My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: CA
I am SO furious right now! I was unhappy with my old job and was not making enough income to pay the bills, etc... BTW, they were also looking to get rid of me anyways because they gave my job to a younger, less expensive salary-wise employee. It was time for me to go.
So, I went job hunting, interviewed with several jobs, and decided on the one that I felt comfortable with. However, during the interview with the new job, I was made it VERY clear to the person who would become my new boss, and in fact I specifically stated (as well as over-emphasized to her) that I had NOT done hardly any of that particular kind of work in the last 2 years, and virtually none of it at all in the previous 3 months. She said "No problem, we can allow you to have 3-4 weeks to get back up to speed and get re-acclimated to the position." We had a verbal agreement and a general understanding that I was supposed to "ease into" the position, with no immediate expectations of performance on their part.
But the main reason they claimed they wanted to hire me, was that I did have prior experience 5+ years of doing that exact same job in my previous employment, as well as over 20 years in the business overall.
So, since they offered me more money than I was getting at previous job, and a 4 day work week instead of 5 (which is what I wanted), and they seemed to be honest and a good company to work for, I accepted the new job. Then, I gave my 2 week notice at the old one.
But, here is what sucks and is why I am VERY upset:
First of all, they straight up lied to me about several things!
1) My start date. I was supposed to start with the new employer on the Monday following the end of my 2 week notice at the old job. In reality, they stalled me and gave excuse after excuse and I didn't start work until 10 days AFTER that Monday, and lost all those days of pay.
2) They hired 3 other employees for the same position as mine, and were literally trying out all 3 of us at different times during that 10 days mentioned above ^^ in #1), as well as during my first week. What I also didn't know before accepting the position, and what they failed to tell me, is that they were going to pick ONE of us for the job, and fire the other 2 right away. BTW, this was the reason for the delay of my starting day. (Although they won't admit it!)
3) The "break-in" period that they agreed to allow me to have (as discussed during the interview, before I was hired) ... never happened. I worked 2 days, and then I was told to take the next 4 days off. Then, I worked ONLY one more day for the new company ... and they fired me at the end of the 3rd day on the job! Gone ... just like that!
Their reason: After just 3 days, they felt that I was not efficient enough for the position. They claimed I was not experienced enough to be considered competent for the position. I was also "too-slow" they said. But, I know that I would have been the perfect guy for job in 3-4 weeks after I got into my groove, since I did have many years of experience at the same position in my past. In fact I had this similar situation many years ago in my past, and it took 3-4 weeks to get re-acclimated; this is why I knew it would take me 3-4 weeks in the beginning, and it is why I brought it up in the interview.
But, nevertheless, they chose one of the other new employees and I got axed.
My questions:
1) What recourse, if any, do I have to sue them? (BTW, they did hire me on a "provisional" 90 day probationary period, which I signed and agreed to be an "at-will" employee for the first 90 days)
2) Will I be eligible for UI compensation? Or did I get screwed? (I guess I should mention that I had been working full-time for my previous employer for 1 year)
BTW, # 2) ^^ is my MAIN concern. I don't care too much about suing them, I just want UI because I need the money BAD!
This whole thing MAJORLY sucks because the new employer put me in a huge financial bind, not to mention my financial situation was already terrible to begin with (I have been on the brink of filing chapter 7 BK, and living paycheck-to-paycheck for the previous 12 months at my old job.
Now I don't have ANY job or ANY income ... just like that! It's hard to believe that employers are allowed to do such crappy things to unsuspecting new hires. It is just wrong!![]()

