BELINDA MENDEZ-AZZOLLINI VS. BOARD OF REVIEW (BOARD OF REVIEW, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR)

**Teacher Wins Right to Unemployment Benefits Despite Paid Leave** Belinda Mendez-Azzollini, a teacher with the Irvington Board of Education, was denied unemployment benefits by the state's Board of Review. The dispute centered on whether she qualified for benefits during a period when she was officially reinstated to her job with pay but wasn't actually performing any work duties. The Board of Review initially said Mendez-Azzollini couldn't receive unemployment benefits because she wasn't actively working, even though she was being paid and was available to work. However, the appellate court disagreed and reversed this decision. The court ruled that under state law, an employee can qualify for unemployment benefits as long as they are being paid and are ready and willing to work – actual job performance isn't required. This ruling matters for workers because it clarifies that employees in similar situations – such as those on paid administrative leave or during reinstatement periods – may still be eligible for unemployment benefits. The decision protects workers who find themselves in employment limbo, where they're technically employed and receiving pay but aren't performing their regular duties through no fault of their own.