The U.S. Department of Labor has released updated resources for employers, workers, and states as businesses begin to reopen across the nation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
The DOL emphasized that it will take the cooperation of employers, employees, and state agencies to prevent unemployment fraud. Claimants should be educated on state requirements that failure to accept suitable work offers may lead to denial of unemployment benefits.
To help with that requirement, many state agencies have dedicated online forms for the reporting of a claimant’s work refusal. Other states don’t provide a form but ask employers to call or email refusal information.
Here’s a list of where to locate reporting information for your state.
- Alabama. Use this form to report refusals: https://labor.alabama.gov/nh/NewHireEfile/LogIn.aspx
- Alaska. For information about unemployment fraud, along with a Microsoft Word form to use to report suspected fraud (the form is mailed in), visit this site: https://labor.alaska.gov/unemployment/fraud.htm
- Arizona. Refusal of suitable work may be reported on this form: https://fraudreferralexternal.azdes.gov/
- Arkansas. Refusal of suitable work may be reported online through this portal: https://www.workforce.arkansas.gov/Tax21/Home.aspx
- California. Refusals may be reported through the fraud reporting system run by the Employment Development Department that can be accessed here: https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/Fraud.aspx
- Colorado. For information about unemployment fraud and how to report it: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/fraud-prevention-employers
- To report a refusal to work, use this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDqhB-bSE670mSBOv_vQQQMrN3r3jrgQQ8ME9bbvoZzhYv1g/viewform
- Connecticut. For information on employees refusing to return to work, as well as other COVID-19 related issues, refer to these FAQs for employers: https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/uiemployers.pdf
- Delaware. To report a refusal to accept suitable work, locate the form on this site: https://labor.delaware.gov/divisions/unemployment-insurance/
- District of Columbia. For information about unemployment fraud, visit this site: https://does.dc.gov/page/what-unemployment-insurance-fraud
- Florida. To access a general fraud form: https://floridajobs.org/Reemployment-Assistance-Service-Center/reemployment-assistance/claimants/fraud-and-overpayments/report-reemployment-assistance-fraud-online
- Georgia. To report a refusal of suitable work: https://www.dol.state.ga.us/public/uiben/fraud/reportType
- Hawaii. Fraud can be reported by calling (808) 586-8947. For information about unemployment fraud: https://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/information-on-ui-fraud/
- Idaho. Information for employers about unemployment insurance and COVID-19 is available here: https://idahoatwork.com/2020/03/18/employer-faqs-about-unemployment-insurance-and-covid-19/
- Employees who refuse to accept suitable work can be reported by sending details to: fraud@labor.idaho.gov
- Illinois. To report a refusal of suitable work: https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/IDES%20Forms%20and%20Publications/Refusal-of-Work-Reporting-Form.pdf
- Indiana. You can access a form to report a refusal to work here: https://www.in.gov/dwd/2406.htm
- Iowa. A “Job Offer Decline Form” can be found here: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/job-offer-decline-form-employers
- Kansas. An employer can report a refusal to accept suitable work with this form: https://www.dol.ks.gov/documents/20121/82469/k-ben-3118-%2812-18%29.pdf/04c8a4b2-c187-9b0f-72e3-0d20db34c1a1?t=1613131615468
- Kentucky. On its website, Kentucky notes that “If an employer provides reasonable accommodations for employees at their workplace or offers an option to telecommute, the employee must work if it is offered by the employer. ” More information can be found here: https://kcc.ky.gov/career/If-you-are-an-Employer/Pages/default.aspx
- Louisiana. A form, which must be mailed, can be accessed here: http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/UI/FraudReportingForm.pdf
- Maine. You can access a form to report an attempted recall or job refusal here: https://www.maine.gov/unemployment/docs/2019/B-12.pdf
- Maryland. General information about unemployment fraud is available here: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/uistopfraud.shtml
- Massachusetts. There is an “Unemployment Benefits and Returning to Work: Guide for Employers” that can be read here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/unemployment-insurance-benefits-and-returning-to-work-guide-for-employers
- Michigan. A fact sheet providing information about unemployment benefits and refusing to work can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/uia/144_-_Refusal_of_Work_3-1-12_379858_7.pdf
- Minnesota. Employers can “raise an issue” if they believe an employee shouldn’t be eligible for benefits. Read about it here: https://www.uimn.org/employers/help-and-support/employer-user-guide/raise-issue.jsp
- Mississippi. You can report a separation/ refusal of work here: https://mdes.ms.gov/employers/online-transactions/report-separation-refusal-of-work/
- Missouri. Refusals to work can be reported on Missouri’s Online Unemployment System here: https://uinteract.labor.mo.gov/benefits/linkaction.do?TBwnaDjze4tFKbgfmqLEJQequalequal=IbFsxj561ZfD3aWuH1Q57plusn9wXGLOIbygEwA5%2FJT4dwequal&gF4QVFlMk6Zk9pMoCN2vNwequalequal=y9gbPYLgyqDX%2FW40I2lUcWp6V6G1o25cetTmFVIzYtQequal&HAtTlSDC7OegI8pkCRUArgequalequ
- Montana. Refusals can be reported using the “UI eServices for Employers” site here: https://uieservices.mt.gov/_/
- Nebraska. Information about reporting work refusals can be found here: https://www.dol.nebraska.gov/PressRelease/Details/153
- Nevada. A form to report fraud can be filed online: https://detr.nv.gov/Page/DETR_Unemployment_Insurance_Fraud_Reporting_Form
- New Hampshire. To reporting potential unemployment insurance fraud, file this form online: https://business.nh.gov/NCharge/NHES/default.asp?form_name=InsuranceFraud
- New Jersey. Refusals may be reported by printing out and mailing this form: https://www.nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/ui/BC6.pdf?_ga=2.151481721.178074846.1589998433-1675744500.1589998433
- New Mexico. A refusal to accept suitable work can be reported on this form, which must be emailed: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/portals/0/DM/UI/Refusal_of_Work_Form_05_2020.pdf
- New York. The NY Department of Labor has an “Unemployment Insurance Employer Guide” with information about refusals to work. Read it here: https://www.labor.ny.gov/formsdocs/ui/P820.pdf
- North Carolina. The NC Department of Commerce provides this question and answer: “What if I have an employee who has refused to return or quit when I called them back to work? Employers may report to DES that employees have not returned to work when work is available. Sign into your online account at des.nc.gov and click on the form on your ‘Employer Homepage’ to submit information about an employee’s refusal to return to work.”
- North Dakota. You can submit a general fraud form online here: https://www.jobsnd.com/unemployment-business-tax/report-unemployment-fraud
- Ohio. There’s currently no work refusal form available. If you need to report eligibility issues, email: UIReturntoWork@jfs.ohio.gov
- Oklahoma. In a message (https://www.ok.gov/oesc/Businesses/Lets_Get_Back_to_Work_Oklahoma.html) employers are advised to report a work refusals via email to returntowork@oesc.state.ok.us
- Oregon. For information about reporting unemployment fraud, click here: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Unemployment/Pages/Fraud.aspx
- Pennsylvania. Refusal of suitable work can be reported on this form: https://www.uc.pa.gov/Documents/UC_Forms/UC-1921%20Interactive.pdf
- Rhode Island. An “Employer Protest of Benefit Charge” can be reported here: https://dltweb.dlt.ri.gov/uiemployerprotest2013/index.aspx
- South Carolina. An employer “Refusal of Job Offer Guide” is available here: https://www.dew.sc.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/ess-refusal-of-work-job-offer-(002).pdf
- South Dakota. A refusal form, which must be emailed or mailed, can be accessed here: https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/forms/form400_employer_recallandrefusal.pdf
- Tennessee. You can submit a “Refusal of Recall to Work” online here: https://lwdsupport.tn.gov/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360003403833
- Texas. The Texas Workforce Commission has an employee work refusal form you can submit online: https://apps.twc.state.tx.us/EBS_REF/ewrd/employeeWorkRefusalDoc
- Utah. The Workforce Serves Department has FAQs for employers, along with instructions on how to report refusals to work. It can be accessed here: https://jobs.utah.gov/covid19/uireturningemployerfaq.pdf
- Vermont. Report a refusal of suitable work here: https://labor.vermont.gov/form/refusal-work-fraud-report
- Virginia. Refusal of suitable work can be reported on this form: https://employer.vec.virginia.gov/eForms/ff01
- Washington. You can report refusals to work on your eServices account, or you can send the information to the claims center. Access your account here: https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/
- West Virginia. To report a refusal of suitable work: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/employers/WorkforceWV-WorkRefusal.pdf
- Wisconsin. There’s a section in the “Handbook for Employers” about refused work (https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui201/b7201.htm#refused_work). To access a general fraud form: https://my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov/Apps/Feedback/ReportFraud
- Wyoming. A general fraud form can be accessed here: http://doe.state.wy.us/uifraudreporting/