Unemployment Articles and Guides

Your boss calls it a "violent outburst." You call it losing your temper once. States draw a real line between the two — and it's not the one your termination letter suggests. Welcome to Part 7 of our Discharge Series, where we break down how state unemployment agencies actually evaluate common firing reasons. If a heated argument or physical dispute ended with HR checking the “workplace violence” box, don’t assume your claim is dead on arrival. What company policy calls “viol

Refusing a task and losing your temper aren't the same thing under the law. Here's how each gets judged. Discharge Quick Answer Series, Part 4 Got fired after pushing back on your boss, saying the wrong thing in the heat of the moment, or refusing a task, and now the denial letter says “insubordination”? That word covers two different situations, and states don’t treat them the same way. Before you assume your claim is dead, it’s worth understanding exactly what adjudicators

Why the reason behind your last absence can matter more than how many you had. This is Part 1 of our Discharge Series. Getting fired doesn’t automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits — it depends on the specific reason, and the details matter more than most people realize. Each article in this series takes one common firing reason and breaks down what states actually look at when they decide your claim. You missed too many days, or showed up late one too many ti