The Unemployment Compensation (UC) program provides temporary benefits to qualified workers who are out of work through no fault of their own. Any worker in an Employee/Employer relationship is eligible to file for UC benefits (Faculty, A&P, USPS, OPS).

Employee and Labor Relations (E/LR) is charged with the responsibility of responding to Unemployment Compensation claims filed with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) by employees who are no longer employed with Florida State University. In responding to these claims, we consider the relevant facts of the Claimant's separation from the University, and fashion an appropriate response that is provided to DEO on the initial claim form. Once we have filed a response with DEO, they are ultimately responsible in determining whether to approve or deny benefits as payable to the claimant based on the information provided by both the claimant and the University.

Supervisor Guidelines

The University has an opportunity to challenge the eligibility of claims filed with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) for those situations where FSU's position is that the claimant should be ineligible. In support of the University's position against paying these claims, E/LR submits evidence of the Claimant's reason for termination and/or student status.

In situations involving misconduct, DEO will investigate to ensure the Claimant was informed of standards of behavior and the possible consequences of failing to adhere to the standards. If warnings were given to the Claimant by the supervisor because of unacceptable behavior, DEO will need to know the specific incident(s), number of warnings given, the dates the warnings occurred, and the method which was used to advise the Claimant of the unacceptable behavior.

Supervisors should be aware of this requirement as the burden of proving misconduct is on the Employer, and the Claimant is not eligible for UC benefits if misconduct is proven.

Additionally, E/LR recommends that supervisors retain all documents relevant to employee terminations. Please contact E/LR at (850) 644-6475 for further information.