One thing that caught me off guard - even if you go out of business, you still need to file a final report with NYS Department of Labor. I closed my restaurant last year and almost forgot about this until my accountant reminded me.

As someone who's been through this process recently, I'd add that you should also budget for the administrative time this takes - it's not just the UI taxes themselves. Between the quarterly filings, responding to claims notices, and keeping proper payroll records for audits, it adds up. Also, if you're planning to hire seasonal workers, that can complicate your experience rating calculations. NYS Department of Labor has some online resources that help, but honestly the learning curve is steep when you're just starting out.

This is really helpful information! I'm new to New York and was also confused about this. One thing I'd add is that even though employees don't pay unemployment tax directly, it's still worth checking your pay stubs regularly to make sure all your other deductions look correct. I've found that when you understand what should and shouldn't be there, it's easier to spot any payroll errors early. Plus, keeping good records of your pay stubs can be helpful if you ever need to verify your wage history with NYS Department of Labor.

This thread has been super informative! I'm actually in HR at a small company and we get questions about this from new employees all the time. One thing that might help clarify - New York employers pay unemployment insurance taxes at both the state level (to NYS Department of Labor) and federal level (FUTA). The state rate varies based on the employer's experience rating, but employees never see any of this on their paystubs. We always tell new hires that if they don't see an unemployment deduction, that's exactly what they should expect to see!

Your manager was absolutely trying to manipulate you - this is unfortunately super common. Employers know that unemployment claims can affect their experience rating and potentially increase their future UI tax rates, so some try to discourage employees from filing. But here's the thing: you PAID for this coverage through your work! Every paycheck you earned helped fund the system through your employer's contributions. You're not taking charity or hurting anyone - you're accessing a benefit you literally earned by working there for 2 years. File your claim ASAP and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it. The NYS Department of Labor website has all the info you need to get started.

I went through this exact same situation when I got laid off from my restaurant job last year! My manager also tried to make me feel guilty about filing, saying it would "hurt the business" and that I should "be loyal" even after they let me go. It's such a common manipulation tactic. The reality is that unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. Your employer has been paying premiums into this system the whole time you worked there, just like they pay into workers comp or any other mandatory business insurance. When you file a claim, you're not personally costing them money any more than filing a car insurance claim personally costs your insurance company - it's literally what the system is designed for. Don't let them guilt you into not accessing benefits you've earned. File your claim immediately because there can be delays, and you need that income to survive while job hunting.

wait so when they say unemployment is low does that mean like statewide or just in your area? because my town has tons of jobs but they're all retail and food service and i worked in accounting

I'm in a similar boat - been unemployed for about 8 weeks and finding it really tough to hit the 3 job contacts weekly in my field (IT support). What's helped me is mixing in some of the alternative activities others mentioned here. I've been attending virtual networking events through LinkedIn, reaching out to former colleagues for informational interviews, and even volunteering at a local nonprofit that uses technology - all of which count toward the requirement if you document them properly. Also started following up on applications I submitted weeks ago, which my caseworker said counts as a legitimate job search activity. The key seems to be showing genuine effort rather than just hitting a number. Keep your documentation detailed - date, company, contact method, and outcome for everything you do.

ugh the whole system is so confusing, why can't they just make it simple? i never know if i'm doing things right with these claims

Just to add - when I filed my second claim last year, NYS Department of Labor required me to do the whole job search requirement thing again even though I had done it before. So be prepared for that if your claim gets approved.