Can I Collect Unemployment Benefits in Nebraska If I Was Wrongfully Terminated?

 

If you were fired for illegal reasons, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits.

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In order to collect unemployment, you must meet two basic requirements. First, you must have earned at least a minimum amount, set by state law, in the time before you lost your job. Second, you must be out of work through no fault of your own. (For more information on each of these requirements, see Who is Eligible for Unemployment Benefits in Nebraska?)

If you lose your job in a layoff, reduction-in-force (RIF), or downsizing, you will be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. But what if you are fired? And, what if you are wrongfully terminated -- that is, fired for illegal reasons?  

If You Were Fired 

In some situations, you may still qualify for unemployment benefits in Nebraska even if you are fired from your job. For example, if you were fired because you were just a poor fit, you may still be eligible for benefits. 

You may not be eligible for benefits if you were fired for misconduct connected to your job. In Nebraska, the length and effect of the disqualification is longer for gross misconduct or aggravated misconduct. 

To be found ineligible for benefits, you must have been fired for acts or omissions that damaged your employer's interests, that you knew or should have known would damage your employer's interests, and that were willful or within your control. 

You may be disqualified either for a set number of weeks or until you get another job and earn a minimum amount, depending on state law. In some states, the length of the disqualification period depends on why you were fired. You can learn more about how disqualification works in Nebraska in the Unemployment Insurance Handbook for Unemployed Workers

If You Were Wrongfully Terminated

Sometimes employers fire employees for reasons that are illegal, such as an employee’s refusal to submit to sexual harassment or reporting unsafe working conditions to a government agency. If you were fired for protected reasons like these, you may have been wrongfully terminated. 

The definition of “wrongful termination” varies from state to state. If you believe your employer fired you without a good reason or for an illegal reason, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits in Nebraska. In this situation, you may want to speak to an employment lawyer, not only to find out whether you can collect unemployment, but also to learn about your other legal rights. For example, if you were wrongfully terminated, you may be entitled to reinstatement, money damages, and more. See Do I Need a Lawyer to Get Unemployment Benefits in Nebraska? to learn more; if you decide to talk to a lawyer, see How Can I Find an Unemployment Lawyer in Nebraska?

If you believe you were fired because you complained about your employer's violation of wage and hour laws (like the laws entitling employees to overtime, the minimum wage, tips, breaks, and so on), visit our site on minimum wage and overtime law, which includes information on your rights to fair pay and how to find a lawyer if you think your employer owes you wages.

If you were denied unemployment benefits and you believe you were wrongfully terminated, you may want to appeal the decision. See Can I Appeal a Denial of Unemployment Benefits in Nebraska? for information on filing an appeal.


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Jurisdictional relevance: ST

There are versions of this article for each State.