Unemployment Updates

Keep Your Finger on the Pulse of Unemployment Insurance Changes

These regular unemployment updates are written by our team to help you stay current with UI industry trends and changes.

Unemployment Rates Drop While New Challenges Come Up

Massachusetts - The Bay State's unemployment rate has dropped significantly in the past eight years, from 8.2% in August 2009 to under 4% in 2017. Some of the highest rates in August 2009 belonging to the towns of Lawrence, Springfield and Worcester all reported...

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UTCA Introduces New Client Referral Program

Over the years, UTCA has grown through the enthusiastic endorsement of our services from word of mouth referrals. UTCA clients are outspoken and passionate about our program and for that we are humbled and grateful. In return, we have now developed a "Client Referral"...

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Unemployment Eligibility for Contingent Employees is Updated

At the close of 2016, the U.S Department of Labor issued new guidance that updated a nearly 30 year old protocol for establishing unemployment eligibility for “contingent” and “adjunct” employees. Many organizations, such as the American Association of University...

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Definition of “Simple Misconduct” Determined to be Unclear

New Jersey - The state's terminology for categorizing the various types of employee misconduct was recently examined by a court. Currently, there are three levels of misconduct indicated in the New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Act, each having their own terms of...

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The End of Ski Season Brings an Increase in Initial Claims

Vermont - According to the state's Department of Compensation, initial claim filings were up by 495 last week. Many believe the end of the ski season has caused this recent spike in unemployment claims. Compared to last year though, initial filings remain lower and...

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What Furloughed Federal Employees Can Expect

With the most recent threat of a government shutdown averted by an emergency funding bill passed late Sunday, many are still left wondering what could have happened if the government had actually shut down, especially the government employees who would have been...

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Voluntary Quits & Unemployment Benefits

Workers who quit voluntarily usually are not eligible for unemployment benefits, unless they can show they had a "necessitous and compelling" reason for leaving their employment, as was the case in a recent claim filed by a former employee of AT&T. The...

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