Can I collect unemployment if my employer is refusing me to work?

Question

I recently refused to work because I would not cook with spoiled food ( I filed a claim with the health dept.). Now my boss won't let me come into work "until everything is fixed". My coworker told me everything is fixed and I feel my boss is doing this to punish me/force me out. Do I qualify for unemployment? I have worked over 680 hours in my base year.

Answer 1

Call the unemployment office and ask them to open a claim the week of your last day worked or if your weekly hours were reduced before that, try to get them to back date the claim back far enough to cover your losses.  Tell them of the situation.  If you have any documentation of your complaint to the health dept fax it to them with your name, social security number and phone number on every page (or mail a copy).