Maryanne L. Marcellais, Relator v. Prairie Harvest Mental Health, Department of Employment and Economic Development

**What Happened** Maryanne Marcellais worked at Prairie Harvest Mental Health and later applied for unemployment benefits. However, she was a full-time student and told the unemployment office she would only accept part-time jobs to accommodate her school schedule. The Department of Employment and Economic Development denied her benefits, saying she wasn't meeting the requirements to receive unemployment compensation. **What the Court Decided** The Minnesota Court of Appeals sided with the unemployment office. The court ruled that Marcellais was not eligible for unemployment benefits because she had voluntarily limited herself to only part-time work. Under state law, people receiving unemployment benefits must be available for suitable full-time employment and actively searching for work without unnecessary restrictions. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that workers cannot restrict their job searches and still qualify for unemployment benefits. If you're collecting unemployment, you generally must be available for full-time work that matches your skills and experience. Students or others who can only work part-time due to personal commitments may not qualify for benefits, even if their reasons seem reasonable. Workers should understand these availability requirements before applying for unemployment compensation.