Philadelphia Partner Discusses Unemployment Benefits and Vaccine Mandates

In a bylined article in Smerconish, Rick Grimaldi breaks down whether employees who refuse vaccine mandates will be eligible for unemployment benefits. He explains that “most states allow workers to collect benefits if they are laid off, quit for ‘good cause,’ or get fired for a reason other than ‘misconduct.’” Rick adds, “Employers are within their rights to impose a mandate, and it is unlikely a labor agency would consider quitting due to the mandate to be a ‘good cause.’ Similarly, being fired for a refusal to comply with a legal company policy is likely to be considered ‘misconduct.’ For these reasons, it is likely that most unvaccinated workers will not be eligible for unemployment benefits.” Rick also explains that several states have already passed laws making employees who refuse vaccine mandates eligible for unemployment.

To read the article visit Smerconish.