Layed off in Missouri just started UI offered temp job, should I take it? (receive, apply)

[midget55]

I should receive my first UI chk this week, $188. I was layed off from office clerk position, worked full time then was cut to 30-35 hrs wk when Obama no care went thru. I was making $11.37 hr. A job placement agency located & offered an 8 wk temp position as office assistant at $10 hr. This is not a position I've ever done, would have to drive 45 mi a day.
The pay is comparable, not sure I qualify for assistant though. If I take the job, will it lessen my UI? I understand I will probably have UI suspended or closed & have to reopen after 8 wks. Also, I need full time, if take temp will that mean I have to take temp offers in the future? What if I take job & they decide I'm not qualified & let me go?
Thanks for your help, suppose to let them know by tomorrow.
Anni

[Chyvan]

First off, you should NEVER race out and apply to temp agencies when you first get laid off.

Originally Posted by midget55

This is not a position I've ever done, would have to drive 45 mi a day.

Doesn't matter if you've never done it before. You applied for it, and it was offered to you. The employer thinks you can do it, and that's all that matters. The only way out and to keep your benefits is to have the job declared "unsuitable." Job titles aren't the basis of suitability, duties are. Is that round-trip or one-way? It may or may not be too far.

Originally Posted by midget55

The pay is comparable, not sure I qualify for assistant though.

No, the pay isn't comparable. In the earlier days of a UI claim, around 5% would be comparable. What you're being offered is about a 12% cut in pay after being out of work for a week. Do you think you suddenly lost that much value to the world?

Originally Posted by midget55

If I take the job, will it lessen my UI? I understand I will probably have UI suspended or closed & have to reopen after 8 wks.

No, you'll simply resume where you left off.

Originally Posted by midget55

if take temp will that mean I have to take temp offers in the future?

If they are suitable, then yes. However, because you did work temp, they will look a lot more suitable than when you just don't apply nor take them.

Originally Posted by midget55

What if I take job & they decide I'm not qualified & let me go?

It'll be a discharge, and you'll have to go through a misconduct determination, and temp agencies are pretty good at that.

Also, even when the job ends, there are still some gotchas that temp agencies can throw your way, and it's no guarantee that you'll get back on UI.

Stay away from temp agencies unless it's a really good job or your UI is over. When it's no money vs some money, the decision is usually pretty obvious. When it's a UI check vs some money, it's not so clear cut, and it'll drive you into an uncontrollable rage when you think you're doing the right thing, and then you end up losing the job and your UI because you just didn't know that it could be so difficult working for a temp agency.