Hi,
I am a temp office worker in New York. I have tried repeatedly to get work when an assignment ended. I even called "agency X," which I had worked for 7 months ago to see if they had work.
"Agency X" as well as my other agency and a new agency I registered with all gave me NOTHING, ZERO work for a period of almost SIX weeks!
I applied for unemployment (after borrowing money from family for rent) and have now been accepted.
HOWEVER now "Agency X," after giving up on them weeks ago, has been calling me with such urgency, like the lady is stalking me. She called me twice on my cell and twice at my home leaving messages for both, all in a one hour period. Then she called AGAIN, a FIFTH time in the afternoon.
I called her. She said she was "hunting me down" because she had a job starting the next day that would go to permanent. (Honestly, after having begged this woman for work for weeks and gotten NOTHING but the brush off from her, it really pissed me off that the ONLY reason she was calling now was because she must have found out I now applied to unemployment and she doesn't want to pay her share.)
Well, after the sleepless nights and depression and anxiety over the last six weeks, I did some soul searching and have opted to dump pursuing acting and temp work. I'm working at getting a real job, a teaching job for September. I am now diligently sending out resumes for this.
How much power does this "Agency X" have over my claim? I haven't worked for them in SEVEN MONTHS. If they called unemployment tomorrow and said I said no to one job, would I lose my benefits? My excuse for saying no was that I had a job interview the day the job was to start.
I'm a nervous wreck. This woman seems determined to get me a temp job (that will be trash no doubt). It's 2 days after I spoke to her and she called me TWICE today, leaving a message. She has NEVER been this urgent.
I've decided I am not going to return ANY of her calls. If she's going to make trouble I'll answer to Unemployment, not her.
I just think I've earned this unemployment for a few months and I want to get a teaching job.
Am I being unethical for not jumping when this woman from SEVEN months ago called? She gave me the brush off TWENTY times, I was practically begging her for work. She wasn't the LEAST bit interested. Now that I filed unemployment last week suddenly she's called me with more urgency than I've EVER seen her have with me. It's not fair.
How much clout could she have? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
thanks!!!

