Lorain County Auditor v. Ohio Unemployment Compensation Review Commission

**What Happened** A worker at the Lorain County Sheriff's Department had what's called an "intermittent" employment contract, meaning they only worked when scheduled or called in, rather than having regular full-time hours. When the employee wasn't given work shifts and applied for unemployment benefits, the county argued they shouldn't qualify because they had voluntarily agreed to this type of on-call arrangement. **What the Court Decided** The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of the worker, saying that intermittent employees can receive unemployment benefits during periods when they're not scheduled to work. The court rejected the county's argument that voluntarily accepting intermittent employment should disqualify someone from benefits when work isn't available. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision protects workers in part-time, seasonal, or on-call positions. If you work an intermittent schedule and suddenly have no shifts available through no fault of your own, you may still be eligible for unemployment compensation. The ruling recognizes that even workers who accept flexible arrangements need financial support when work disappears, regardless of whether they initially agreed to the uncertain schedule.