“A person with a degree in XYZ Studies wants a job as a college diversity administrator and can refuse to take their old job back at Starbucks slinging coffee.”
Ain’t quite that easy. They can’t refuse an offer for employment they interviewed for or they lose their benefits. They have to actively seek employment or they lose their benefits.
The only thing they can do to refuse employment is be refused. Go in dressed dirty without bathing, and act stupid, and you’ll get refused an offer. Then you have satisfied the basic requirements.
But you are at the mercy of the state and feds. You can get Extended Benefits only after your regular unemployment benefits and other extensions, like PEUC, have run out. Due to the lower unemployment rate in my state, Washington state, the U.S. Department of Labor notified them that the state’s Extended Benefits program is ended March 13, 2021. So much for federal support and the states are dependent on that money. Don’t know about other states.
wy69
All red states should eliminate all unemployment benefits. All government assistance should be eliminated for those that are single. If there’s a health issue they can die trying.
What you both say is true in theory. What is true in actuality may be quite different as I have never seen the local McDonald’s offer $500 sign-on bonuses as they are advertising in our area, one of the ring counties around Pittsburgh which isn’t exactly booming economically.