Employees who become involuntarily unemployed in Idaho are compensated for lost wages by the Employment Security Law. The law is made possible by the Security Trust fund, an employer, tax-funded program. I read that employees should not have to pay for this program.
Claims for unemployment must be filed immediately after a worker is let go. Employees are eligible for compensation if they are totally or partially unemployed through no fault of their own, and are US citizens or legally authorized to work in the US.
The amount a worker receives for unemployment is based upon their past earnings. The current range for unemployment weekly benefits runs from $51.00 per week minimum to $322.00 per week maximum. Workers are entitled to from 10 – 26 weeks of benefits.
During the unemployment period, a worker must actively seek, be available for, and be able to perform full-time work. Pregnant claimants are eligible for benefits according to the same rules that apply to all other claimants. As long as it does not affect looking for work, an employee can attend school or training and still receive benefits.
I know that the reasons for denying coverage to employees include:
- Quitting a job without good cause connected to the job. For good cause to be attributable to the employment, it must relate to the wages, hours, or working conditions of the job. Regardless of the cause, an employee must take reasonable steps to inform the employer of their dissatisfaction and seek to remedy the problem before they leave.
- Being fired from a job because of employment related misconduct.
- Refusing without good cause to take a job for which the employee is qualified and which pays the prevailing wage for that kind of work in the locality.
- Taking part in a strike, lockout or other industrial controversy
- Being unable, ready, or willing to work, are not prepared to take a job immediately, or are not physically or mentally capable of employment
- Applying for coverage during a vacation or holiday break if the worker is employed by an educational institution.
Employers must post a notice of the Idaho State Unemployment Law in a public place at their business. The Idaho Complete Labor Law poster reflects all the labor laws for both federal and state.
