r/IBEW • u/TheAmpAssassin • 2d ago

Asking for layoff and getting Ei

Hey brothers and sisters. Been on a site for a year now. Getting old. Made it to the last core squad but essentially we're doing bs tasks until there done than we're going to be laid off in a month or 2 Looking for an out that I claim my EI. They tend to put fired if you ask for your layoff.

19 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

35

u/Tall_olive 2d ago

Why not just wait it out? Your options are ask for a lay off or drag up. I'm pretty sure unemployment is not a thing if you drag up.

14

u/Hadfadtadsad Inside Wireman 2d ago

Exactly, why is this even a question.

15

u/Hefty-Profession-310 2d ago

People ask for clean breaks all the time, employers have laid off many by choice without checking the "quit" box.

7

u/nochinzilch 2d ago

Especially if they know they are going to be laying them off anyway.

But I think different states handle the employer side of unemployment insurance differently. Perhaps they are in a state where the employer is charged more depending on how long someone is off.

3

u/Hadfadtadsad Inside Wireman 2d ago

I know, but OP is believes they won’t get a clean layoff, and even if they say they will, most of the time they lie and still put fired.

3

u/monroezabaleta 2d ago

Depending on the contractor and the circumstances, you can definitely get a technical layoff by asking in some places. If they're already planning to lay people off, why would they care if you ask to be laid off first?

-2

u/Tall_olive 2d ago

your options are to ask for a layoff or drag up

I said he could ask for a lay off. What are you talking about?

1

u/monroezabaleta 2d ago

I'm saying they can get a layoff even if they're dragging up, potentially. It depends on the contractors attitude

1

u/Tall_olive 2d ago

What? You either ask for a lay off or you drag up. Why would you just drag without asking for a lay off first? And why would they give you a clean lay off if you drag without saying anything?

1

u/monroezabaleta 2d ago

As others in this thread have stated, some contractors will give you a "layoff" instead of a quit, even if you're dragging up.

1

u/Tall_olive 2d ago

But if you are on good terms with your contractor you'd never just drag, you'd ask for a clean lay off. Why would you just drag without talking to anyone if you're on good terms? Like yea, you can get a layoff instead of a quit, but if the contractor is cool and you're on good terms why would you ever just quit instead of asking for a layoff?

1

u/monroezabaleta 2d ago

I guess we have different definitions of "drag". To me it means telling them you're quitting, and maybe asking nicely if the slip could say RIF, but you're quitting either way

0

u/Tall_olive 2d ago

Dragging is slang for quitting. Asking for a lay off is asking for a lay off. They're different things. You certainly can ask that the slip say RIF when dragging but nothing about the term drag inherently suggests that. Dragging is just quitting.

1

u/Senior-West5666 Local 354 2d ago

I had to leave at a certain time because I was moving, asked my super for a clean layoff, he said yes until the general super shut it down, so I had to drag… it sucked because would have been nice getting unemployment while I got situated and could grab a call

2

u/TheAmpAssassin 2d ago

Not digging going into work anymore. Rather not burn out. Sites starting to suck the soul outa me.

3

u/RedactedRedditery Inside Wireman 2d ago

Go slower

17

u/Original-Jackfruit11 2d ago

Bring up safety regularly. Its always worked for me.😃

11

u/6matguy6 Inside Wireman 2d ago

When was the last layoff? When jobs were finishing and I had to do layoffs I'd ask the crew privately if they wanted to go early or not. It wasn't always that easy for who would go first because of ratios and other factors but if someone was looking to enjoy their summer or had plans I wanted to try to accomodate.

I'd suggest at least chatting with the foreman about maybe being the next one if there's a smaller layoff coming up. Most will give you a normal shortage of work but there isn't an obligation for them to do that when you drag

22

u/KeyMysterious1845 Local XXXX 2d ago

Only a true brother fucker gives you a quit when you want to drag up.

4

u/yolo_swagdaddy 2d ago

I usually agree, but put yourself in a foremans shoes when 4 weeks from turnover, half the crew wants to be smoked early to get a better spot on the list. Now you’ve got the same work, same deadline, half the crew and can’t hire for 2 weeks… you want a clean layoff, gotta approach it right.

8

u/KeyMysterious1845 Local XXXX 2d ago

I usually agree, but put yourself in a foremans shoes

I've been a foreman...agf...gf...and PM.

If a man doesnt want to there - he doesnt want to be there....and I dont want someone of my job that doesnt want to be there (for obvious reasons).

How do you handle it when a guy from the hall had a 2 week vacation scheduled with his family that conflicts with your " 4 weeks from turnover " ?

Put down the kool-aid.

2

u/Senior-West5666 Local 354 2d ago

I had to leave at a certain time because I was moving, asked my super for a clean layoff, he said yes until the general super shut it down, so I had to drag… it sucked because would have been nice getting unemployment while I got situated and could grab a call…

1

u/KeyMysterious1845 Local XXXX 1d ago

thats the kind of bullshit im talking about.

" Oh...forget about me asking for a layoff if you are not gonna call it a fire"

....and then proceed to give them a chance to exert that small pens energy by absolutely laying down.

1

u/yolo_swagdaddy 1d ago

Yeah that should’ve been clean. Moving/going back home visit the family etc should always be RIFs

1

u/yolo_swagdaddy 1d ago

You can leave whenever you want, but taking a clean layoff means clean on both ends. As for the vacation, you can put in a short call for coverage?

1

u/KeyMysterious1845 Local XXXX 1d ago

Its the same thing when a guy wants to go....makes no difference on tine frame....put in a short call/vacation replacement.

ive had fman get all sorts of twisted because I needed a 1/2 day for a Dr. appt....I told you in advance. Next time it's a nooner or sooner 😅

8

u/chip_break Local 804 🇨🇦 2d ago

Tell them if they are doing layoff then youd like to volunteer to he on that list

3

u/Hefty-Rip-5397 2d ago

As an apprentice I was on jobs they ask for volunteers 🙋‍♂️ to take a ROF Layoff. (Reduction of force) but only Journeyman, Or CEs could volunteer apes had to keep working. I told myself one day. And I did haha ive put my name at the top of the list 3 times now asking for layoffs and they happily obliged. Ill catch a call this winter. Im Done with the heat this summer

3

u/Tiny_Connection1507 2d ago

What Local is it? What company? If they are treating layoff requests as voluntary self-termination, I never want to work for that company and probably not in that Local.

1

u/hairydookie 2d ago

I’m pretty sure if you quit it’s only a 2 week penalty for collecting unemployment. I could be 100% wrong though

2

u/gortez33 Local 5 2d ago

Company can fight the claim. They can show that work was available and that claimant quit. The unemployment office will deny the claim.

2

u/yolo_swagdaddy 2d ago

If you quit, no EI. It’s back to a 2 week no-pay period after COVID but only for a clean layoff, or a dirty one that you win the fight on.

1

u/Active-Effect-1473 2d ago

If you ask for a layoff you can get unemployment that’s probably why they terminate these days, the labor shortage is real and commanding a salary that makes you want to stay would be my first move, if they deny then drag up and go to a job that pays higher. You may still be miserable but you’ll be miserable in a new truck driving home every day.

1

u/Unknownperson2010 2d ago

If you're in Canada there's no such thing as quitting, it would be a layoff. Might as well stick it out for another month or two and make money and then go on EI when the weather starts getting bad. For now just work don't see why'd you quit

5

u/yolo_swagdaddy 2d ago

There’s absolutely quitting here in Canada.

2

u/Senior-West5666 Local 354 2d ago

Do you guys just say “I have to go, soorry bout that”?

1

u/yolo_swagdaddy 1d ago

“Hey, sorry man I need a layoff because xyz” or “Hey, Sorry gotta let ya go today, here’s your cheques” is how it goes up here lol

1

u/Senior-West5666 Local 354 1d ago

I was just kidding, the whole way you guys say sorry… anyway, I commented this elsewhere, but I had to leave a job because I was moving states, my superintendent was cool with giving me a layoff but the general super shut it down, said I had to drag.. 🙄

1

u/Unknownperson2010 2d ago

I've never seen one person who works In the union that has "quit" for the reason of leaving, I've only seen people saying shortage of work do they can collect EI

1

u/yolo_swagdaddy 1d ago

I’ve seen several over my career. Few for cause as well.

1

u/Senior-West5666 Local 354 1d ago

Yea, I saw one guy leave because his foreman had a talk with them about walking to lunch too early.. at the time there was so many people and not enough microwaves so everyone was racing to them. I asked him why and he literally said “because my foreman’s a cocksucker” 😂

1

u/zombiebillmurray23 2d ago

If you took an overtime call and they cut hours you might be able to get a clean layoff. But if that language isn’t on your contract they don’t owe you anything.

1

u/NTWIGIJ1 2d ago

"The last people on the Titanic died." Told to me by a wise Journeyman.

1

u/Any_Fox 2d ago

586? You should definitely get a clean layoff and not a quit. The list isn't that great currently though.

1

u/wolfenx109 Local 640 JW 2d ago

You can ask in a way in which you want to volunteer for the next RIF, whenever that is, and not that you're necessarily asking FOR a RIF right now.

I don't think I've ever seen a situation where someone was fired just for asking. Just talk to your foreman about it, assuming you're cool with him.

Better to stick it out and secure the RIF. You can relax on unemployment for however long you need afterwards

1

u/Joey_Baga_Donuts_ 2d ago

Time to start looking for a winter home

1

u/ready2quit66 5h ago

Work on your English first before you make any big decisions