Can I get unemployment if I left, but was about to be “laid off” anyway?
Question:
Weird situation. I was working for the federal government as a “contractor” which meant I was paid hourly and worked until my money was gone, unless they wanted to add more. I technically left before my money was gone to teach English in Hong Kong. When I got back my contract was expired (not out of money quite yet but expired) so I was jobless.
Since I technically left, does this mean I can’t get unemployment?
Answer:
If you were a contractor that means you were self-employed. Unless you’re paying for unemployment insurance, no you cannot collect. But, even moreso, you quit so you wouldn’t have been able to collect, anyway. And you wouldn’t have been “laid off” because you were not an employee. Sub-contractors don’t get laid off. They have their contracts terminated or expired.
