Unemployment Benefits in Virginia

[anonymous2000]

My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: Virginia

This is my case: I worked for a Virginia based company as an employee, contracted to work in Iraq for one year. Due to the nature of the sensitive work I was entrusted to complete with the US military, I acquired a secret clearance. My year’s work for the US military was well above average where I was commended with letters to prove an exceptional job performance, with excellent work ethics. As a result of my outstanding work, a couple of other employees working for the same company under the same contract, out of spite, took it upon themselves to investigate my past for any disparaging evidence to tarnish my reputation before the company in order hinder any promotions I may have had on the horizon, plus cause me trouble with the employer. The employees mentioned forward alleged disparaging information to my employer causing my background to be re-investigated and thus causing me much anxiety. In the end, my employer found no reason at the time to terminate my employment and advised me they were happy with my work, encouraging me to continue with the great work.

Months later, the two overzealous employees refusing to let things lay, continued to pass disparaging information to others about my past, causing me difficulties in my abilities to function favorably with other colleagues. In fact, one of the employees writes a very distasteful and untruthful harsh e-mail to me, criticizing me of outrageous conduct. I take this e-mail and forward it to my company’s immediate supervisors and nothing is done with this individual, in fact, the individual is promoted weeks later. Now that I am reaching the end of my contract and working conditions are becoming more intolerable due to the employee continuing to pass disparaging information behind the scene on my professional reputation, I chose to inform my immediate supervisor of this employee’s behavior and misconduct. My immediate supervisor advises me that if he passes this information forward to management, that I could risk being sent home for causing problems. Because I only had a couple of more months to wait till the end of my contract, I decide to wait till the end of contract to advise the supervisors above mine who was not receptive to handling this hostile work environment . At the end of my contract, I advised my supervisors and was told that it was all looked into and nothing else could be done. I was then offered to return to the US, and return to the company later to redeploy to another country for an additional year.

When it came to signing all exit paperwork along with other employees completing their one-year contract as myself, the company had us all sign a resignation letter, which they advise was standard SOP, in order to leave the country. Later when I arrive back in the US and attempt to contact the company recruiter to redeploy as offered to another country, I was told that my services were no longer needed. When I called the company’s HR division, I was informed that I had quit my job and that there was some type of “extenuating circumstances surrounding my status”. The HR employee would not elaborate, but advised that because I had quit, a letter indicating that I quit was sent to the unemployment commission.
So today I find myself unemployed and with NO unemployment benefits due to a letter I was tricked into signing as part of several exit papers and now told that my services are no longer needed.

I hope someone can help me with this matter. I am married and a father of two children. I find myself with no healthcare for me or my family at the time, and no unemployment benefits. Yes, I can purchase Cobra insurance coverage, but it outrageously expensive for a family of four and with no income, it makes it very difficult. This entire experience has devastated me and my family. The unethical behavior by this company is beyond belief and any reasonable understanding.

Can anyone provide some advice?

[Mr. Knowitall]

So even though you were in Iraq, you were classified as being employed in Virginia such that you're covered by that state's UI? You can apply for unemployment insurance and attempt to argue that the letter was pro forma, demanded by your employer from all of its laid-off employees. I can't promise that the argument will work, but what's the harm in trying?

When you're laid off from a job, it's pretty much universal that your employer-paid benefits end. Yes, COBRA coverage is expensive, but it's normal for the subsidy to end when your employment ends.

[PattyPA]

So even though you were in Iraq, you were classified as being employed in Virginia such that you're covered by that state's UI?

If it's a U.S. company and the employee is a U.S. citizen/Resident Alien who performs all his services outside the U.S. or its territories, he is covered by unemployment insurance in the state from which he receives his direction