The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has clarified eligibility for unemployment benefits in this pandemic.
Ohio law has always prohibited individuals from receiving unemployment benefits if they refuse to accept offers of suitable work, or quit work, without good cause.
ODJFS is asking that employers with employees who refuse to return to work should report this so that accurate eligibility determinations can be made. To report these occurrences, please visit unemployment.ohio.gov/employer and click on “COVID19 Return to Work Guidelines.” This will take you to a web page to report these employees for investigation by ODJFS.
Next week, the full policy that ODJFS will use to determine individuals’ continued eligibility for unemployment benefits after refusing to return to work will be posted. This policy will underscore the presumption that if an individual’s job is available for them to work again, they will not be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Kentucky unemployment also provides that individuals who refuse a reasonable offer to work are not eligible for benefits. If you have an employee who refuses work, KY requests that Employers complete a Refusal to Work form on their website: https://kcc.ky.gov/career/If-you-are-an-Employer/Pages/default.aspx
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