits, depending on his gross earnings and Partial Benefit Credit (PBC). A claimant's PBC is the amount equal to 30 percent of his Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR). Where a claimant is working less than his full-time hours and his gross earnings for a week are equal to or less than the PBC, the claimant's full WBR is payable for the week. When the claimant's gross earnings for a week exceed the PBC, the gross earnings are deducted from the sum of the WBR plus PBC to determine the amount of any partial benefits for which the claimant may be eligible. NOTE: If the claimant's gross earnings for a week are not a whole dollar amount, the earnings are rounded up to the next dollar.

If the claimant's gross earnings for a week are equal to or greater than the sum of his WBR plus PBC, no benefits are payable for the week even though the claimant may have worked less than his full time hours. A claimant working his full time hours is not eligible for UC, regardless of the amount of earnings for the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

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OP, if you are union, also look at your contract. If you are classified as a full time employee, the language may be in your favor as far as a definite 40 hours a week.

Part of everyone's paycheck goes into "unemployment"---so if one is paying into something (and if never claiming unemployment, there's a lot of money one puts in) then why not at least attempt?

I am not sure where "tax dollars" come into play with this, however, I would be more apt to be annoyed with the many, many people who do not pay taxes, never have paid taxes, and take every bit they can--whilst driving around in a car that is brand spanking new, with their designer clothes and latest gadgets.....OK, story for another thread and off subject--

OP, I would look into it, and see if you can collect. Bills and mouths to feed are non-negotiable, so I would do what I had to do. Just know that you paid into this for a long time, so it is not "taking" anything other than what you have put into,

Best wishes.

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"I had a life changing event and those hours didn't work for me."

I am not trying to put you and your experience under a negative microscope. I'm just pointing out how radically Americans' expectations of social services have changed. For better or for worse, depending upon your personal point of view.

While I understand your point, I think it's great. Many other developed countries have paid time off for ALL new mothers nationally, none of this state by state jumping through hoops to get it. They at least recognize how crucial this time period is for both mom and baby. Women shouldn't have to choose between work and their newborn, and 6 weeks is barely enough.

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Specializes in ICU.

Shoot. I wish someone would cancel me! ;)

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Specializes in M/S, Psych, ART, CM, MT.

I was hired as Per Diem, but worked between 24-32 hrs (dbl Sun, Dbl or just an 8 on Mon) weekly.... after 9 months, I had a major life change that required attention immediately, (this still boggles me.... I TEXT - FROM HOME - my co-worker, who was at work, to see if she could work the 3-11 I had picked up?) Two minutes later, my NM called, fired me over the phone?)

*This could not be, should not be legal??? I was NOT even at work?

Anyway, I collected for 24 weeks @ 600$ wk, then, obtained an extension for another 12 @ 600$ (downside, I didnt look for a job in that time, I decided to stay home with my kids (I am a single parent, they needed me) and take some grad courses......

Now, I cannot find even a per diem job anyplace? So, I think you can..... Just be general in your application, research "how to speak to a GAL about the other parent" this will tell you how to speak to the UI person, trust me.

Now, I am trying to start my own business, but id kill for a per diem job, hell, even agency or contract, anyplace within 250 miles..... (in process to have a surro baby abroad)

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OP, if you are union, also look at your contract. If you are classified as a full time employee, the language may be in your favor as far as a definite 40 hours a week.

Part of everyone's paycheck goes into "unemployment"---so if one is paying into something (and if never claiming unemployment, there's a lot of money one puts in) then why not at least attempt?

I am not sure where "tax dollars" come into play with this, however, I would be more apt to be annoyed with the many, many people who do not pay taxes, never have paid taxes, and take every bit they can--whilst driving around in a car that is brand spanking new, with their designer clothes and latest gadgets.....OK, story for another thread and off subject--

OP, I would look into it, and see if you can collect. Bills and mouths to feed are non-negotiable, so I would do what I had to do. Just know that you paid into this for a long time, so it is not "taking" anything other than what you have put into,

Best wishes.

I agree. You "earned" that unemployment while you worked. If you can get it go for it. I was told I could collect it while I did my externship for my LPN years ago. The issue was that I working a low wage retail job and yet I earned over the cap limit so I worked like a crazy person those 2 months.

Also many other countries recognize the needs of mothers to stay at home with their newborns for longer than 6 - 12 weeks. The U.S. doesn't understand the need for a mother to recover and bond with that child.

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Specializes in ICU.

No, you cannot collect unemployment for a shift being cancelled. This is not the same as a plant shutting down for a couple of weeks. This happens all the time in the working world. In order to make payroll hours sometimes shift are cancelled. Are you part time or full time? Are you PRN? How is this even up for debate? It's not and she can't get unemployment for it. I was in charge of payroll for different companies over the years. I am originally from PA. You cannot collect unemployment for it.

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I don't think it is a "sense of entitlement" on the employee's part when the hospital feels that you should be available for them for FT hours, while they consistently provide you with part time work and wages. They want you in their back pocket for sick calls or high census, but you are expendable. The facility feels "entitled" to your time. I know about budgets, etc. and I am not talking about a person being compensated for a rare shift off. I am talking about this being done consistently. Some places, this is done consistently. Don't worry that the paltry unemployment check will equal lost RN wages, it won't. Often staffing is being evaluated every four hours. Workers are often paying other workers for things like child care when 4 hours is lopped off of a shift because they are required to be available. Think about how much unpaid or under paid time is devoted to work.Combine that with the on call time that some units like OR and OB require. I now work in a salaried position, but having been there in the past, I know that hourly workers need to be able to plan their life and arrange it around a consistent income. Believe me that down time should be used for things like "worthwhile" education (clinical drills, not a bunch of trite rapid regs assignments) and those "extras" facilities want like self governance activities and committees. If you talk the talk, you (as a facility) need to walk the walk. Safety is actually priceless and clinical drill gives a lot of "bang for the buck." Productive time, is one of the most maligned terms in nursing right now.

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