Matter of Campise (Commissioner of Labor)

# Court Ruling Summary: Matter of Campise **What Happened** A worker resigned from their job after the employer denied them a pay raise and criticized their performance. The worker then applied for unemployment benefits, claiming they had good reason to quit. **The Court's Decision** New York's highest court agreed with the state's Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board and ruled against the worker. The court decided that resigning over a denied raise and workplace criticism does not qualify as "good cause" for leaving a job under unemployment insurance laws. The worker was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies that not all reasons for quitting are considered valid under unemployment law. To qualify for benefits after resigning, workers generally need to show they left due to serious circumstances—like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or wage theft—not simply dissatisfaction with pay or management feedback. Workers who quit voluntarily may lose unemployment eligibility, even if they feel mistreated. This highlights the importance of understanding your rights before resigning and exploring other options first.