While it isn't hard to guess that a separation of employment means that a person is no longer working for an employer, it can be difficult to understand why the working relationship ceased. The phrase "separation of employment" can be used instead of myriad other terms that describe why the separation occurred. However, you must break down the terminology and know why you lost your job if you intend to apply for unemployment benefits.
An employer can say that there is a separation of employment instead of using the words "terminate" or "fire." Although it still means that the employee no longer works for the employer, it does not sound as harsh or carry the negative connotations for the employee. As most states in the U.S. are "at-will" employment states, an employer typically does not have to have a reason to terminate an employee. While future employers might ask why the separation occurred, stating that it occurred because of scheduling conflicts will probably sound better to your new employer than having to say that you were fired because you couldn't make it to work on time.
Separation due to layoff happens when the employer does not have enough work for his current employers. Unlike termination, if your employer is subject to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), you must receive notification of a layoff no more than 60 days before it becomes effective. WARN typically applies to employers with at least 100 employees. Laid-off workers typically qualify for unemployment benefits as long as they meet their state's eligibility requirements. Eligibility normally depends on the length of time worked within the previous year.
Quitting is still a separation of employment even though it is typically your decision to quit. If your employer asks you to resign your position, you can still list voluntary resignation as the reason for the separation on future applications. Employees who quit a job can still qualify for unemployment depending on the reason for the resignation. According to Nolo.com, if an employee quits because of harassment, medical reasons, or an employer asks the employee to break the law, depending on the state, the employee may be able to receive benefits.
Talk with your employer or the human resources department if you are unsure of the reason that you lost your job. Not only is the reason important for potential unemployment benefits, future employers will consider why you lost the job when determining your desirability for positions within their company. While not all states require that your employer tell you the reason for the separation, or require that employers show employees their employment file, if you live in a state such as Colorado, for example, you can request to see your file to make sure that the information is correct.
- Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images