For an Initial Consultation, call (917) 371-8000

Steven Mitchell
Sack

The Employee’s Lawyer®

Welcome to The Law Offices of Steven Mitchell Sack

Enforcing the workplace rights of thousands of employees, executives and sales reps for more than 44 years.

steven mitchell sack

5 Steps To Take To Win An Unemployment Claim

If you have been recently fired from a job and filed an unemployment claim, you may think that you at least have the silver lining of not needing to deal with your previous place of employment anymore. Unfortunately, your former employer can choose to contest your unemployment claim, denying you access to benefits. But what can you do if your employer chooses to contest your unemployment claim?

  1. Be able to explain why it was you lost your job
    • A key question in any unemployment claim is how, exactly, you lost your job. If you were fired due to mass layoffs, budgets cuts, or business reorganization, you will likely be able to claim unemployment benefits. If, on the other hand, you were fired for some kind of misconduct, such as failing to perform job duties, being habitually late, or engaging in drinking or drug use on the job, you will likely have trouble getting unemployment benefits.
  2. Understand the difference between firing and resignation
    • It is also critical to understand the difference between being fired and resigning. A firing is when your job is terminated by your employer, while a resignation means losing your job due to voluntarily quitting. This is important because, in most cases, you can not claim unemployment benefits if you resigned from your job. However, if you were forced to resign rather than being fired, you may still qualify.
  3. Hire a lawyer
    • A part of obtaining unemployment benefits involves going to an unemployment hearing where your former employer will be present. While you technically do not need a lawyer for this hearing, it is rare that an employer will come to a hearing without legal representation. If you fail to hire a lawyer to help with your unemployment case, you are only hurting yourself.
  4. Be ready for a fight
    • The primary reason that your employer is present at your unemployment hearing is because their insurance goes up when you file an unemployment claim. It is thus in their best interest to fight your claim and prevent you from getting benefits, because that helps to save them money. You need to be ready to fight in turn, if you want to be able to obtain the benefits you deserve.
  5. Review your employment contract and employee manual
    • One of the most critical issues that is likely to arise has to do with the terms of your employment, as well as your company’s employment policies. If you have an employment contract, you should review its terms, which can help give you a defense against firing. You should also review your company’s handbook and employment policies, since getting fired against policy can be a defense in your favor.

Steven Mitchell Sack, the Employee’s Lawyer, is a New York employment lawyer with more than 41 years’ experience handling the many aspects of employment law. His new book, “Fired!: Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” is available in hardback, and contains valuable advice on dealing with employment and labor law issues. To purchase the book, feel free to contact Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or visit the website at legalstratpub.com. To inquire about a legal matter, please feel free to contact attorney Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or stevensackatty@hotmail.com.

    If you have experienced any of the below, fill out the form to the right to set up your FREE PHONE CONSULTATION:























    What’s Happening at The Law Offices of Steven Mitchell Sack

    new york lawyer
    new york lawyer awards
    new york lawyer blog

    Our Reviews and Client Feedback

    I dealt with steven as an adversary. I found him to be one of the most respectful,, knowledgeable, and effective attorneys i have encountered in my 40 years of practicing law.
    Steven isn't just a great lawyer, he is a great person. He was always available to take my calls, and to give good advice. I would highly recommend him.
    "I am an attorney, and I can say that Mr sack did an outstanding job in negotiating a severance agreement. He picked up the phone and made a call, something simple, timely and effective that no other attorney would do. Mr. Sack was effective, to the point, he always followed up, and he got me a better result than any other attorney would have.

    He exceeded expectations, and I am very grateful that I hired him.

    I would recommend him to any employee involved in a sensitive situation where diplomatic negotiation and communication is needed. He kept me very well informed about the progress of my case and obtained a very satisfactory negotiated formal written severance agreement, which is one of his specialties."
    Response from the owner:Thank you very much for your review. Please keep us in mind if you ever have any other employment law matters you need assistance with.
    The best contract lawyer out there. Responsive compassionate and got results results fast. Unbelievable contract lawyer best in NYC.
    Response from the owner:Thanks for your review. Please feel free to call back if you ever have any need of representation in any future employment law matters.
    I had the pleasure of working with Steven on my separation agreement, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his expertise and dedication. From the very beginning, he provided clear, strategic guidance, ensuring that my rights were fully protected. He took the time to answer all my questions, kept me informed at every step, and negotiated effectively on my behalf. His attention to detail and deep understanding of employment law helped me secure an exceptional outcome. I highly recommend Steven!
    Response from the owner:Thank you for your review. We are glad you were satisfied with your representation, and hope you contact us if you ever have need of representation again.
    I had a great experience working with Steven Sack recently relating to a recent job separation from my former employer. He is straight to the point, very knowledgeable, and easy to work with. I absolutely recommend his services to anyone that needs an employment attorney.
    Response from the owner:Thanks for your review. If you ever need any future counsel on employment law matters, please feel free to contact us again.
    js_loader

    Testimonials

    Read More

    Skip to content