Kasele Howard, Relator v. Family First Home Care, Inc., Department of Employment and Economic Development

**Unemployment Benefits Denied After Employee Quits Job** Kasele Howard worked for Family First Home Care and quit her job. When she applied for unemployment benefits, the state denied her claim. Howard challenged this decision, arguing she should receive benefits. The court sided with the state agency and Howard's former employer. The judges ruled that Howard quit her job without having a good reason that was caused by her employer's actions. Under Minnesota law, workers who quit without employer-caused good reason are not eligible for unemployment benefits. The court also found that Howard received a fair hearing during the appeals process. This case reinforces an important rule for workers: simply quitting your job usually disqualifies you from receiving unemployment benefits. To get benefits after quitting, you generally need to prove your employer did something that gave you good cause to leave - such as unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job terms. If you're thinking about quitting, document any workplace problems and consider whether they rise to the level of "good cause." Otherwise, you'll likely need to find new employment without the safety net of unemployment benefits.