Obama Considering Major Expansion of Unemployment to Part Time Workers, Extended Health Coverage

See Obama considers major expansion in aid to jobless, NYT, 1/4/09, at A1

126 New Yorkers Arrested for Unemployment Benefits Fraud

See 126 New Yorkers arrested in unemployment fraud, NYT, 10/29/08, at A26

-600 claims per year fraudulent in NYS typically
-raises employer rates if ee lies when actually working

New York State DOL Cracking Down on Unemployment Insurance Fraud by Making Arrests of 126 Residents Still Working

See 126 New Yorkers arrested in Unemployment Fraud, NYT, 10/29/08

Paralegal Smoker Found to Have Engaged in Misconduct for Taking 5 Minute Smoke Breaks

See Axed smoker still can't get a break, NYP, 8/8/08, at 4

-paralegal who violated no break policy by taking five minute smoke breaks terminated and appeals court upholds termination-faces repaying unemployment benefits as well for misconduct-based termination

-no break policy did not apply to exempt workers like lawyers and other salaried employees

New Book "The Big Squeeze" Discusses Tough Times for American Worker with Loss of Corporate Safety Net

See Labor Pains "The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker", Steven Greenhouse, NYT Book Review, 5/25/08, at 14

-corporate sector no longer provides social safety net; weak labor laws do not help

Mounting Job Losses Lead to Call for Extended Unemployment Benefits Beyond 26 Weeks

See "Job losses bolster calls for extension of benefits," NYT, 4/9/08, at A14

-407000 new applications, calls for 13 additional week extension over 26 weeks,16.2 weeks jobless average now before find new employment, $290/month average