My niece was recently informed that she was going to be laid off from her job in Illinois. The Wednesday before the Friday she was to be laid off she had a verbal confrontation with another employee and decided she had enough so she gathered her things and walked out (quit). Has she jeapordized her unemployment compensation?

Hello d:

Maybe. But, the key is that she was already informed that she'd be laid off. In my view, THAT is the event that will determine whether she's eligible. Certainly, that should be her argument.

excon

I think she has indeed jeopardized her ability to collect unemployment. From the Illinois web site: Illinois Unemployment Eligibility IL (http://www.unemploymentillinois.net/illinois-unemploymenteligibility.php)

You can be disqualified for Illinois unemployment eligibility for several reasons. These include quitting your job or being fired for misconduct, refusing suitable new employment, being involved in a labor dispute, or you have returned to work.

However, all may not be lost here. Did she tell her boss that she quit as she stormed out? Or did she just walk out with saying anything? If the latter - then perhaps she can claim that she took the last three days off as vacation. However, her employer may counter-argue that walking off the job without permission was misconduct, and consequently she was fired for that reason and hence she should not be eligible for unemployment. Does she have a sense from her former boss as to whether they would fight her on this?

djcvet, were I her, I would file and let the "powers that be" decide. Good luck