Matter of Barnett (Broome County Community Coll.--Commissioner of Labor)

**What Happened** A worker at Broome County Community College applied for unemployment benefits during a break between academic periods. The college claimed they had given him "reasonable assurance" that his job would continue when the next academic term started. The state initially awarded him unemployment benefits, but the college challenged this decision. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with the college and reversed the decision to grant unemployment benefits. The judges ruled that the college had indeed provided the worker with reasonable assurance that his employment would continue after the academic break. Because of this assurance, the worker was not eligible to receive unemployment benefits during the time between academic periods. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling is important for school and college employees who work on academic calendars. If your employer gives you reasonable assurance that you'll have work when the next semester or term begins, you likely cannot collect unemployment benefits during breaks between academic periods. School employees should carefully review any communications from their employers about future work commitments, as these assurances can affect their eligibility for unemployment benefits during summer breaks or other academic interruptions.