Azimi v. Virginia Employment Commission

**What Happened** Ms. Azimi applied for unemployment benefits after losing her job, but the Virginia Employment Commission denied her claim. The reason? She told them she could only work afternoon and evening hours (3 p.m. to midnight) because she needed to care for her children during the day. The Commission said this schedule restriction made her unavailable for work, which disqualified her from receiving unemployment benefits. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with the Virginia Employment Commission. It upheld the decision to deny Ms. Azimi's unemployment benefits, agreeing that her limited availability made her ineligible. The court found that the Commission correctly applied the law and made reasonable factual findings about her work availability. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling highlights an important reality for unemployed workers, especially parents: having childcare responsibilities that limit when you can work may disqualify you from unemployment benefits. To receive benefits, you generally must be available for full-time work during normal business hours. Workers should understand that personal circumstances that restrict work availability—even legitimate ones like childcare—can affect their eligibility for unemployment compensation.