by Brian
(Washington)
I’m a carpenter’s assistant full time, 40 hours per week. My boss is taking his family to Europe for a full month. I can’t afford to not work for a month.
I’m looking around for another job (which will most likely replace my carpentry job as most jobs are not month-long jobs), but should I apply for unemployment or financial assistance in the meantime? Is my carpentry boss responsible for any sort of unemployment assistance?
Chris’s Response to I’m a carpenter’s assistant. The carpenter, my boss is leaving for a month long vacation. Do i apply for unemployment in the meantime?
Hi Brian,
If you would like to concentrate on the conversation you had with your boss concerning your financial inability to be furloughed from work for the one month while he is on vacation with his family .. that would be good as it might help me decide if you’re leaving something relevant out .. that might matter, or change this from a “lack of work” to a voluntary quit, or discharge.
And since you asked .. let me ask if you’re certain your employment is of the at-will variety?
In that your boss makes deductions from your paychecks such as federal, state, and FICA (SSI). If so, there is little doubt your employment would be covered under unemployment insurance laws as well because he would also need to pay an unemployment tax on those wages.
But until I know what you were told about your employment during that month by your boss .. like “there won’t be any work for you to do while I’m gone”. I’m having a hard time seeing the point of your question .. unless you’re the employer trying to figure things out for yourself.
Chris