Unemployment Compensation

questions & answers

Question: Can employer push you to quit so that you cant claim unemployment?

Answer:

Arizona is an at will employment state which means that as long as the employer and employee have not made a specific contract for employment and termination,  either of them can END the employment at ANY time.  See A.R.S. § 23-1501.

Constructive Discharge can be found under title 23 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. See A.R.S. § 23-1502. If an employer has constructively discharged an employee, that employee may have the ability to claim unemployment.

However, a former employer has the right to contest the unemployment even if the employee claims that he or she was constructively discharged. If the former employer contests the unemployment, a hearing will be set and the results of the hearing will determine whether or not the former employee will receive unemployment.  If this determination is found against the former employee than any money that was given to them for unemployment will have to be paid back.

More information about unemployment can be found at the Department of Economic Services website.