The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Reviews and Complaints

At the beginning of May, I filed a new claim with unemployment after being laid off from my job in mid-April. I never received any type of correspondence regarding my claim from the unemployment offices and spent weeks trying to get through via telephone. When I finally spoke to someone, I was told my case was being escalated and a specialist would contact me. This did not happen.
Two weeks later, I again got someone on the phone only to be told there was nothing this woman could do besides escalate my case regarding my claim. I was never contacted.
In July, Senator Thompson's office BRIEFLY intervened and entered my information into the case management system used for claimant issues. I was later told the issue with my new claim was that there was an open claim for me in New York and that had to be resolved before anything could be done in NJ.
It took a few weeks, but I finally was told by New York that my unemployment case actually closed automatically because the benefit year had ended and I didn't renew my claim. I called NJ unemployment to update my information and finally get my claim to proceed so I could begin to certify for weekly benefits (which I have been unable to do for FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS). I was told on July 20, that there was no record of my claim being escalated but would be escalated that day, but it could take up to two months for a specialist to contact me.
This is absolutely ridiculous. How could two people lie to me by telling me they were escalating my claim when not doing so at all? Why do I get different stories from each unemployment agent I speak to?
I tried again to get an update on my stalled claim and spoke with someone on August 3, who told me (again) that my case was being escalated and a specialist would call me. In the meantime, my information on the website should be updated and I could begin certifying for benefits during my allotted time. No specialist has called. My information has not been updated on the unemployment website. In fact, when I try to certify for weekly benefits, I'm directed to an old claim from 2017 and told my benefits have expired and I need to file a new claim.
I have filed a new claim. I have called the unemployment offices DAILY, only actually getting through to a person six times in FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS.
I have reached out to Senator Thompson's office repeatedly since their initial assistance but I have not heard back at all.
I have reached out to Governor Murphy on this issue but, understandably, I have not yet heard back from him.
I have even reached out to Martin Walsh at the federal level, even though I know the federal DOL does not interfere with state DOL issues.
I have been waiting FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS for my claim issues to be resolved and to be able to claim unemployment benefits while I try to find a new job. If I hadn't had money saved, I would not have been able to wait this long. However, my savings have dwindled and if the issues with my NJ unemployment claim would be resolved, I would be entitled to roughly $8, 500 at this point. Why even have us pay unemployment insurance taxes if we're not going to be able to collect these benefits when we really need them?
I tried to be patient, knowing the significant overload the unemployment system is facing right now, but FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS with no resolution in sight is too much.
I am stressed beyond anything I could imagine. I am not sleeping well and my appetite is suffering. I get constant headaches and nausea worrying about my situation and if I'll be able to pay my bills next month.
I need help and I need it now.

nj unemployment center problem

June 5, 2021 received email that stated I have been approved for unemployment and just certify online. Which I did and received an error message and to call the unemployment claim center. Trouble get thru to this number [protected]). And when I get thru they said they will call back. June 5th rec'd call back said that everything was good. June 7th tried to certify got error message again. June 8 rec'd call back and they hung up when I answered. June 13th spoke to a person then put on hold to check something was disconnected and never re-contacted me. June 15th rec'd call back as some as they said whom they were they hung up again. Tried to certify my benefits and keep getting same error message.
June 16th called number as directed in error message waited online for 25 minutes finally got a person (Joann) which told me everything was good and didn't know what the fix is. She saw a previous note from another call that submitted my claim to manger and told me it would take 6-8 weeks to review.
June 22, 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
June 25, 2021 certification day (all) rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 2 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 6 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 7th call unemployment center was answered by someone the they hung-up I called back message said call back another business day. Called again spoke to David whom saw no issues didn't know what to do beside keep certifying on my assigned date and time. Tried to claim on phone then messages said no agents available then hung-up.
July 9, 2021 certification day (all) rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 13 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 16, 2021 certification day (all) rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 20, 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 21, 2021 tried to claim on phone then messages said no agents available then hung-up.
July 22, 2021 tried calling message said to busy call next business day.
July 23, 2021 tried calling message said to busy call next business day.
July 23rd certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
July 23th spoke to a person whom told me they see the error and was forwarding to the correct department and that my claim would be expedited and should take one to two weeks to correct, also to keep checking my emails.
July 24th rec'd call from unemployment center they told me that my payments would get expedited, keep checking my email.
July 28, 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
Aug. 3 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
Aug. 4th call spoke to a women would not give name asked for my information then told me I had 3 more days to wait then she hung-up. Very unprofessional.
Aug. 6, 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
Aug. 9th tried calling message said to busy call next business day. Then called again and spoke to Breanne she told me that there were two claims opened one from April of 2020 and one from April 2021 after one year review. She told me that they would get to it when a case worker was available and just keep trying to certify on my date assigned.
Aug. 10, 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
Aug. 14th rec'd call back explained my problem about not able to certify online and that it has been passed the 6=8 week period that I was original told it would take to solve problem and I'm told it will take 6-8 more weeks to solve problem which sounds ridiculous that it would take 4 months since I have been already approved for 26 weeks.
Aug. 17, 2021 certification day rec'd error message call unemployment.
Aug. 18th tried calling message said to busy call next business day.

I am filing a complaint against this company for breaking a verbal contract with employees, specifically me, to pay extra money referred to as "essential worker pay" to all employees who remained working on their premises for the duration of the public health emergency last year.

I was one of several workers who remained on site, I worked a total of 7 weeks as an essential worker (with only 1 1/2 days off total in that time period for a tooth infection) and I never received any extra pay for it.

In early August 2020 (I had been employed there since November 2018) I was harassed by the head HR rep, who then created a hostile atmosphere for me in the office by condemning me verbally to other employees. My boss told me he was under pressure to make me wear a mask at work despite me explaining my COPD was a breathing disability and I have low blood pressure and heart issues. I understood the problem it presented him as an employer, but I explained that I was worried I might pass out and hurt myself on the job. He did not care and I was subsequently barred from the building and couldn't return to work.

I filed for Unemployment and Benchmark Scientific retaliated against me by falsely informing NJ Unemployment that I was fired for insubordination. I was never fired/terminated and I did not quit my job. They just barred me from the building so I couldn't do my job, which sentenced me to 8 months of poverty, no jobs available to work, waiting for funds from Unemployment. I had to borrow money and almost ending up homeless with my disabled daughter. Please note- I was an exceptional employee with excellent reviews and a great track record at the company.

I have an appeal pending with NJU and would like to also file this complaint for the essential worker pay. I filed a complaint with the DOJ as well, under the Americans with Disabilities Act because my disability was not accommodated. I understand the Covid emergency was an unusual situation, but despite that my employer chose not to help me in any way, or even just lay me off temporarily. Instead he chose to tell NJ Unemployment that I am committing fraud! An easy background check shows I've had no criminal record at all in my life and I am not about to allow this company to create one for me and treat me this way.

I would greatly appreciate any and all help that you can provide.

Thank you,
Linda Cerullo-Lazo

Please contact me at [protected]@mail.com
or call at 848.468.1019

I was hired at the travelodge in absecon by parakh dani to work maintenance under rodney gonzalez who brought me over from the days inn. My days n hours of work were wed thurs fri 12 to 8 pm. Sat n sun 3 to 11 pm. I never got anything about duties or expectations and was singled out by mr gonzalez for not doing enough and fired after 3 weeks even though i did what was asked of me i also have adhd which mr gonzalez knew. I was never contacted by mr dani about work at all.

Dominick Esposito
22B Louise Street
Garfield, NJ
[protected]
Claim ID # [protected]
Date of claim [protected]

It is August 9, 2021 and as of yet I have received no monies for an approved claim. After waiting 4 months for payment or info on my claim I received a call from someone at NJDOL. They said I had to contact ID.me and set up an account to verify my identity. I went to their website. The website doesn't function correctly. I tapped the link to bring me to a page to enter my info and it doesn't work. I tried a different computer. Doesn't work. I then went and downloaded their APP to my phone. Guess what. Didn't work. App didn't have a page where I could download info on. Deleted App and reloaded. Didn't work.

Contacted ID.me. They gave me a file number and emailed me how busy they are. I looked them up on the Better Business Bureau . They have a terrible reputation and many complaints. To date I have not heard from them foe a month now.

I have spoken to other unemployment claimants and they never went through ID.me.

To tell me after 4 months of waiting that I needed to contact ID.me seems very unfair. Having to deal with a vender who stalls help by having dysfunctional websites and Apps is unfair. I shouldn't have to verify if other claimants don't. Especially after this much time has gone by.

I am actively seeking work daily Sundays included. NJDOL offers no venue to resolve this problem. I don't know what to do.

Had a verified legitimate claim open since February 7, 2021. Successfully gone through new ID verification process and have figures available for approved payment details yet even today there is an erroneous "invalid claim" flag on my account no one is looking to resolve after THREE escalations. Have followed up with this at least half a dozen times however it is IMPOSSIBLE to speak to a claims agent and only get info from front line associates who insist escalations can take up to 8 weeks. I've gone through 3 already. This is taking too long and is unacceptable as families depend on getting the benefits they have been paying into the system for so long.

My name is Norbert Chusid.
I have been laid off June 6, 2021, and filed an unemployment insurance claim claim (on line) on the same date.
Have not received any payment, not able to certify, can't get any one on the phone.
I received a letter dated July 15, 2021 "unemployment insurance instructions and appointment notice" which offered no appointment and no solution.
There is a claimant ID number: [protected].

Just a reminder Unemploment is here to help when you get laid off that being said. I'm going on five months of no payment. I'm still waiting for the claim specialist to contact me. Claim # 160139. I did everything that is required for me to do get paid. I don't expect to hear anything from this complaint. This is my last resort of contacting you before legal action is required.

Ive been waiting for payment since march 2021 ive gone through all the steps required by unemployment i call at least twice a week and get the same answer wait 8 to 10 weeks or well expidate your claim but to no avail. and when you ask to speak to anyone in charge they just hang up on you or they say theres nothing they can do keep checking email or wait for phone call that never comes.Its just so fustrating when you are a union worker just trying to get through the system.

I filed a claim for benefits on 2/7/2021 I have not recieved a single payment as of yet. $3300 dollars from PUA benefits was not sent out becuase an agent said I do not have any banking information. I have yet to be issued a debit card. I have claimed for 21 weeks and each one said my claim was not payale at the time. After I completed the ID me process after 5 months of waiting. an issue with y claim dates has arrised and now I'm being told it will take an additional 8 weeks to be addressed. this will make 7 months with no income. I can't drive my vehicle and Im faced with eviction, yet I have over $28000 in benefits that I am suppose to be elible for.

My name is Althea A Walters. As of 07/08/2021, I am a new hire to the following entity. Bjs Wholesale Club located at 300 route 17 north, East Rutherford NJ.

I have not been paid by the said warehouse entity for my time during orientation, prior to the date of this email.

Further note, I Althea A Walters, have signed up for direct deposit, and notwithstanding the transference of critical financial data to my employer BJs wholesale club, have yet to receive compensation for time and attendance.

Your attention and remedy would be appreciated.

I got fired a few weeks ago and the present online system and phone options are not letting me file my initial claim.

I had been collecting partial unemployment benefits since 3/2021, when I began working as a part-time contractor.

All was going well until week ending May 8, when I accidentally answered question 7A incorrectly. A simple mistake as questions 7A and 7B can be extremely confusing if you are not focused for even a moment.

7A should be answered "NO"
7B should be answered "YES"

For this simple mistakes, I have not received partial unemployment benefits since the end of April.

For exactly 2 months, I have been getting "ERROR" messages when I try to certify.

I have called several times and spoken to agents who clearly are not equipped to solve this (simple) problem.

I was told not to call anymore, but my certification is blocked week after week.

According to my claim status, I have $6, 890 in my account.

I need my account unpinned and I need to speak with someone who knows how to enter my account, and enter the hours I have worked each week and my rate of pay.

I am shocked at the incompetence of the agents and the difficulty of the system that average workers are forced to comply with.

Norajane Straub
[protected]

I received my last payment May 17, 2021. I claimed my benefits for the next week which was May 22, 2021. When asked if I worked the week I was claiming I answered no (although I usually worked one day a week for four hours, I did not work this particular week because my daughter had prom) because I answered no my payments have been on hold since. I still claim my benefits weekly. I have reached out multiple times and now they are telling me it can take up to the middle of August for this to be taken care of. I have requested to speak with a specialist or a supervisor and was told that was not an option for me, I just have to wait it out. This is a huge inconvenience on me financially. I am a single parent and right now this is my only source of income. I am reaching out in hopes of having the issue resolved sooner. I need my funds released asap.
Thank you in advance

To Whom It May Concern:

I filed for unemployment back in January of 2021 and received a letter of Determination stating that I was eligible. 19 weeks went by and I finally received my retro benefits. An adjudication questionnaire was sent to me where I explained that I was a retired teacher who received no pension from my former employer because I made payments to the pension system myself. Per their eligibility requirements I was told that if my former employer did not pay into my pension I would be eligible with no reductions in payments. I contracted Covid in January of 2021 and was not able to work plus upon retirement I am not allowed to substitute teach until two years after retirement. I am dismayed and confused that I have been told that I need to pay back the retro payments I received after waiting 5 months and living in financial despair. Please help me out with this matter. I am being asked to appeal this decision and cannot receive any money until another decision is reached. This is horrible and unjust after months of calling and being told I was eligible.
Thank you,
Sonia Leal

My date of claim is 02-28-2021 Claimant ID: [protected]

I have yet to see unemployment benefit after waiting for 4 months.
When I want to certify for benefit over the phone, at the end of the call I am told "Your claim is not payable at this time". If I try online, and I check claim status, this is what I get " We do not have a claim on file".

Can someone PLEASE help!

Thanks.
Mahmood Rahman

Claimant number [protected]

I have been receiving Pandemic UI from 3/22/2020. When it ended on 7/25/2020 & congress did not renew I was able to find some part time work remotely until December. In January 25 2021 I was offered a full time position 20 mins from my house with a small family owned cpa office in Clinton NJ. I took it even though it was crap hourly salary as I had worked for other cpas and bookkeeping firms in the past and thought I knew what I was getting into.

This office did not have heat on one side of the office which is the side I sat on. Heat was only on in the CPAs office. Also he and his wife were not paying attention to COVID 19 rules and they had no signs up warning clients to come alone and use masks. There was only one hand sanitizer and that was in their bathroom.

When I started work on Jan 25 2021 I was NOT TOLD that the cpa's wife and outgoing bookkeeper were both sick from COVID 19 1 week before I started? Very scary and I was not told that until 3 weeks into my employment. Then I was put into a separate office with a BROKEN WINDOW & A HEATER THAT DIDN'T WORK. I have pictures of both attached. I found out from the Landlord the window was broken & it had plastic on it. I had to wear my parka, gloves and winter hat in Feb and I was cold all day all the time. I asked to be moved and the CPA told me that I needed to stay in my office because that is where the client files were which is BS because all of their files were on ONLINE BOOKKEEPING PLATFORMS. Some of the temperatures dipped into the single digits. I have the ACCUWEATHER REPORTS for the time I spent in the office. When I was finally moved at the beginning of March I had already gotten ill with a UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION that I thought was COVID 19 as it fit all the symptoms. I was terrified.

When I started the job I was given the company's two biggest clients and 3 other quarterly clients to work on. I was taking over for the outgoing bookkeeper who was there two years and who was one of the CPAs clients' daughter. This bookkeeper was supposed to teach me the process for the two clients but she didn't know what she was doing so I learned things that were wrong which I told the CPA and he dismissed her earlier. I NEVER SIGNED AN NDA NOR A EMPLOYEES MANUAL. THE ONLY RULES OF THE OFFICE WERE "LISTEN TO THE CLIENT AND DO WHAT THEY WANT". I finished the quarterly's quickly but the other two big clients were behind in their data entry work. To make matters worse the prior bookkeeper was backed up 3 months with one client & 2 with the other. I INHERITED THAT BACKLOG and when I couldn't manage both clients after the bookkeeper left the job one was taken away from me. The other client had many delays due to snow storms and changing the process of their work which was a weekly A/P check run. The process was long and used too many programs but the CPA liked it that way because he had BILLABLE HOURS. When the client realized the work was redundant and needed to be overhauled which he took care of himself, the work was reduced from 3 days to 2 days which made the CPA angry prompting him to YELL AT ME "I AM YOUR BOSS. YOU WORK FOR ME. I PAY YOUR SALARY" and then he told me that I was not earning my $25/hour which was galling to say the least. Daily he came into my office space telling me "the client is angry. You're not doing what they want." When I asked the client how I was doing they said FINE. His endless verbal bullying and harassment was hard to take but it was a job I wanted to keep because it was so close to my home & the cpa had promised me that I would be able to work from home after 3 months. That never happened.

There was also an incident that happened between the CPA & my life partner down in the parking lot. While clients were coming in and out of the CPA's office my partner who waits in our car down in the parking lot noticed most of them were not wearing masks. The CPA knocked on her window and asked who she was and who she was waiting for and she told him. He then made what he thought was a funny comment "I'll go wake her up" and left my partner alone. But his attitude after that towards me changed dramatically and he was verbally harassing me about my work ethic which is strong and at that time (3 weeks into my working there) suggesting I was no fit for the job and did I want to quit? He did that because he wanted me to leave especially when he found out I was gay. It was obvious to me and the office atmosphere for me because very unhealthy (broken window, no heat & freezing to death in the middle of 2021 winter) and toxic with his endless abusive behavior and snide comments. While I realize its my word against his I know what happened and it was all too real. This has never happened to me before in all my 29 years working with multiple industries in bookkeeping. Also to assign a new bookkeeper with your two Biggest Clients is insanity and shouldn't happen until 3 to 6 months in the job where you are confident and know how the office works.

I got sick on FRIDAY March 26 2021 and didn't go into work. Monday the CPA & his wife told me I'm not pulling my weight because the billable hours had decreased and he was angry at me for allowing that to happen. On Tuesday March 30 2021 left for a sick day visit and a covid 19 test. I had a fever and was given antibiotics. I was still sick on the weekend so I wrote the CPA an email telling him I was unable to return to the office as I was still ill but I offered to work from home. His email response was despicable and mean saying I was "already behind in the work and was making too many mistakes" firing me in the email. Essentially I was fired for being ill. (please see two emails attached)

I reported him for covid 19 violations and have the reports and resolutions from TIM OHARE of NJ DOL COVID 19 safety division who was keen to investigate and he did successfully- attached.

I had been trying to get a person from NJ DOL on the phone to speak to me for over a month from APRIL to May 2021 when I got a notice in the mail from NJ DOL telling me I had a phone appointment on June 15 2021 to speak to a CLAIMS EXAMINER about "POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT ON THE JOB" which was the CPAs job. He knew damn well I didn't do anything to warrant MISCONDUCT but he did it to bust my chops from afar and cast doubt on my UI benefits.

On June 15 2021 I waited at 1pm for the call. It didn't come until 1:31pm when a woman named SHERINE TITUS called me, made no apology for being late and started to read off her questions. I asked her if I could speak to her about what I endured at the office and she shut me down saying that her questions were what she needed answered. I know the NJ DOL is shorthanded but they are scraping the bottom of the barrel with this woman. She was short tempered, unprofessional and rude. Then she had a question for the CPA who knew that I would be speaking to NJ DOL at that time - he was not in the office. MS TItus returned to my phone conversation to tell me that she is going to wait 48 hours to see if he returns her call and then she told me she was going to call me back on Thursday June 17 2021 to tell me what the CPA said to her inquiry. SHe asked me to send her the emails I mentioned above which I complied right away. I told her I would be at a doctor's office on Thursday when she was supposed to call between 3pm -3:30pm.

On June 17 2021 I gave up a doctor's visit and I have a very painful tooth and my partner is sick because she is disabled however I did wait for her call in my home office with my paperwork. I waited thru 3 o'clock and 3:30pm and then to 5pm. SHE NEVER CALLED ME BACK. WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THIS? NOW I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO HER I WANT TO SPEAK TO HER SUPERVISOR.

I do not want this woman to skate. I have things to do myself LIKE FIND A JOB SO I CAN GET OFF THIS NJ UI PANDEMIC NIGHTMARE and start living my life again. It's not that I'm ungrateful because I am but trying to get in touch with anyone in NJ DOL is beyond maddening. Being dependent on a benefit and then having to speak to someone like Ms TItus who threatened me by saying "this conversation could easily terminate your benefits!" NO THEY CAN"T I HAVE AN EMAIL WITH MY EMPLOYER FIRING ME FOR OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT CONSIDERED "MISCONDUCT" in any way form or fashion according to the NJ DOL.

Ms Titus did not want to hear my tale of woe which is very important to the story and to the reason I was laid off was because I got sick. She had trouble understanding where my cut off dates were and when the CPA terminated me which I had to relate to her several times before she understood. I no longer want to speak to her because she cannot keep a phone date and is incapable of being nice. I was furious after I spoke with her on Tuesday and when she didn't call again on Thursday I hit the ceiling. No one should have to take that kind of abuse from someone who is supposed to be helping them. NJ DOL employees work for NJ workers. Our tax money pays their salaries. Her attitude and approach to my case was worse than my former CPAr's attitudes. I found her comments to me cruel, unprofessional and totally uncaring. I certainly don't want her making any decisions about my life.

I also do not want to be blackballed by the NJ DOL and end up in Unemployment Limbo for speaking out like this but there is just so much a person can take without blowing up. If she can't listen to clients and do her job at the same time she shouldn't be doing that job.

So far I have reported this situation to Rep Josh Gottheimer's office, Senator Menendez, The GM of the Phillipsburg NJ Reemployment office and to the NJ Legislature who is going to pass a bill to investigate what NJ DOL is NOT DOING TO HELP NJ WORKERS WHICH IS PLENTY.

The last attachment is 24 pages containing NJ DOL COVID complaint sent to the my former employer for not paying attention to c19 rules and its resolution. Also other paperwork but I cannot load it onto this site. Please send me an email address to where I can send these pages.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me.

Thanks

Catherine B Patten
[protected]
[protected]@gmail.com

It has been 9 weeks since I received my last payment. I finally spoke to someone on 6/9/21 after waiting on hold for hours, and they told me it should be only a day or two more. I am in dire need of this benefit as I can no longer afford to go to job interviews. I am well aware that there is a backup of claims, but 9 weeks going on 10 ! The automated system is horrible and only tells me that my claim is open, I know that. I think it is ridiculous that I am hung up on constantly before talking to someone, that is when the lines are even open and I have already been on hold for a couple of hours.

Im being punished by NJUI for my political opinion! I voiced my opinion on line and 2 days latsr my claim went into Limbo. Ive bedn calling and recording eveey single call. What I have is Proof that 10 times for over a year ive necer been called or emailed once and my claim goes to soecialist who then ignores my expiration date issue and sends it back as if its fixed! 10 times a person who is able to fix it... has recieved it and all 10 times they failed to do ANYTHING! Forcing me into endless cycle of waiting for nothing. ive lost everything in the course of this year and I will File Suit for Gross Criminal Negligence if its not fixed in next 7 days! ive bedn patiebt over a year abd its unnacceptable at this point